C-section pouch - am I being unreasonable thinking you need surgery to fully get rid of it?

[sunisbetterthanrain]

I’ve had 3 babies, 2 were cesarians (1 emergency). The last one was 3 years ago and I’ve always lost the baby weight within 6 months. I’m extremely active in terms of cardio and I do on/ off training to focus on my core, sit ups / crunches etc. admittedly I am not a “gym freak” (more of a long distance runner) but I’m slim enough yet I have this roll of fat above my scar which seems like it is here to stay. Currently debating forking out for a personal trainer but in reality can I actually do anything to get rid of this stubborn roll of fat?! Has there been too much muscle damage? Basically my charming DH thinks if I work at it enough I could flatten it but I told him I think it would require surgery. A quick Google search and AI agrees with me I might add!

I don’t know about charming, what a d!ck comment

Firstly well done for making 3 wonderful humans! Secondly well done for managing to cope with parenting and also looking after your own fitness! You are an incredible lady. Yes it will take surgery to change that small part of your body. Up to you (not your husband).

I wouldn’t spend the money on a personal trainer. I’d either use it for surgery or see if there’s such a thing as doing a bit of liposuction or something to flatten it out.

I had two EMCS 18 and 14 years ago. I run, weight lift, hike, cycle, eat very healthily and am remarkably fit.

The overhang will never ever go. Thankfully, DH has never suggested that I just need to try a little harder.

No I don’t think it does. I have the same and have a bmi of around 20.5/21. I lost 4 stone after my section. Some days I’m stoic about it. Some days I feel quite sad about it. I realise it’s ridiculous and shallow but I can see it in all my clothes and I’m sick to the back teeth of not being able to wear what I want. I’ll be having the surgery once I have hopefully had a second baby and have the money!

I think for most people yes. I was usually 7st 10-12 pre pregnancy. I got down to 7st 8 after and I still had a bit of a bump above where the cut was. I mean pretty flat but not what it was before and I hated it.

It’s def more a pouch after second c section and I’m about half a stone heavier than I was after my first. Although girl I worked with was super slim and in to fitness and hers wouldn’t disappear either just a little bump at the incision. She went for a mini tummy tuck and still wasn’t satisfied with the results and went back for a full one. Hers is def flat now (she showed me) but in all honesty would I pay thousands to get rid of it and risk surgery. No and most people wld still think my tummy is flat as it can’t really be seen but I know it’s there and I’ve just taken it as well it gave me my babies and isn’t that bad really.

I’ve had 2 abdominal surgeries, not birth related but they followed 2 large babies. It definitely won’t shift, my overhang is still there 20 years after my first abdominal surgery!

I’ve accepted it, I see it as a reminder I survived cancer because the first surgery was for cervical cancer and it’s a part of my story!

I’m 50 now so I care less than I did and for me, surgery isn’t an option I would ever choose but it would be the only solution! Your DH is not being kind!

But why won’t the overhang go away?

Because your muscles are cut into when having a C-section. It’s not fat.

Yep this is where I am at, I’m a bit fixated on it and feel I can’t wear certain outfits! But then feel silly for thinking that.

Well I’m glad I’m not alone in this! I don’t think I would go down the surgery route as it feels a tad drastic really plus the cesarians were bad enough!

Have you seen a c-section scar therapist? I have a very prominent pooch above my scar (granted I am still losing weight as I gained a lot while BF!) but I went to a scar therapist when DS was 20 months old and she assessed it and told me I had a lot of adhesions and scar tissue under the surface and as such it would never go fully flat, but they can massage it and do some scar tissue treatment to help minimise the appearance. I had to stop going to her after a few sessions due to unforeseen issues arising with £, but I’ve kept up what she showed me and it’s helped a bit. I think if I’d stayed with a professional it would have looked a lot better! It may be worth seeing if there’s one in your area, mine is a women’s physio. Even having an initial assessment to see if they can help or not.

the charming was sarcasm but in fairness to him I do moan about it all the time without fully dedicating exercise to that area but that’s because I feel like it’s all a bit pointless, whenever I do nothing changes

I didn’t have a c section but did have 2 babies close together and I had a huge bump wih my second. My children are young adults now and I have a pouch. I lost over 2 stone, did boot camp and personal training and still had the pouch. I just can’t get rid of it. My tummy muscles have just stretched too much.

