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!

Noticed, not nixed...

btw Op you are not being vain, why shouldn't you be concerned about your post pg body?

and congrats on the pg btw x

btw it's not noticeable in a bikini, its way bellow that, the scar is very low and stays in, which means if I have a fat tummy it starts above that which is still very low in my abdomen

and I gained twice as much as you should with a pregnancy so that probably contributed to me having an overhang afterwards too

yeah me too shredded , its way down low just where the pubes start if i had any that is and i can STILL WEAR and look good in a bikini, yay

honestly its no where near as bad as people would have you believe.

Just looked at that link with all the over-hangs and that would have scared me rigid.

I had EMCS first time round so no choice, I was 29, lost all the weight (was returning to bitchy office so was motivated) 2nd baby by elective c section at 32 years old.

Never had the over hang bit, admittedly my belly goes out a bit above it but the skin is not over hanging the scar.

Scar silver now and a tiny line. Both times I was stitched with one continuous piece of thread, then I had a bead (yes a bead) put on each end to hold it in place.

I look fine in a bikini, the scar is literally where your pubes start so very low down.

I have a CS overhang, my bump was huge when I was pregnant with DD and I had no morning sickness at all so I just put weight on and on! I think with me being 33 when I had DD too made a difference, I think your skin doesn't snap back as well as in your 20's etc. I had an emergency CS too, so it was a bit messy scar bulges in places...

I have one...but it's not from my CS! It's from eating too much cake (post baby) and not doing any exercises

to clarify,personally my tummy doesn't cover the scar,but it does jut out above it ,the scar pulls in,as though I'm wearing really tight bikini pants,it makes the bit of fat above stick out.

No overhang post CS. Just didn't happen, thankfully. Pretty flat tummy...Except when I'm sitting on the couch like I am now.

I have my CS scar and now 4 little scars where they started my gallstone op keyhole.....then I have a huge 30 staple scar where they had to convert to full open up on my gall bladder after complications.
I love my battle scars, they don't bother me at all!

Thanks again everyone for all of your responses - I'm finding your comments to be very helpful MistymountainHop, I think I've felt bad about asking a question that could be construed as well, is vain because I don't have to have a CS; my back problem isn't deemed as a medical need and my CS, if I have one, would be put down to 'maternal request'. If anyone is interested about the details about this decision, please see my other thread 'Coccydynia and second delivery - what to do?' Essentially, my decision for a ELCS is supported by my consultant OB, but as a VB is viable, I have been given options as to how I can birth naturally. I'm worried though, and particularly since consulting a physio and a chiropractor, how my tailbone will handle the strain of another labour/delivery and potential lenghly recovery afterward. An ELCS would offer damage control to a previously damaged area (tailbone, coccygeal ligaments/pelvic floor) albeit by damaging the abdominal muscles.

Soooooo, after having the frankly horrendous risks of CS explained to me; after thinking about how they might relate to my individual circumstances (after lengthly talks with my family and other lovely ladies here on MN - again, details are on my other thread), to think about whether I may or may not get an overhang seems low on the list of things to worry about. Yet I still wonder ...

Maybe it's a way of coming to terms with the decision of electing to have a CS? Like, reading the smallprint before you sign the contract, so to speak?

I don't think the risks of an elective cs are horrendous, as you say... Particularly when compared with what I consider the horrendous risks of vaginal birth! Guess that's why I had an ELCS. You choose your risks. No easy way to have a baby.

Ive had one elcs, I am same height and about 9st pre pg. I had little overhang at first and that soon went within months. I don't have any stretch marks and currently 37 weeks with no. 3.

Risks with elcs are lower than with emergency. What are the frankly horrendous risks that particularly worry you?

I need to take a look at yr other thread, but I chose cs, put down as maternal request because I had a fourth degree tear with my first, obv. I could give birth vaginally, but not on your nelly mate. For me the known risks of elcs far outweigh a repeat of what I experienced first time round. Who gives a rats what it's put down as, your consultant seems to be backing you and surely it would take a great weight of your mind?

