To ask if you can get your figure back after a second/third c section

[Mumof3almost4]

Just that really...
I'm possibly going to have a section, I've had one before and a further op which had to go back through some of my scar.

I've been going to the gym to keep fit and healthy during my pregnancy. I'm just curious to know whether after 2/3 sections it would be possible to ever be slim again or will there always be an overhang??

Yes.

I have an overhang after two sections but I am still carrying two extra stone. If you are fit anyway and still managing to exercise whilst pregnant I would say you are giving yourself the best possible chance of avoiding an overhang.

I have a lopsided overhang that I think is permanent.
I am lighter now than I was before my first baby and had 2 sections.
It’s not that bad and the rest of my stomach is now sort of wrinkly from the stretching although no stretch marks.
I think I look ok with clothes on but my bikini days are over!

Thanks! I have a bit of overhang where the scar tissue must be worse from where they went in for the operation afterwards. I just wonder what it would look like eventually.

I've had 2 sections, with a vaginal birth in between. My stomach looks better after the second section; the consultant doing the op told me he was cutting away the old scar and disposing of it, so a bit of a tummy tuck really.
I think he was very experienced. I had placenta praevia as the placenta had adhered to the old scar tissue from a very difficult emergency section previously.

The overhang seems to be purely a weight issue. The scar is not stretchy, so although the rest of your tummy skin stretches to accommodate the extra fat, the scar doesn't, hence overhang. Losing a stone has removed all signs of mine.

Following

I’ve had 3 sections (most recent earlier this year). I’m pretty slim but not toned. No overhang, just a scar below my bikini line that is fading fast and a bit of puffiness above the scar. Pretty sure that would go if I did some exercise.

I think (hope!) scar massage can help with the overhang. (Read it on the internet and am trying). I also have had 2 c sections plus other abdominal surgery so i have a criss cross mess.

Been doing the massage for a couple of weeks and there may be a very slight improvement if I squint...

Does it matter? Your life is never going to be the same again so why expect your body too?

It took me about 12 months to get rid of the overhang from my fourth c section but I looked slim beforehand and most people probably wouldn’t have considered it a overhang in the first place.

I have had 4 sections. I have a very clear overhang with a Bmi of 21-22. I do do some exercise. I'm still trying to lose it... But it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. You can't see it in clothes and I fit in 8-10s. But it is very clearly there when I'm in my underwear.

I’m 5 months post my 2nd section. I am back in my normal size jeans and have no overhang although my tummy is a bit more wobby than before! If/ when I start doing abs exercising I think it will almost be back to normal (I hope....).

You will always have an overhang after a section. The skinnier you are, the less it shows.

Mine's ok but I am quite slim (3 c sections)

I'm 9 months pp from 2nd section and no overhang, it took me 9 months to lose the 10kg baby weight and once that went all I have left is the scar.

I've had 3 c sections. I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight but still have a very slight overhang this time round. Tbh it doesn't really affect my figure too much and I think with a bit of effort I could improve it.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply I appreciate it. It's making me feel a bit better. Most important thing is obviously a healthy baby but the lasting effects of another potential surgery does worry me.

@veraismyspiritanimal

Does it matter? Your life is never going to be the same again so why expect your body too?

What’s wrong with wanting to have your body in some semblance of how it used to be?

It’s alright actually OP; now I’ve stopped having babies I’ve worked to get strong and fit and my body fat has shrunk. However my third CS really corrupted my lower abdominal wall so I’ve a scar that looks very deep and there’s a kind of bulge under the scar.

Otherwise I feel as slim and fit as I’ve ever done and I don’t think my scar is horrible, I’ve made peace with it is what it is, a bit of an anomaly but not bulgy or gross, just a pubic postbox

3 sections and no overhang. I'm not super skinny but always been a stable size 12/14 and had quite small pregnancy bumps.

I've got a definite overhang after one section and I'm quite slim, 5'4 and 9 stone. I had 2 vaginal births before then and my stomach went back to normal afterwards, but the section plus perhaps the fact it was twins so I was ENORMOUS seems to have put paid to my flat stomach, despite a fair bit of exercise and a good diet

Dsis has had 3 sections and no problem getting her figure back, but tbh she never really lost it. She's always been slim.

No one seems to have suffered too badly. I'm feeling reassured thanks 😊

@grassisjeweled

You will always have an overhang after a section. The skinnier you are, the less it shows.

No true. My surgeon said it was down to the skill of the surgeon. Something to do with stitching the fat layers under the scar right (bleugh). He was an arrogant git but I have no overhang.