Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

C-section overhang advice

13 replies

Pitapotamus · 21/08/2021 22:46

I had a c section 2 months ago, I still have some weight to lose but it’s clear to me that the incision is not going to look ‘right’ even once I’ve lost the weight. It’s like the surgeon pinched the skin too much and basically stitched me up way too tight so I have a major over hang / the scar is indented with a fold of skin over the top of it. It is really uncomfortable as the waist band of my pants keep getting caught in the weird indented bit.

I feel really annoyed because I’m my opinion it was probably caused by bad stitching up rather than it being an unavoidable side effect of the surgery. It’s my second c section and I didn’t have this the first time round. According to my google searches the only way to fix it would be to have a tummy tuck which is cosmetic and therefore not available on nhs or under my health insurance.

Is this one of those situations in which women are expected to put up with damage through childbirth as if it’s normal? It makes me really angry because I feel like if this had happened after any other type of surgery I’d be offered some means of surgically fixing what is essentially an undesirable but fixable outcome of necessary surgery.

I really don’t want to have another operation. Is there anything non surgical that I could do to fix this - I feel so uncomfortable with it and quite disfigured. Every time I go from sitting to standing and vice versa it catches in my waistband so I’ve had to start wearing granny pants which come up over my belly button.

OP posts:
Panda2021 · 21/08/2021 23:01

Same here Second baby !! Was told it is after a second section and the re stitching of the same area? Over a year later it is no different and all trousers/ pants/ pjs etc sit in the indent!
Iv still weight to lose but dont imagine it’ll be any different

Pitapotamus · 21/08/2021 23:04

It makes me really angry that there seems to be this attitude that women should just ‘put up’ with what I would consider to be fixable childbirth injuries. I’m slightly despairing. I don’t really care what it looks like, it’s the discomfort that’s bothering me.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 21/08/2021 23:07

I’m so sorry OP, that’s awful.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Hotmess1 · 22/08/2021 00:12

If it’s any consolation I have exactly the same as a result of a laparatomy for endometriosis. My stomach has never been the same since and it is just as a result of how I was stitched up, but I definitely wasn’t offered any kind of surgical fixing afterwards to make it look ‘better’ so it’s not just something which women who have children have to put up with. It’s shit but the nhs have bigger fish to fry I guess x

Panda2021 · 22/08/2021 04:26

I had adhesions/scar tissue in my stomach from my first section which made by second difficult and I was operated on the day after and a drain was inserted to my stomach so I have also the scar of this. My lower stomach is still full of scar tissue and very hard to touch in places-particularly around above the c section scar and the other scar sides. I also experience a tugging feeling/ is this similar to you?
The reason I mention this as for me I was told the overhang /bulge is most from the restitching but also hampered greatly by the scar tissue that is left around this area. I was never ever once told to massage my scar/ tummy after my first section and my doctor since has told me had i done so my adhesions would have broken down and been less so. This is advice that should be given to all those have had sections.( or any tummy surgery)
Since my second in an effort to break some of this scar tissue down I have had several sessions with an oestopath and also woman’s physio- have sessions of scar release treatment - myofascial release and also scar massage. There was some improvement on the hardest of the area of my bulge. Iv been told to continue deep massage of the area ( have to massage hard) everyday- can look up your tube for c section massage.
Admittedly I don’t do the massage every day but this post had prompted me to get doing it again. Perhaps this is something u could try yourself at home? Just a thought , it’s absolutely terrible that we have to
Put up with these things and any person with any major surgery will be similar as a previous poster mentioned, hopefully the massage helps in your case and perhaps some myofascial release if of interest to you xx

Pitapotamus · 22/08/2021 18:48

Thanks everyone. I’m hoping things will improve when I’ve lost the fat around the scar. And I’ll try the massage. I’m also trying bio oil to see if that loosens things up a bit. I just feel angry all the time about it. I’m trying to focus on the improvements I can make rather than being cross about what’s happened.

OP posts:
CausingChaos2 · 22/08/2021 18:56

I’m sorry. It’s really frustrating when something like this happens. I don’t think it’s just the misogynistic attitude towards women though (which absolutely exists). I have an adhesion after hip surgery and the hospital were never interested in sorting out that or the cosmetic side of it. My friend who is a nurse said not to let them leave it like it but they weren’t interested. My physio was more helpful who taught me how to deep massage the area and suggested using cupping to pull the fixed tissue away from where it stuck.

summerlovingvibes · 25/10/2022 20:25

Just picking up on this thread after second baby and bad overhand. Any luck / tricks @Pitapotamus ? X

superplumb · 25/10/2022 20:27

Have this too and much worse after 2nd c section. Even when I lost 4 stone and was lighter than pre pregnancy weight, it was still there. I'm saving for a tummy tuck as I also need muscles stitched back

RoseValleyRambles · 25/10/2022 20:27

Mine was the same and is much improved at 4 months. I suspect everything's just gently stretching and retaining flexibility. Hope you find the same!

Panda2021 · 25/10/2022 23:04

Two years after 2nd section- worse than ever! No big improvement but I’m also still overweight so that won’t help the general awfulness of my tummy!

LemonSwan · 25/10/2022 23:16

I had similar for mine (first albeit) but the big indented puckered bit and the overhang bit. Pants were a nightmare.

I just woke up one day and it had gone. I think after about 4 months like pp.

Bizarre! It must have all been swelling. Don’t despair yet!,

Mesbee · 05/09/2025 13:26

I know this is an old thread, but i’m interested to see how it turned out OP?

I’m in the same boat- 3 months PP 3rd c section. They did a beautiful job the first two times. But the 3rd is awful. Flat on the one side but a terrible puckered scar with overhang on the other. It’s definitely to do with the skill of the surgeon (or lack of) in this case. I have an appointment with gynaecology next week because it’s so painful when moving around. I know only surgery will fix it which I am 99% sure they won’t do. Paying privately is probably my only option. It’s so frustrating though as it’s preventing me from exercising. Not to mention leaving my confidence at rock bottom

New posts on this thread. Refresh page