Post section tummy

[RChick]

I am due a c section in a few weeks and (of all things i can worry about) i am overly focusing on what a post c section tummy will look like.

I have had 1 VB 12 months ago.

How has your tummy recovered? Overhang or not? Numbness etc? Did diet and exercise help significantly, or is it better to accept a flap early on?

I didn’t have any noticeable numbness. Bit of a different shape not really over hanging but a bit pouchy I guess. Really embraced big knickers for a good while as they felt so much more comfortable! I think you have to accept even if you don’t have a c section your stomach is unlikely to be the same as it was before and a c section will tend to add to this.

The things that I think helped me were - a postnatal restore your core class. I very had some separation of abdominal muscles (diastatis recti) which I think is fairy common just for pregnancy in general and not c section related. If you do have this you need to do the right exercises to mend it and not make it worse. The other thing I would absolutely recommend is a scar massage this really made me feel better - not that I could have put my finger on it before hand after the area felt released and more comfortable. Also helps with appearance of scar. Mine is absolutely fine - nice and neat and flat and has faded well. Hasn’t given me any trouble.

I have an area above the bikini line about 2 inches wide that has partial sensation on one side and full numbness on the other side. I count myself lucky because some women have a lot worse numbness, including numb thighs and even numb privates in some cases.

The overhang is a mess. My body is ruined and I can only wear baggy clothes now. Sorry I can’t offer any comfort in that respect - it’s destroyed my self esteem.

Thanks for your reply. I have spent most of the last 2 years pregnant so dreaming about getting my body back to myself, in whatever shape it comes in!
Neat, flat and faded is the dream.

How long has it been @MountainEagle?

I have no loss of feeling and no overhang. I have a small faded scar under my bikini line, not noticeable unless I have a full wax.

Don't go looking for horror stories online OP, it will only stress you out! Most people have no problems.

Good luck!

How long has it been @MountainEagle?
15 months. I greatly doubt I’ll get any feeling back now. I also have occasional nerve pain which is like a bruised sensation on my stomach. Tbh it’s nothing I can’t live with. What bothers me is the visual appearance of my stretched and stretch marked stomach, which is due to being pregnant and would be like that regardless of how I gave birth. I couldn’t care less what it feels like, I just wish it looked normal.

I have a pouch and numbness around the scar and surrounding area. I definitely have a shelf despite being back to normal weight and have tried various exercises to sort the shelf out. However I have had two C sections after two natural births and my stomach is what it is!

@YesimstillwatchingNetflix you are right. I'm my own worst enemy!

Fine white scar hardly visible. No overhang ! Friend had a very large bump for both pregnancies, natural deliveries but left with a lot of hanging skin (I presume due to stretching) I thought it was more to do with shape pre pregnancy and size of bump than type of delivery ?

I had twins and csection - no over hang and you can only see the scar if you hunt. It's below bikini line. I lost my baby weight but then ate cake and drink wine so I'm losing it again. Am actually thinking I'll be wearing a bikini this summer.

Is it better or worse when the cs is elective?