Tummy muscles after second baby...

[Littlerayofsunshine]

I had my DD2 6 weeks ago. I also have my DD1 who is 20months old. So not a lot between them which may play a significant part.

I've found that my muscles are very weak, separated and flabbier than with DD1. I have gone back to 9stone 8 so far (im 5ft8) and usually 9stone 7.. I went up to just under 11stone i think but she was all bump.

10days late but amazing 1hour labour.

I am doing post natal exercises. but just want to know if anyone else had a different tummy after 2nd, and if it got worse with a 3rd/4th/5th etc...?

I got some stretchmarks with DD2 aswell which will fade, but its the odd shaped flabby muscles/still pokey out belly button on my skinny frame which looks odd. :s

hello - i'm a bit flabbier after my 2nd (had him 7 weeks ago). Whilst i was in labour, my poor old geriatric horse had an accident, so on day 5 after having DS, i was out mucking out twice a day and bending down washing and bandaging a battered leg - this, along with Bfeeding has made my muscles go back very quickly, much quicker than before, but I'm still fat, and by that I mean flab, not baby bulge. Should not have eaten like I did whilst P - ah well. I'm still much wider and bigger than before even though I'm weighing pretty much the same as before I got P. Phaps it's because things just need to settle back to their original shape. It took me 9 months to get my old shape back 1st time. My shoulders are broader now though, weird. I also had a great 2nd labour, 1.5 hours:) I'm not planning on having any more though. My pal is on her 4th pregnancy now, and got P when DC3 was a 3 months (randy cow) - she has always gone straight back - I'm sure you will be back to normal sooner than most if you are skinny:)

I had twins 10 months ago and am a little flabbier but then I went to 13stone (from 9st 8lb) and have not been able to exercise since March due to hernia (from lifting 2 babies in 2 car seats at the same time!). Am recovering from op and 3 weeks time I can exercise again. Back in Feb my tummy was almost back to shape (with stretchmarks), so a few weeks of exercise will sort me out.

You're very early days so relax and enjoy baby - chasing dc when crawling and carrying baby will tone you up! x

Yes I had separated muscles and a lot of stretched skin after second DC.

10 days is far too early to stress about it. You still have a lot of "bouncing back" to do, in 6 months your stomach will look very different. DC2 is now 2.5 and I am doing a lot of stomach exercises and noticed a big improvement in the separation.

Im concerned about how my bely button is repairing... its poking out then underneath it looks hollow...

i know time is a healer and its early days. just want to try hard to regain strength in my core as my back does get sore from lifting pushchair and getting the two of them in and out!

What will happen with the next pregnancy, especially if i dont leave it that long again? i'm not mad, i promise!

Could it be an umbilical hernia? I have this after 2 dc's this close together. My belly button didn't return to normal after dc2 and I just thought it was one of those things- it stuck out but also felt hollow underneath. It took me 3-4 years to be diagnosed with hernia and muscle separation. 6 weeks may be too early to tell but might be worth raising it with gp. If you have got muscle separation don't do sit-ups btw it makes the problem worse. There are all sorts of core strength work you can do- probably under supervision to improve muscle tone. Has worked really well for me although have not really lost the flab and haven't plucked up the courage to have my hernia repaired yet! Bit reluctant after 2 c-sections to be cut open and stitched up again.

You could try some post natal pilates - a good instructor will identify what muscles need to be repaired and the best exercises to do it.

I have had 2 CS's and separated muscles - pilates has pulled everything back in

There's 3.2 years between my two daughters and my tummy is definitely looser after my second bundle of joy!

I was 26 with DD1; I'm 29 now (DD2 is 12wo) and I'm working to tighten the old abs (had ELCS, too, so they need help!) I'm not flabby or anything and am getting into size 10-12 clothes; went from 9st4lbs to 10st8lbs and am now about 9st12lbs (5'8"). But my belly is rounder and not as firm. That said, 12 weeks is still early days in regaining ones old figure.

