Curious about so-called 'cesarean overhang'

[Lunarlyte]

Hi, I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant with my second baby and am considering an ELCS due to ongoing problems with my back (coccydynia) during the labour of DD1.

I feel weird asking about the so-called 'CS overhang' when there are so many other more important things to be considering about cesarean delivery but I'm wondering nontheless. It periodically crops up when I read about CS and I was wondering whether many of you ladies who have had cesareans experienced this? If so, is it a permanent change? How can it be rectified? Other than this and scar, did your body change?

I'm a touch under 5'8 and weigh 9st5lbs when not pregnant. My bump isn't particularly big but obviously is compared with my non-pregnant body.

Sorry, I know it's a terribly vain question!

its permanent when I am carrying a few extra pounds, it goes on above the scar in an over hanging pouch instead of evenly and roundly IYKWIM

but if Im in shape it's not really prominent

I have an overhang. I think that it is a result of the scarring preventing abdominal fat from being evenly distributed, IYSWIM.

I dont knwo how permament it is, I had my last CS 5 years ago and it is still there. I have found that weight loss and abdominal exercises have reduced it. I think that a tummy tuck would get rid of it.

I dont think that the size of the overhang is really related to the bump, more to the amount of fat.

I have it and I hate it. Last year I ran a half marathon and was in the best physical shape of my life and the overhang was still there :(

I also have stretch marks on my belly and the skin is generally quite loose. I like the rest of my body apart from my post preg, post-CS tum.

It has actually disappeared atm but only because I have a big pregnant tum again!

I have seriously considered surgery to get rid but DH thinks I am mad and terribly vain to consider it! can't really justify the cost either.

I'm 5ft2, and 8st9. about half a stone lighter than pre pg. Bump was small. I'm trim but by no means tiny. DS is 2. The overhang really is tiny on my right and non existent on my left . I think the right is worse because the wound opened a bit there. Not as bad as it sounds, just needed some antibiotics. only noticeable when naked and from certain angles. Even in fairly skimpy bikini bottoms it just doesn't show. It takes some time to settle down after the op as there is lots of swelling. Oh and numbness. I would say that the healing process took about 6 months, for all swelling and twinges to subside. I am still numb 3 inches immediately above but not below the scar. The scar itself is a fine white line. Personally, the scar and the overhang are a badge of honor and I am proud of them. And my body is nicer than it's ever been. Breasts up from a DD to an E, arms toned from carrying lazy toddler.....

I had one for about a year and then it disappeared. It's completely gone now.

I have a little bit of an overhang. I think if I gained weight it could potentially become quite prominent.

I had my 2nd cs 6 months ago. First time round after taking up running and getting very fit, it did go. This time round I work out daily, am the same weight as pre pregnancy, same waist measurement, good upper abdominal definition but the overhang won't go. It's mainly skin tbh and it's stitched too tight to properly distribute. I look fine in clothes but out of them am conscious of it.

Interesting scar pics here.

I was really fat when I had my ELCS 20 months ago and had a huge overhang afterwards. I'm now still overweight but have lost a lot of weight (at least 5 stone) and taken up running. I still have a wobbly tummy (working on it!) but the overhang has gone. The scar is barely noticeable, just a very fine white line. The area above is a bit numb but not a problem.

I have c section overhang from 20 year ago, it didn't make any difference when I was lighter or a bit heavier.

The scar area was numb for around 18 months and now I still have little feeling in that area - so I guess it is the fat and the nerves all gone that make that section of skin different

I have a really bad overhang. I lost a lot of weight (6 stone) rapidly after DD2 though and I think that didn't help matters. It's just loose skin, so my weight doesn't really affect it. GP has said surgery is the only option, but I wont get it on the NHS and we simply can't blow £5k on my stomach!

just wondering how showofhands knew there was a website with csection scar images.... still, good to see that mine is just as unattractive as others! isn't the internet marvellous!

None here, but I have a very flat stomach.

I have a very unflat stomach, but no overhang. I didn't get any stretchmarks, either - I wonder if this is connected to skin elasticity, rather than fat?

I googled for images of cs scars idealism...

My midwives and consultant team said it's nothing to do with the skill of the surgeon. It's luck.

Mine disappeared after maybe a year or so. (As did the scar, if I asked you to look for it now I would put a fair bit of money on you not finding it or picking one of my general tummy lines instead.)

Then I had DD (NOT by CS!), and ended up with general having-had-2-babies-overhang (and horrible wrinkly skin) instead.

Not sure if that will cheer you up or depress you further

I didn't have one after my first c-section,but I do now after the second.If I am thinner it is less but still there,it seems more to do with a lack of fat under the scar. I think surgeons probably do make a difference,some might be better at stitching the layers than others.Certainly my first scar was better overall.(different surgeons each time).Oh well, I won't have a tummy tuck so have to live with it,I do hate it though.

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your experiences in response to this post. I wonder if the condition of my pre-pregnancy tummy would have any effect on a post-CS tummy? I always had a flat tummy before my first baby and after DD1's birth in 2009 (I was 26), regaine it pretty quickly (within 12 weeks) with minimal effort.

My tummy stayed flat, even though I didn't really do any exercise other than walking. Maybe I should post a new thread asking about experiences/outcomes with the particular OB who would likely perform a CS.

Thanks again :) x

I think it has more to do with your body and how you scar, probabaly skin elasticity too, than anything to so with the surgeon.

i have had 2 cs and now nearly 3 years after my last one i dont have one anymore, yippee

i am pretty slim though

I don't have one, but I think it's because I'm slim. There's a bit where my stomach dips in over the scar, I assume it would start to overhang if I gained weight.

Still a bit numb after 2 cs's and a hysterectomy from 2006 - 2009. Scar's faded down to almost nothing though.

Skin elasticity does seem to be a factor. I have horrific stretchmarks as well - ie no elasticity.

Emcs three weeks ago and have not nixed an overhang

Can they develop over time?

FWIW I have lost 12kg since giving birth so maybe it shrank?

I have one exactly where a CS scar would be, except I've never had one...I also have really bad stretchmarks though - I also have slight joint hypermobility, which is a connective tissue thing, so I've always assumed it's to do with skin elasticity as well

I have the overhang, but I was (and am) substantially overweight. If I lose a few pounds I immediately notice the difference so if you're already in good shape I would think there's a good chance that it won't be an issue.

Also fwiw, I had problems with healing, but once it had the scar was barely visible within a very short space of time (and not just because of the overhang ).