Indent between 2 inches above c-section scar

[bertie007]

Hi. Am worried as have a strange indent 2 inches above c-section scar where my belly ought to be rounded. I am worried it will stay like this. What did they do to me to cause this? I am not overweight (very sick during pregnancy) and had my baby 13 weeks ago. I have started doing some gentle 'pull in the belly button' type exercises which haven't changed this indent thing. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? The indent means that as soon as I eat and get a bit of belly it just sticks out so much as protrudes out over this indent thing!

not sure i can picture what you mean, is it parallel to your section scar? or vertical?

parallel.

It sort of sucks in where it should stick out.

I had that, I didn't lose it until I lost my baby weight AND got my abs back again (about a year?)

Sometimes muscles can split - could it be that? Hard to tell without seeing it. I'd ask my gp when I next went but it's still early days for your body to be recovering. x

There is a gap in the muscles but I had that with my first two children (normal delivery, not c section) and didn't have this indent, it is def something to do with the c section surgery.

Sugarnappea, what sort of exercises did you do, can you explain? Thanks!

I sort of have this but for me it's more that the area round the scar is still sort of swollen and lumpy, and then my belly's still a bit stretched and loose higher up, so I sort of have a flatter bit between my tummy and the lumpy scar (I'm also quite skinny otherwise). It looks worse if I wear jeans as the waistband digs in and accentuates it. I'm hoping that the scar will get less hard and lumpy over time which would make everything look better.

Hi, I used to be an acrobat so had incredibly strong abs - once upon a time. After my baby was born I did yoga and pilates about three times a week and then started aerial training again after about 6 months but only one day a week. Each of these activities focus on core strength and whole body strength not specific targeting of your abdominals. I prefer plank position held or with arm or leg raises (trickier) or plank walking or dish rocks over crunchies because they are more functional exercises and are positions one needs in the air, noone ever really needs to be strong in a curled position in fact our abs switch on when we reach back or stretch out. I may not be making any sense sorry, just think crunchies are rubbish...
good luck, you will get your body back - eventually.

What is the plank position, please?

oh, sorry - plank is held push up position with a straight body and straight arms, focus on your abs squeezing back to your spine. Make sense?

Preparing for a CS in two weeks time, I ran across this C-panty product. There is a picture if you click on "C Panty in Action" in the top right corner. OP, is this the type of indentation you have? Does anyone with CS experience think these pants would be useful? I've read that the scar may feel better with a little pressure applied to the area.

I suppose the panty thing might help, but if also imagine costs a few bob. Massageing the scar is the best thing. It will be tender, do it as hard and for as long as you can bear a few times a day.

I know this is a really old thread, but I have this exact same thing from my section 4 weeks ago and I'm freaking out slightly. I've struggled to find any info anywhere about this. Did yours eventually go away? My GP said it looked like my internal stitches are too tight and pulling my abdominal wall inwards, and that surgery might be the only way to correct it if it doesn't resolve when the stitches dissolve.

Hi! I replied to the op a couple of years ago (as 'diyqueen') - mine did get better but took a long time (about a year / year and a half for the swelling and lumpiness and indent to reduce significantly). It's early days for you, just get back to a good diet and exercise after a few months and hopefully things will improve, you have a lot of mending to do so take it easy and try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know, could have cried when I looked in the mirror for quite a long time so I can sympathise)

Thanks for your reply DIY, and the sound advice. It's good to hear that it did eventually get better!

I have this and am quite interested to see others do too. DS is 3 now and I am 16 weeks prehbsby you can still see it. Is it just cosmetic or can it cause any problems? I always thought it.might be muscle related rather than surgical.

I have been told to wait 3-4 months for my stitches to dissolve and then get a referral to the gynae clinic at my local hospital if it hasn't improved. I have pain all around the area, and it feels tight when I walk or twist, so not just cosmetic for me, although the appearance does really upset me. I am only a few weeks post op, so still crossing my fingers. No improvement at all so far though.

4 months out and things have improved slightly. The area has softened and I have lost a little weight, so it doesn't look quite so circus freak show now. The dent is still there though. I had a follow up appointment at the hospital this morning. It wasn't that helpful. I was told to put bio oil on my hideous huge crooked scar and to do crunches. Very helpful. They did put my mind at rest about the pains though, and confirmed that there wasn't a hernia. Going to start to really go for it now on diet and exercise to try to flatten my tum. If things still look repulsive by a year then I will seriously consider saving for cosmetic surgery!

I know this thread is now ancient, but I felt I should comment again in case it's of some use to someone some day. 2 years of back and forth to the hospital and they finally admitted that this was surgical error. The internal stitching had gone too deep and attached the outer layers to my muscles below where it was now held together permanently with scar tissue. With discomfort it was causing and the fact that it was obviously still really bothering me cosmetically (I hadn't been able to wear trousers for 2 years), they agreed to operate to release the scar tissue, booking it in as a scar revision. I still have a small dent there, but nothing like the bum bag I was left with before.

Thank you for updating on this post.
In August 2017 I had my second c section. I knew immediately it wasn’t right when I looked at my stomach. My outside incision was fine but the right side was pulled inward from the inside it was very noticeable there is an indent. One doc thought the stitches would release. I could get it revised but that’s almost like getting another c section. I decided to wait if I have another kid.
My issue is that it’s been a year and I’ve been spotting the whole time. Usually when I baby carry. I’m not sure if it has anything to do with my inner incision being too tight.
I got a uterine biopsy done just in case and everything was normal. I was wondering if anyone else has spotting from a c section that ended up like that .