C Section Advice - Tummy 9 days on *WARNING PICS INCLUDED*

[BabyNamey1]

Hi,

Ok so when I gave birth 2 years ago, it was vaginally. My body bounced back almost immediately. My tummy was pretty much pre pregnancy before I left the hospital after my 4 night stay.

9 days ago, I had an elective c section. I am so confused as to what's going on with my body...

Midwife was really vague and said it 'might' be swelling which is completely normal. I currently look pregnant still and have a weird hard tummy above my incision wound.

Brace yourself for the pics, they ain't pretty...

Pic 1 - I have circled this weird fatty bit below my weirdly huge and hard tummy and above my incision. Will this eventually all fuse together?

Pic 2 - why is my belly so huge (its also hard at the bottom and squidgy further up). Does this shrink/settle/bugger off?

It has only been 9 days but I don't know anyone who's had one to ask for advice so don't know what's normal. I can't even see my bloody fanjo when I look down because of the tum.

Please help me and reassure me that this will get better?

I'm aware of the pouch and overhang and that my bod may never be the sage, but it's early days and I want to know what my body is up to...does it just need time?

Thanks in advance 😊

So you just had one section, right?

Do you have a fever or any discharge from either the vagina or your wound?

I've had one section, yes. No fever, no discharge, just lochia which is now starting to go away and I feel generally great and midwife said wound is healing well...

This is why I'm so confused as to why my body resembles quasimodo...

I mean the hard fatty bit could still be internal swelling, right? The midwife said it can take up to 8 weeks for my body to start to change... 😟

Anyone?

I think I would see a GP and ask to be referred to a consultant. It just looks a little different, so best to get checked. The body doesn’t go back to normal after a section really, they’ve cut through muscles, nerves, everything. But I can see why you’re confused regarding the bit above the scar.

Hi @BabyNamey1 I'm 7 days post section and the pregnancy belly is also still there. After my first birth (vaginal) the belly was down right away and I was just left with very stretched floppy skin that took a while to shrink back.

This time around the belly is definitely still there and I am only 1kg lighter than I was when the baby was still in there! It could be a second time mum thing or a cesarean thing? I definitely have a lot of water retention/swelling all over though not just the belly.

That extra line above the incision on the pic you posted is unusual though I would definitely get that checked out.

Congrats, @LillianFullStop! My sister gave birth just over a week before me and is already back in her skinny jeans! So that's not helping with the self consciousness...

I spoke to my midwife about my weird belly who's said that it all looks 'normal' (not to me, it doesn't ). She said to keep an eye on it and it'll slowly go down.

Since posting this, I have noticed a small improvement as each day passes. I really didn't know what to expect in terms of recovery as I guess I was so focused on not having another traumatic birth.

Hope have a quick recovery

I had a section three weeks ago and my belly is also still very much there. Mine looks very similar to yours. Seems like everything is just slower!

Hope this has reassured you a bit xx

I had a cs 7 months ago and it all deflated A LOT slower than with a VB...if you feel ok give it time and I expect the swelling will subside. I reckon it took a good 6 weeks for everything to calm down on me. If you're worried please speak to a GP but if it's just the aesthetics then be assured things will improve!

I had an elective c section and mine took a few weeks for the swelling to reduce.

Thanks for the feedback. And apologies for the embarrassing and horrid photos.

I think it looks fine but if it feels weird then get it checked. The doctor who did my 2nd C-section told me that she had folded and overlapped the skin to strengthen it in case I wanted a third baby. As a result I have this weird pouch thing that will never go away. My otherwise flat abdomen is ruined forever! 😆

Take a photo of yourself from this same candle every few days and you should see a difference. I did this and seeing my stomach go down slowly only thing that got me through the first few weeks!
Also, keep an eye on the hard section. My midwife signed me off as normal but a few days later (I think I was 3 weeks post section), I started bleeding from the scar, because my hard section hard been a pooling of blood which then decided to bust out! I DID have a fever a few days before and was already on antibiotics, so i wouldn't be anxious about it just worth keeping an eye on. If you do get a fever or the hard section of your tummy starts feeling hot to touch then call GP.
Good luck xx

Same ANGLE! Not candle, sorry!

Thanks for the helpful advice and sharing your stories.

Does anyone know how long before I can check for diastasis recti? At almost 2 weeks on, my belly is still a big wobbler with no core or muscle in sight...

Sorry if that's a weird or stupid question. I just have no clue! 😟

Well, four weeks on and my belly is still there but the hard swelling has reduced somewhat. The scar does look to be healing well.

I'm on the lookout for any good and reliable online resource and also YOUR recovery stories and over how long. It's really slow for me and not being able to exercise is so frustrating.

@LillianFullStop how are you getting on with recovery?

I think that because sections have become so common we all forget that its major surgery add that to 49is weeks if body modification and it's no wonder it takes a while to heal.
The general advice on driving is not to for about 6 weeks,this is because by then you wound will have healed enough for you to brake without pain so it is still early days.

@BabyNamey1 that's good to hear! I'm 3 weeks on and the pouch is still there but smaller than it was. It's going down slower than my first VB but less loose skin I guess because the belly is going down the same rate as the skin.

Scar and muscle ache much better this week though so the physical appearance aside I'm happy with the recovery so far. I'm hoping the pouch will reduce even more.

I think I'm still holding on to a lot of water though - or at least I'd like to think it's water - I've only lost 5kg from full term pregnancy weight. My left foot is still a bit swollen but at least the swelling has gone down from the leg and ankles now.

I wish I could start on core/abdominal exercises but I'll hold off in case it affects my recovery

I’m very late to the convo but did the swelling about your incision clear in the end? Was it just normal or something of concern? I’m 16 days post section and have this. It can sonetines goes hard and sore (after walking etc). I’m wondering if it’s the same and would be grateful for info on how it progressed for you ?