Post C section stomach

[DebH1975]

I'm 3.5 weeks post surgery. And my lower stomach is still absolutely huge. I initially thought it was just swollen but now I'm not sure if it is or it's just massive.
Does anyone know if it could be swollen still or how long it takes (roughly) to reduce back down in size?

Mine took a LONG time. It was massive for weeks...maybe months till it went down a bit.

You've had major surgery...things were moved about...it's swollen still I expect
In 3 months it will look better...in 6, better again.x

I don't remember exactly, but I know in pictures that I still looked 5 months pregnant a few weeks after. And I had a total jelly belly. It may just take time to go down. Wear comfy clothes. If you're concerned, you could always ask your HV?

I looked pregnant for about 6 months post section both times, but it really settled down after that.

Thanks....I think I had unrealistic expectations about how quickly it would reduce back down in size

3.5 weeks is still very early days.

I had an ELCS in April 2012: I remember everything being puffy and swollen for a good 6w. I looked slimmer by July that year, buy still didn't fit into my normal sized trousers. I wore high-waisters to get around that (lucky they were fashionable! )

I was prob fully back to my pre-pg shape sometime around Feb 2013; 10m later.

Healing is the most important thing. The rest should come congratulations on your new baby

I might add that it was my second baby, by my first ELCS. I'm usually a size 10 - I couldn't stand to wear anything around my scar for the first 6w, so I wore loose dresses and leggings in size 14-16. By then it was early June, and I wore loose dresses from then til September (size 12-14). At 5m, I decided it was time to ditch maternity jeans and bought high-waisted jeans in a size 12.

I have been able to wear normal jeans from early 2013, but still prefer a 12 (no muffin top )

I've had four caesareans, took a few weeks for swelling to go down after and now its fine and the scars are barely noticeable. It takes time to heal but will gradually go back to normal

I was very swollen for about 4 months. Even though I had lost all the weight I had gained before that, the swelling didn't go down with the weight loss. I still have a bit of a pot belly, but maybe if I did some exercise, that would go away. I am a size 10 and 8 1/2 stone, to put that in context.

At your stage post partum, I was still very swollen. I looked like I was still pregnant.

After the swelling went down, I looked as if I had had a gastric band, and lost weight, but had the telltale saggy skin.

3.5 weeks post partum is very very early. Don't worry. Congratulations on your new baby.

I've had 3 CS and did take a good few months for the swelling to go down. It's depressing but not much to be done.

Anyone got tips on exercise for reducing the adorable little pouch of belly flab below the belly button? I am exercising hard twice a week and doing pilates (all with loads of core work and abs) but just not shifting.

Don't want to derail thread.. anyway will help OP when she gets a spare minute.. Probably in 2015?

I had a c section in a very modern private hospital in Asia. When I was in the recovery room, the nurses asked me did I bring a surgical binder with me or did I want a hospital one. I hadn't a clue what they were talking about so I just let them put one on me. I thought it was wired that I hadn't heard of it before but it was fantastic. It's super common in lots of places in Asia. The binder helps support and protect the surgical area and it also helps to squeeze your tummy back into place. I loved it and bought another that I wore on rotation for weeks. You can buy the non-surgical ones online and in baby shops. I remember reading online that actresses wore them after pregnancy. I have heard of one called the 'belly bandit' or something like that.

Wierd not wired...

mm, that sounds fantastic! I'll check it out if I ever become pg with dc3, who would be born via ELCS

Thank-you.