If you've had kids... has the skin on your stomach ever gone back to normal?

[notspringingback]

I had my first when I was 36 and my second when I was 39 so not young. I've never had stretch marks, however, the skin on my stomach is a bit 'loose' when I am sat down IYSWIM. When I am standing up it's not noticeable.

I was curious if others have the same issue? I am a very similar weight now to before pregnancy (I'm a few KGs lighter now).

It's not something I lose sleep over, I was just curious. I assume there is nothing that will help (but if anyone has any wonderful fixes, let me know! 😂)

I have a crepey lower belly.
Other than that I'm pretty much the same as I was in my teens.
I am tall and slim. I am 56 and had my last child nearly 18 years ago.
The crepe has smoothed out when my belly is a bit bigger. I don't have stretch marks.

No, I was 26. Now 9 years down the line.

Yes, but I only had one, 8lb, natural birth, and I'm a runner and long distance walker so my belly was fairly well toned and flat to start with.

I think the 2nd baby often does the damage to tummy muscles.

Nope. I was very slim (size 8 at 5ft 7) before having my dd when I was 23 and I did stay quite slim afterwards but the skin on my tummy stayed loose, like a 80 year olds face 😂🙈 Then I had my second child when I was 34 and it was all downhill physically from there. To be fair it was a combination of autoimmune issues I developed around that time too that didn’t help but I put on so much weight, 4 stone ish and my stomach was absolutely wrecked. I’ve been left with an umbilical hernia and very bad separated muscles but the nhs won’t fix either. I’m 46 now and size 18 and my stomach is huge. It’s very annoying. I’ve done all sorts of exercises and diets over the years but nothing helps my stomach.

My first DC was 10lb 6oz and got really, really awful stretch marks. When I talk to friends they’ll say “Oh don’t worry, I’ve got awful stretch marks too”, and reveal their midriffs to show a couple of faint ones. They recoil in horror when I show them mine!

Decades later it’s still like an octopus’s head, even when I’ve been a size 8. On the plus side they’re silver now, not an angry purple. And no Amanda, I can assure you that no amount of Bio Oil is going to make any difference!

Mine went back to normal after all 4 dc in my twenties and thirties but then in my early forties I put on 3 stone due to medication and since losing (late forties) it I definitely am making up for the loose skin on my stomach! I finally look like I’ve had babies!

Yep, snapped back, but I've only had one and I was 23.

Mine did but they were both premature and I was mid twenties.

Mine never changed. I only had one child though.

Mine went back to pre pregnancy after my first pregnancy... Now has a whole pouch fold of loose skin after my second.

It upsets me but what can I do! 2 years pp and hasn't gone back. First time round my stomach went back to pre pregnancy skin texture by six months pp.

Mine did with weeks of my first birth. Mid 30s, vaginal delivery, breastfed baby.

It has been fucked since my 2nd birth. Mid 40s, CS delivered , breastfed baby.🙈

Nope. They cut me from hip to hip and my stomach area now hangs down below the incision. My weight doesn’t matter, the skin and muscles just were never the same.

For stretchmarks and skin I dermarolled my stomach.

Look up Bubzbeauty on Youtube, her 6 months results video is amazing. She tightened up loose skin and she had some very deep stretch marks and her results are incredible.

Problem is I forget to do it. It works for scars too but I haven't done it on my c-section scar yet

No, DD was a massive baby and DS was only slightly smaller. I don't have stretch marks, but my skin is loose and no amount of exercise has changed it. It's not lack of muscle tone, it's just that I looked like Mr. Greedy when I was pregnant, all out front. I don't think my petite frame was designed to have a 10lb baby. 😂

I think crepey skin is different to stretch marks, no?

It did after my first I was 24 and she was 7lb6oz. Not after my 2nd who was 10lb 6oz and I’m only 5’ 🫣

Yes. Had 2 dc in early 20s then another at 40 (!) which was a C-sec but all still smooth and firm, thank Jesus himself. I do no exercise but think have lucky genes.

Nope. Tits are like spaniels ears too.

Yes @CandyCrushLevel14809 I have the crepey skin without stretch marks.

I think it’s just genetic! I’m smallish so was big when pregnant but no stretch marks, my stomach looks like normal and skin feels pretty soft still. I’ve had three children with my oldest age at birth earlier this year being 38!

My belly button still looks weirdly stretched though 🤣

I was 22 with eldest and 27 with the dts, was VERY lucky in that I pinged back straight away and the only stretchmark I got was about 2cm along my upper bum cheek. My boobs fair suffered for it though!

Yes mine did.

@RandomMess I do think there's a point at which your skin just can't fully recover. I was 6lbs -something and my Mum's skin bounced back, even though she was in her late 30's.

I was early-30's, but DD was so huge, she had to go straight into 3-6 months clothes!

My stomach bounced back really quickly after dc1 and was flat again within a couple of weeks of giving birth although the skin was slightly looser. After dc2, it took longer to get flat again- maybe a couple of months- and despite it looking flat when I’m standing up, as soon as I sit down it rolls and if I bend forward it hangs. It also looks dimply in the area above my belly button. But it could be worse.

That is one big baby, you poor bugger! All four of mine were less than 15lbs altogether