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Original poster

What's your 'overhang' like after 2 Csecs?

56 replies

MolotovCocktail · 25/02/2014 20:29

If you have one, that is?

I had an ELCS almost 2y ago and aside from the silvery scar, you would never know.

Dh would like another child. I am leaning towards the idea but am concerned about the effects of a 3rd pg / 2nd CS (dd1 born vaginally in 2009; dd2 ELCS 2012).

I know it's a vain question and there are other concerns re. CS, but this is something that is on my mind.

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WeGotAnnie · 25/02/2014 20:31

Mine is better after the second then it was after the first, weirdly.

First section they used staples and I had a nasty overhang. Second they stitched me, a good job I'd say, as healed quicker and overhang is minimal now.

olivo · 25/02/2014 20:31

My overhang is horrible, but I think it was more from the polyhydramnios that I had with my 2nd pg. I had 2 cs, one emergency and once elective.after first, on I real issue, but now, nearly 5 yrs after no 2, significant overhang, always have to wear tops to cover my trousers and never ever will never ever wear a bikini again.

Mildpanic · 25/02/2014 20:36

Oh gosh. Honestly?
Not good news I'm afraid. I have an awful overhang. I am rather overweight though and have had 3 CS now.
I don't think this time is any worse than after the second. I always felt the second CS was sutured "too tight", if that makes sense.
I wouldn't let it put me off though, my 3 dc's make it a rather trivial concern tbh.
HTH?

Minnieisthedevilmouse · 25/02/2014 20:44

I had a man do the first - emcs. A woman, planned csec. Now both were fine but hers was neat tidy and freaking straight.

It wasn't a "go go go" type. More a " I can't go on do it now-tonight" type. Moral of the story as far as I'm concerned? Men can't sew straight.

(Waits for feminist backlash. He didn't. No major panic to excuse him!)

Purplehonesty · 25/02/2014 20:46

Mine was none the first time but the second I had more stretchy skin I guess and although its still minimal it is there. Can't shift the baggy stomach skin either. I'm slim so it is noticeable.
To be fair tho I haven't really tried as I prefer the mini egg diet.

NellyTheElephant · 25/02/2014 21:07

I've had 3 CS and I don't think it was really any different after any of them, possibly worst after my first - but then I was a fair bit bigger initially. Prior to getting pregnant with no.2 I slimmed back down to normal weight and overhang disappeared. It never really appeared again. Now I don't really have an overhang as such, but a very slight step. A bit more obvious if I'm carrying a bit more weight but pretty much non existent when at my standard size.

Highlystrungmum · 25/02/2014 21:18

Pardon me if I sound really stupid but what is an overhang? I'm having an elective section in 2 weeks time!!!:-(

olivo · 25/02/2014 21:20

Highly, it is the excess skin that can hang over your wound after a cs.

Highlystrungmum · 25/02/2014 21:35

Oh no I didn't realise this happened. I'm terrified now:-0

nilbyname · 25/02/2014 21:38

2 sections and no overhang! Just a bit of a wobble from muscle separation.

K999 · 25/02/2014 21:38

Have had 2 CS. Overhang awful. And very little (apart from cosmetic surgery) you can do to get rid of it. I hate mine!!

ProbablyCaroline · 25/02/2014 21:42

Mine isn't bad at all actually. I've had 2 sections...big babies and one was an emergency. It's more of a bit of extra fat than an overhang...if I DID some excersise it would mostly go.

LydiaLunches · 25/02/2014 21:44

I have had 3 natural births, am slim but have an overhang exactly where a cs scar would be, my stomach was flat after 2 so possibly not the cs?

dementedma · 25/02/2014 21:47

Ok after 1, there after 2, grim after 3.
The technical term is a gunt.
Between your gut and your.......

Meglet · 25/02/2014 21:48

2 CS's and a hysterectomy. No overhang (thin and still have fairly decent abs that I still whinge about because I can't accept I'm not young anymore) but the skin does pinch in along the scar. I assume it would start to overhang if I gained weight.

Scar has almost faded though.

Lavenderhoney · 25/02/2014 21:48

I have one. I am very slim and exercise a lot. I have had 2 cs. After the first you couldn't really notice, even naked. After the second- well, its there, and I am trying all sorts to get rid of it:)

There are helpful threads on here:)

I remember being horrified after my first ( no one told me) and asking the Mw when it would go. She said " never, get used to it".

imip · 25/02/2014 21:48

2 sections and no overhang. Small overhang after section three. Seriously huge overhang with cs no. 4.... Grrrrr....

Also with 4th pregnancy I was unable to lose my stomach, never perfectly flat by any means, but now I still look pregnant 2 years later :-(

Meglet · 25/02/2014 21:49

demented Grin

ExcuseTypos · 25/02/2014 21:58

I don't have an overhang.

I've had an EMCS and then an ELCS. I am slim though I don't exercise.

I do think it's down to luck and how good a job the surgeon does.

Oh and I had women surgeons each time.

caketinrosie · 25/02/2014 21:59

Mine is vile it's like a deflated balloon. Angry I had 2 cs's overhang bad first time worse the second. Stitches first staples second. I put it down to being really short (5ft 2) and mahoosive babies 9lb 3 and 10lb 2. It's the one thing I would remortgage my house to fix. I've tried the nhs route but my doc told me my bellys the same as his wife's so I should be fine to live with. I'm not! honestly I'm like a before photo in a transform advert. Grim just grim Sad

ExcuseTypos · 25/02/2014 22:01

It's really sad that lots of women seem to have to put up with this.

BikeRunSki · 25/02/2014 22:02

2 sections, no overhang

ListenToTheLady · 25/02/2014 22:03

I've had two (relatively calm!) EMCS, both times I had a massive bump, and I'm quite happy with what I've been left with - very neat, low scars and minimal overhang.

It was no different after the first and second time, though my overhang is a bit bigger at the mo because I've gained a bit of weight - but I know from experience that once I'm a healthy weight it will get less noticeable. You can tell when I'm naked, but I would feel OK in a bikini. If it was nice and sturdy and not too low cut!

Rofl at gunt. That is the perfect name!

Highlystrungmum, please don't panic or let it spoil your birth. They do their best to make it as neat as possible and I can tell you I would far rather have my small and manageable gunt than some of the things that friends who have had a vaginal birth are living with.

would be OK

Not so much

Original poster
MolotovCocktail · 25/02/2014 22:04

Oh God, Highly, don't freak out! Before my CS I was worried. I had definite swelling above the scar that only started to go down after 6w (kind of looked like a small shelf; like I'd put on a pair of knickers with too-tight elastic, iyswim). I think it settled to pretty much how it looks now somewhere between 3-4 months later.

An overhang isn't a certainty with a CS. I currently don't have one and am only asking because I'm deciding whether to try for another baby and trying to work out if I'd be so lucky if there is a next time Smile

The scar (aside from the silvery line) makes a tiny dent that is hidden within my pubes. I'm tall at 5'8 and I'm slim. I haven't weighed myself in a while but I usually weigh between 8st 10lbs and just over 9st (depending on life's stresses. The more stressed I am, the less I tend to eat)

With both pregnancies, I gained around 2st and babies were 7lb 5oz and 6lb 9oz.

Hoping this information gives context. Thank-you all for replying so far Smile

OP posts:
ListenToTheLady · 25/02/2014 22:04

oops this was meant to be my first link

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