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Childbirth

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Original poster

How can I get rid of my C-Section (x2) Overhang??????

32 replies

EvanMom · 04/02/2004 13:02

What a great title. What a picture I must paint!

I have had 2 (emergency) C-Sections 15 months apart. I have lost loads of weight since ds2 born 6 months ago and am happy with my weight, but not the lovely bit of podgy flab sitting above my very neat, hardly visible C-scar.
How can I get rid of this?
I tried to do ONE sit-up yesterday and failed miserably. Husband had to help me in the end and even then I woke up this morning with that "blimey-I-must-have-exercised-loads-yesterday" feeling in my stomach.
Any other (sensible) suggestions, ladies?

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expatkat · 04/02/2004 13:15

I too have this overhang (as do most of my friends who have given birth) & I did not have a c-section! I think pilates can help. And surgery

Original poster
EvanMom · 04/02/2004 13:29

I thought this little treasure was for the C-Sectioners... something to do with the muscles being cut with little chance of a return to normal.
So where is Zeta-Jones' or Posh's overhang? Surgery??
Any suggestions on exercises?

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katierocket · 04/02/2004 13:36

I've got this aswell and I din't have a c-section either! Really weird and very horrid. I came to conclusion that only surgery would help as went through period of doing loads of sit ups and it just seemed to firm up the muscles behind the overhang

Original poster
EvanMom · 04/02/2004 13:39

Oh no. And there was me thinking I'd get my figure back..... eventually.... with a lot of hard work.
Any good news anyone . Please.

OP posts:
Nome · 04/02/2004 13:41

Yeah, I go to aerobics and am made to do loads of sit-ups. I am much fitter now, but no thinner and my overhang is, well, still hanging there, although there are actually muscles behind it now.

Original poster
EvanMom · 04/02/2004 13:50

Still no good news.

Felt ancient yesterday peering at the mega pants from M&S that claim to pull your tummy in. Is this my solution???? Quite happy, at 35 to move on to these, but would rather deal with the overhang than squash it into my pants. Roll on Valentine's day - sexy little black number for dinner out with my gorgeous hubby, take it off and hey presto... super squishy pants...it's your Granny!!!

Any good news?

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nutcracker · 04/02/2004 14:14

I've had 3 sections and have never managed to get rid of my overhang. I'm quite happy with the rest of my weight, it's just as soon as i sit down it looks disgusting

oliveoil · 04/02/2004 14:42

I will bookmark this thread for August when my second is due. Have mini overhang after one section but am lazy so probably my own fault (ie no situps).

Dh calls my scar 'Grace's door' which I think is quite sweet so I think I will christen my overhang 'Grace's roof'.

FairyMum · 04/02/2004 14:45

The celebs have tummy-tucks with c-sections I think. Or they go on crazy diets while their nannies take care fot heir kids. Don't compare yourself to them! I had 1 c-section and shaped up by swimming. Only excersise I do. Still have a litle bit of a tummy (even when not pregnant), but that is my baby-tummy and I love it. So does DH. All mums have nice soft tums, don't you think? I would hate to have Posh's body. I am not a 12 year-old boy!

luchar · 04/02/2004 14:47

Damn - thought I might get some help here too!! Also had 2 sections and have an overhang. Was thinking of getting a tattoo next to my scar with the names and dates of my DSs but not done it so far I am dieting at the moment - is there really no chance it will ever go completely I have tried to spread my fat out a bit by massaging it as my scar is right on my bone and feels like it needs some fat underneath it IYSWIM but it hasn't worked!

oliveoil · 04/02/2004 14:49

EvanMom - look what you have started, a run of ! We are all depressed now. (only joking)

katierocket · 04/02/2004 14:56

you see I really want to feel like that fairymum but I can't secretly I'd really like to have a body like VB.

I just can't help it.

FairyMum · 04/02/2004 15:00

VB never makes the list of most beautiful/sexy women despite her efforts not to eat! Men wants curves. Maybe even David according to Jordan....

Original poster
EvanMom · 04/02/2004 16:10

Sorry to cause depression.

I have just got back from shopping and guess what...? I am now the proud owner of a pair of M&S super pants that claim to flatten that stomach. I'll let you know how it goes. I'll probably be posting soon on the Relationships board "My husband has left me because he thinks I have turned into his Granny"

I don't want a body like Posh (I have boobs) but I want a FLAT stomach and I'm sure she has bought one of those!

Any other ideas on getting a flat stomach after childbirth???