Indeed!! To be honest, I think that the risks of ELCS have been overplayed to me, whereas the benefits have been limited solely to knowing baby's birth day. There is a lot more to it that just this, and my individual risks mean that I am at a higher risk of doing the same damage (or more) to my tailbone with a VB, even if it is 'normal'.

Really scary stuff like hysterectomy is increased with ELCS compared to VB, but that risk is negligible in that with ELCS it's 0.3% and VB is 0.1% (source: NICE. Full link is on my other thread, to anyone who would like to know more). I totally, completely agree that there is no easy way to have a baby!! I'm just trying to make to best decision, as I know there is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer.

Just to add, that I mentioned I had a hysterectomy back there ^ but it was for a close shave with cervical cancer. Nothing to do with my cs's. Just another bit of abdominal surgery to add to my list!

Bigteadrinker it's stuff like increased risk of hysterectomy (I'm 29 and we may want to have more children), maternal death (crikey! But those same NICE guidelines actually demonstrate conflicting data on this subject), and stuff like increased recovery time with CS. However, my tailbone pain has never 100% disappeared, so my personal recovery time therefore might not correlate to the usual CS/VB recovery times.

I think I always thought I'd need a CS if I got pregnant again, but have doubted - or been scared out of - that for a while once faced with the reality and weight of the decision. I think I'm more inclined to have an ELCS; it seems to be the most sensible option. Like I say, I think maybe this might be my way of actually making my mind up

Thanks for that, Meglet although I am sorry to hear about what you have experienced. I hope that you're all well and recovered now x

Just read your other thread. If it were me.... I would go for CS, easy decision. I would honestly not have thought you were a surgical risk, you are not overweight (so lower risk of wound infection, you presumably don't have a low lying placenta which increases the risk of haemorrhage and hysterectomy. Do you have any other risks for c section then, surgical risk factors I mean, like bleeding disorders?

I admit I am pro cs because of the utter contrasts of my first and second deliveries. To be perfectly frank and slightly pessimistic, I can see this pain you still have getting worse if you try for a vb. like you say it certainly won't make it better!

As for knowing the date being the only positive thing... What planet are they on?!!

I struggle to believe the 1 hysterectomy in 6 weeks thing too, I have never met anyone either online or in RL who has had a hysterectomy after CS.

Good luck with your decision! Xx

lunar all ok, it was never full blown cancer, I just needed more and more bits of my cervix cut out then it was all whipped out after a few years. Just the first severe cell changes before it really kicks in probably made it sound more dramatic than it was .

Just to add, with both the hysterectomy and death, we do not know the previous risk factors or history in those poor women. If you are going in perfectly healthy, really it's not something that you should be overly worrying about.

Another thing to think about if you are trying to work out whether to have a CS or VB is how many more children you are planning on having - the more you want, the more reason to go for VB, and vice versa.

I lost count of the number of times doctors told me about the risks of hysterectomy etc when I was booked in for my ElCS (placenta previa). When I actually pinned one down for details he told me that in 30+ years of C sections he had done two hysterectomies.

The thing about the increased risks is that C sections are done because of an increased risk anyway, so the bleeding/hysterectomy/death etc are more likely because of the reason for the CS, not the CS itself. For example in my case the risk was of severe bleeding because of the placenta previa, not because of the CS.

Oh and I didn't have any adverse effects, despite the risks - mine was a very easy one apparently!

Bigteadrinker, thank-you for taking the time to read and offer your thoughts about my other thread. What you have said has been very helpful and helped to calm fears about things that I am coming to realise have been played-up.

I don't have any other surgical factors (at least, that are known) that would affect an ELCS. It's low risk, thankfully (taking the old coccyx out of the equation). I just keep having doubts, but I suppose that's natural when on the cusp of making a big decision.

Thanks, too, Panzee, for echoing these comments, and to everyone else who ha kindly shared their experiences in response to this thread xx