Multiple mums - or anyone with lots of DC - did you ever get rid of baby belly? Ideas needed!

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

I had my twins (dc 2 and 3) a year ago. I have a pretty regular gym routine of 2 x cardio sessions a week plus 2 x core strength sessions. I eat healthily (generally do not eat any refined sugar, processed food or white carbs) and sensible portions.

I have got "back to normal" everywhere but my stomach. I cannot seem to shift The Twingut.

Anyone been in a similar situation and got results?

I think it’s genetics and this twin mummy doesn’t have good genes!

I figured that by the time the skin on my stomach had stretched to a 50" circumference 3 times over (I had big babies but big bumps too!) it was entitled not to spring back into flatness even if I hadn't had c-sections.

I’m pregnant with dc3 and managed to get it back after 2. I’m scared about this with this pregnancy so place marking to follow

Argh, it's not sounding too good 😭

I am not even after flatness just less fat!!

Johnny are you trying to achieve an unrealistic image? Remember that a woman is not supposed to have a perfectly flat stomach as there is a layer of fat protecting her vital reproductive organs! Why do you need to have a flat stomach like you did before babies? Why can't you just thank your body for bringing two amazing little creations into the world ? I apologise if this comes across as preachy as we are all entitled to feel how we like about our bodies but I hate seeing people, and its usually women, beating themselves up for not achieving the filtered, air-brushed, under nourished images that are portrayed to us these days as 'perfect' or 'must-be like this'.

I want a flat stomach because I like clothes, and clothes look better with a flat stomach. You can be a size 18 or a size 8 but toned flatter skin always looks better in clothing

I am not after a perfect image or a flat stomach

I am carrying a disproportionate amount of weight around my middle which is associated with adverse health outcomes and also looks bad. I am just trying to see if anyone managed to shift theirs, that's all.

I had my 1st at 22 and am 30 weeks with my 4th aged 37. I never managed to get rid of my ‘mum apron’ completely after having my first, and each pregnancy has just added a bit more to it. Stomach is usually flat-ish apart from the apron - the only structured exercise I do (when not pregnant) is 30 sit ups in the morning and again before bed, but I’ll never be the same as I was before

I'd ask my gym team for a new, fat-burning exercise plan, I think. You might not be doing as much fat-burning as you think. And I'd check portion sizes. If you're naturally an Apple shape, you'll keep fat around your middle till you burn it off.

I lost mine when I got divorced, by following a strict low-carb/low-calorie diet and rowing 200km a week in the gym... But then piled it all back on when I moved house and got married again. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 😆

I have 4 dc (no multiples though). Tummy fat is always hardest to shift. The only thing that worked for me is calorie counting and walking. Exercise (gym, cardio, ab workouts) just didn’t have the same effect. 1100 calories a day did (1200 is my basal metabolic rate) coupled with walking anywhere that is within 30 minutes rather than taking the car. My stomach is softer than pre dc, but definitely flat (except after a huge meal). If you like grapefruit they help release energy from fat and seem to help with tummy fat particularly too.

I’ve had 6 but singletons ... I do think twins are bloody hard to come back from and frankly if I’d created two humans st once I’d not give s flying fuck about my belly ... it’s a badge on honour

I lost lots of weight at Christmas due to health issues and although my stomach looked flat in a photo I could still pick up my little tyre of blubber and shake it around, so alas, I think there is no getting rid! (My twins are 11)

I have 2 singletons and a set of twins. Im tiny as it is and they really stretched me, I’ve gone back to my pre pregnancy weight (DS is 8 months) and to look at my belly seems flat but there’s quite a bit of loose skin. Ask the gym if they have any specific excercises for what you want and watch what you’re eating. But be proud of your body, you made two lives in 9 months and your belly’s there to show it, be proud of it!

6 liverpool crikey you're a braver woman than me!!

Yeah I think I am naturally an apple so maybe I just need to lose more weight overall to see an effect on my tummy. And maybe it needs more time than just a year given how rough twin pregnancy is on the core muscles!!

How much sleep do you get? Sleep deprivation really messes with your metabolism, making it difgicult to lose weight. Are the twins good sleepers?

Is it really just “fat” as you say or is it Diastasis Recti, ie a gap between your abdominal muscles?

Mine are ten. When I was breastfeeding them I lost loads of weight. Put it all back on when I stopped :-(

Have you had a check for diastasis rectii? This is when the muscles down the middle of your tummy have separated. I went to physiotherapy and they did an ultrasound and showed me where the muscles had separated.

When you lie down flat on your back and feel your tummy is there a gap in the middle? Hard to explain, but if there is you do need physiotherapy to do the right excercises to close it up. Normal workouts might make it worse.

I know lots of twin mums whose stomachs have gone back but not me unfortunately :-(

Girl and Steam - thanks. I did actually go to a women's health physio some months ago as I was scared I had a prolapse (I don't) and she checked for diastasis recti and said not. My tummy muscles can pull in properly (I have started planking recently again) so I think probably no?

Littlecabbage - are they good sleepers you say.... how shall I put this.....

AH HA HA HA HA they have actually both slept thru the last 2 nights and those 2 nights are the first time I have got more than, ooh, 3-4 hours' sleep max at a time for about 13 mos. And often it's more like 1.5h, up, another couple of hours, up, 45 min, alarm goes off....

So maybe you are right!

Sorry no, still hangin' in there and they're 8. I have had two more since. I find hooky knickers help.

I think that’s your answer then! I’m in a similar position, and telling myself not to stress about it till I am getting more sleep!