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sykes · 04/02/2004 16:18

I had two c'sections - one emergency. I exercised a lot pre-pregnancy and a lot post-pregnancy. I recommend, pilates, body conditioning, swimming, running and kick-boxing. Oh and fit-ball classes. I think you have to make a massive effort c'section or no c'section but it does pay back in the end - well it did for me. But it's very hard work. I exercise at least five times a week. And I find it, sometimes, incredibly boring and hard work - but I wanted my figure back. I'm lucky in that I do a lot of classes at lunchtime - ie must be hard if at home and no one to look after the children. My doctor recommended massaging the scar with oil at first and I think sometimes due to stretched skin/bad luck there's only so much you can do. Apart from surgergy - a friend of mine had a tummy tuck after two massive twins.

Original poster
EvanMom · 04/02/2004 16:38

sykes.... are you saying that you now have no overhang? Sounds like an awful lot of work, though
I am however delighted there is hope - I just now need to find:
a) someone to look after the kids
b) the receipt for the super pants
Which of your long list of things will work best do you think?

OP posts:
sykes · 04/02/2004 16:43

It's a combination. Pilates is REALLY good - but, it's recommended that, if possible, you do it two/three times a week - ie, to really see a difference. Fitball is good too - again its core strength/isolation work. But you do need to do some aerobic stuff. I'd recommend joining a gym for a trial session and really getting the instructors to advise you - you don't have to pay for a personal trainer - there should be people there to help and advise anyway, recommend exercises/particular classses. I'm slightly (?) obsessive about exercise.

Original poster
EvanMom · 04/02/2004 16:47

...but what about the simple sit up or the tummy pull-in? (if I had any muscles to sit up with or pull in!).
I just don't think I am going to get the time to do loads of stuff....
BTW what is fitball?

OP posts:
sykes · 04/02/2004 17:01

Are you just starting to exercise again? If so, I'd be really gentle with yourself. Whenever you're walking try to contract your tummy muscles and "hold yourself" - a good feeling to get used to and to get used to your muscles again. Sit-ups are good, but, I think, you need to find out whether your abdominal muscles seperated during pregnancy - can't remember the technical term, but it does happen in pregnancy and in labour - know you had c'sections. Would be good to invest in a good book/get advice and build up slowly. I htink you'll need to do very gentle tummy exercises first - the ones they recommend post c'sections - did they give you a pamphlet in hospital?

AussieSim · 04/02/2004 18:18

EvanMom, what about buying DVD's or Videos, of Pilates or of Aerobics etc so that you can do it while your DS's are otherwise occupied, or books even. The older one might even find it funny and join in. I did Pilates out of a book while pregnant and found it quite good.

I have just joined a Gym that has a kids club and am making a resolution to go twice a week and possible supplement with some exercise at home.

For Cardio you could get a heart rate monitor chuck your DS's in their pram and walk at a pace that keeps you in the 'fat burning' zone.

Fit Ball or Swiss Ball or whatever are just rather large air filled balls that you can do exercises on - because they are prone to move they actually cause you to use your core muscles that you didn't even know you had. I guess some gyms do classes with them. Just sitting on one while working on a laptop resulted in me feeling my inner thigh and groin muscles more.

Good Luck!

squirmyworm · 04/02/2004 19:10

oh evanmom you have made my day. I wondered if I was the only one with the strange little new balcony over my bits. I also started to try sit ups and felt dreadful for 2 days. I've heard swimming while pulling in your abs gently with every stroke can help...

sorry not to have more useful advice but at least with all these messages you know you are not alone!

squirmyworm · 04/02/2004 19:13

OH one more thing. I thought I'd mind terribly if my body changed loads after birth of ds, BUT while I'd like to work on the overhang a bit it actually bugs me MUCH less than I thought it would...anyone else feel the same? or have I just conned myself into being ok with this so I don't have to exercise

motherinferior · 04/02/2004 19:17

Squirmy, you are sane and chilled out and reasonable. Oh how I envy you

PS I am a tremendous fan of Pilates, myself. Only exercise I currently do with SPD still making swimming impossible.

Original poster
EvanMom · 04/02/2004 19:35

It actually doesn't bug me too much... I have lost a nice lot of weight since ds2 so am happy with my weight for the first time in rather a long time. I suppose that's now why I think a flat tummy would be a real bonus!

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squirmyworm · 04/02/2004 19:44

thanks MI! but you should talk to dh who would laugh his sox off at me being chilled out. Prob because he came home about 4 weeks after ds was born to find me in floods of tears. oh no, he wondered, what is it this time - the wobbly stomach? the ginormous sore breasts, the painful nipples or does she think the baby has hypothermia again because she took it round the block for a walk? On enquiring he found that it was 'because one day he will g-g-g-row up and find someone else to love and won't need his mo-mo-mother so much'. Wonderful thing the baby blues aren't they?!