Just be sensible: eat well, exercise gently and you'll get there!

Sorry, didn't read entire thread - defo flag the belly button issue with your GP. your body has been through a lot - a pregnancy very quickly following your first pregnancy!

I'm trying to not think too much about it as it is still early days. It's just harder to except when I bounced back straight away after DD1. I'm 23 now the rest of me has gone back to normal but my tummy just looks odd! (+small area of wrinkly stretchmarkyskin) I will start the PN pilates & also aerobics within time.
It also leaves me with a sore back (from PGP in late pregnancy and lifting pushchair etc)

Will it just get worse with more pregnancies? even if I do the exercises?

I think that you need to see whether you have any abdominal separation issues first - even if this is the case, you can still do modified exercises.

There's a great postnatal exercise DVD by Erin O'Connor available from Amazon (it's excellent: I've been doing the (very gentle) programme for 6 weeks and am noticing a difference) and a book called 'Cesarean Recovery' by Chrissie Gallagher-Mundy. I know you didn't have a CS, but the exercises (wk 6 onwards) will be of help to you.

At 23 years of age, I totally understand why your body changing in the way that it has might be an issue for you. But your body has done amazing things in growing and giving birth to two beautiful babies. Body image has a large degree of connection to self-esteem, but if you ver feel down about the way you look, just remember what your body has done. Lean to accept your shape. It may not be your old body, but it is a body that has done a phenomenal job. Twice.

:)

I've read somewhere that midwives and doctors recommend that mums lose their baby weight and tone up between pregnancies. Maybe you didn't get the chance to with such a small age gap?

If you tone up between this and a potential third pregnancy, then your tummy should 'spring back' better next time. You're only 23, so time (collagen and elastin!) are on your side x

Thats what I do think and to be honest thats what keeps me going (when i feel low about my new tummy shape) The main issue is how weak my tummy/ back feel. but thank you I understand what you mean :) I think pregnancy and giving birth is amazing and have had amazing experiences luckily. us women RULE ;)

Try to go and see a physio who specialises in postnatal women. i saw one at the end of my pregnancy with DC3 and wish I'd gone much earlier (in my second pg at least). She found that my stomach muscles were 8cm separated (rather than 2-3cm as they should be) after the birth - gave me special exercises to do which gradually closed the gap over the next 6 months. Made an enormous difference. The earlier you catch it the easier it is to correct.

Littleray, look up diastasis recti. From what you describe that's possibly what's going on. Very common in pregnancies close together/multiples etc. The linea alba that holds the abdominal muscles together gets stretched beyond the point it can come back again. Anything over 2cms separation is considered an issue. It is more than just pregnancy flab.

So, you need to see a specialist physio, get some exercises and avoid certain things (like jumping up from bed without turning over first!). It will get better, but maybe not ever perfect (I'm having to come to terms with that after having a DD then 24 months later twin boys!).

Btw, I have exactly what you say - a herniated tummy button and then a hollow bit under. It sort of looks like one of those jowly dogs...

And ps it isn't just vanity getting this sorted - having this separation does make your lower back weaker, your lost your core after all.

rednellie Thats the thing that concerns me. The vanity part does annoy me and sometimes depress me but its the impact on my core & back.

I am trying to do the small exercises in the evening (from physio) but nothing seems to be bringing them back in. im now 8.5weeks postpartum.
I'm starting a post-natal pilates class for 6 weeks in September, but in the mean time I want to be exercising and feeling improvements, or is it still too soon?

As for the saggy tummy skin on my small frame - i suppose i just have to deal with it. the most annoying thing is that from the sides its fine. but i have a strip down my tummy (as if linea nigra) of stretchmarks and wrinkly skin.

no creams will help will it? or the exercises? the rest of me has gone back to size 8/10, 9st6 but the sagging is there.

and the thing that most concerns me is my belly button area. it popped out with both children (19mths between them) and this time its not gone back. and my muscles underneath feel like they're broken and floating?

GP didnt advise much :s