I find it annoying by dh always reminds me that it held our two babies and kept them safe.

It doesn’t go away I’m afraid. I have had a c-section (also emergency) and no amount of work will make it completely go away. Having said that - my DH never thought to make such a comment and even actively said to me how I didn’t need the surgery and it was up to me! That is a terrible thing to say to you!

I’ve had 2 emc and have no shelf or pouch. But I think it’s either luck, the way my body is or due to the place the surgeon cut? I don’t know the answer but I don’t have one at the moment (3rd c section might prove differently)

Sorry, can I just ask what you all define as the pouch? I had two sections and have a sort of bump (mum tum?) that shows when I wear dresses and tight clothes, and then lower down there's the scar with an indent running across the way. I thought everyone got the bump whether c section or vaginal birth from having stomach muscles stretched out?

Tell your husband to do some research into what they're actually cutting through to do a c section and then come back to you and explain how he thinks exercise will fix it. He's an idiot.

Fwiw my mum was petite and extremely skinny (side effect of being a smoker, it was the 80s) and she had a very noticeable c section overhang, apologies I can't think of any other way to describe it but basically looked like a pot belly. She wanted to try and change it she was advised that it wasn't possible and if anything, being so slim accentuated it. Her stomach was going to stay that shape and being so slim elsewhere eg in her torso and thighs meant her belly appeared larger in proportion.

Is your husband normally so stupid ignorant and insensitive?

ask him to make his penis grow an extra x inches, eg 4 or 5. 🤔

Mine is a bit like an overhang of flesh over the scar, not what you describe. It’s horrible and very visible in gym clothes and swim suits, but I had twins and they were full term and big.

I think my scar might be quite low down so that's given me extra space between the pouch and scar, so it doesn't overhang as such. But I very much have both elements! I wear a lot of high waisted jeans that hide it well. Leggings look dreadful though, even my super thick sweaty Betty ones that were so flattering pre kids can't disguise it.

I am just under 8.5stone and 5"3.

I have not had a flat stomach since my first child was born (naturally). The shelf from my third child (who was born by cesarian is noticeable but I didn't ever get a flat stomach back anyway (and I boxed for years and before fights on a couple of occasions I was below 8 stone and very muscular).

So.....I'd let it go. I have. We have 3 children. Our bodies area bit different, that is to be expected. I have always lost all the weight quickly but my body is different to how it once was.

I did manage to get rid of mine after my second C section - I lost quite a bit of weight (got my BMI to the low end of healthy) and was doing mostly weights at the gym to help. Not sure whether some of it is luck depending on how they stitch you back up? 🤷🏻‍♀️ recently had a third section so will see if I manage it this time! Definitely looking pouchy so far although it is early days!

See if a c section therapist can do any work on it to release the scar and fascia which cause the pouch. If that doesn't work then yeah, you'll need surgery. The over hang/ pouch is caused by incorrect tightness on the suturing - very easy to get wrong when the flesh is swollen etc after pregnancy. The tightness can then be exacerbated by adhesions or scar tissue and sometimes by a disproportionate amount of fat cells in a particular area. Weight loss and exercise won't do much. For people who do not have the c section pouch, it's mainly just luck (I'm one of the lucky ones).

Only had the one baby, I’m 4’10 and a size 4/6 - so I’m ‘petite’. But I have a huge C-section belly, like no matter how much weight I lose I just have this flab. I used to be so disgusted with myself - I’d be terrified to look in the mirror or buy new clothes or anything because I felt disgusting. But as time went on I realised it’s kind of like a scar - I grew a baby, that left its mark on me and its left its mark on me and became part of me. I guess in a way, I never had a flat stomach prior to having my baby (ibs) so now I feel like I don’t need to worry about my stomach being flat or bloated because it’s never going to be flat again lol