Vain questions about CS!

[LookingForAChange21]

So I'm doing plenty of reading around the risks associated with a CS, but I've got a couple of vanity questions relating to it as well

Is an overhang pretty much to be expected?

Does anyone think that they done anything during pregnancy that may have lessened the chance of having one? Minimal weight gain/exercise etc

Has your scar faded well?

I know there's more to childbirth than this, and the baby and me being safe is the most important thing! I'm just aware that this is potentially my last and I'll be left with the body I'll have and I'm trying to get my head round it

I don’t have an overhang at all.

I put on a fair amount of weight while pregnant and was pretty slow to lose it (about a year to get back to pre-pregnancy weight) but do quite a lot of Pilates so my underlying stomach muscles are quite flat.

I think a lot of it is luck. While I didn’t lose weight quickly, my skin snapped back pretty well (maybe because I lost the weight slowly? Dunno...) so I don’t have the saggy pouch which is usually associated with the overhang
But you’d get that regardless of a section, I guess?

My consultant told me that whether you get an overhang or not is down to the skill of the surgeon. I don't think there is anything you can do to influence it. I don't have an overhang and my scar has faded well.

I’m 11 weeks post my second and do not have an overhang. I’m was slim before both pregnancies and my consultant has a reputation for doing a great c-section scar.

That's interesting!

I'm trying to have a reasonably healthy diet and will be slowly increasing my exercise now that I feel well enough, but good to know it's mostly down to the surgeon

Is it frowned upon to ask them to take their time on the day? 😂

I don't have an overhang, am not particularly slim either. I do have a noticeable dip in my stomach profile where my scar is - its like someone stapled me! But no pouch or saggy skin.

I had overhang. I still do. I was 10st pre pregnancy and ate perfectly (except the last two weeks when I'd eat bowls of mashed potato)

I just turned 27 when I had him, gained 2st and he was 10lb 1oz

I was 10st 4lb following his birth and lost the 4lb during recovery after CS

As for scars, I had stretch marks likely due to his size and I'm at a disposition for them anyway. So my poor stomach is covered. My CS scar, I have severe keloids which was partly one of the reasons I had to have a CS (imagine tearing down below and having the scar tissue bubble up x5 it's normal size for life)

I thought I'd be quite traumatised by the changes, but I wasn't. I carried a humongous baby, I didn't get much chance to lose weight as I fell pregnant again soon after (unplanned after having had lots of ivf to have firstborn)

These things can't always be helped. I'd rather have my babies than a flat stomach. I suspect till never go completely flat again but as long as I'm not overweight and I'm looking good in my clothes, I'm happy

No overhang and I had a pretty swift emergency section. Scar still very visible 16 months later but will be cut into again in 2 months time so can't tell you how quickly it'll fade.

I don't overhang after my emergency section 7 months ago, I'm actually smaller than I was before pregnancy, I was a size 10, now I'm an 8 and I'd put on around 3 stone.

My baby was transverse during labour so there's nothing at all that could have stopped me having a section. She was breech earlier on, so obviously liked to moved about.

My scar is still very red but it doesn't cause me any pain.

No overhang here. I'm amazed by how neat my scar is - about 4 inches, pale pink and just below my bikini line. I'm 16 months on.

My first c section was an emergency abs I was left with a huge overhang that covered most of what would be a visible vulva

I was slim when I became pregnant but baby was massive and I put on about 5 stone

The overhang reduced but was always there

Second baby was much smaller, I didn’t put on any weight, I’m left with the same or maybe a slightly reduced overhang this time and that might be something to do with it being a planned section this time

I didn’t even get stretch marks the second time

I’ve lost all baby weight but overhang still there

I often enquire about tummy tucks because I want to be comfortable in my skin but the cost puts me off

I was left with no overhang. Was 10st when got pregnant and gained four stone during. Came off gradually over the next six months.
Scar is very neat and not noticeable, pale white.

I’m so so jealous of the no overhangs here

I've had 2 c sections - I would say there is an overhang but then again I've not consciously tried to workout/exercise to work on it. My second pregnancy was Twins so I figure I ought to work on my jelly belly at some point

I had an overhang initially, I was diagnosed with diastasis recti (separation of stomach muscles). I had to do various exercises for it. The overhang is now gone. I'm not especially thin or fit!

My scar is very faint and hidden in my pubic hair - I don't wax over it as it's not advised. I was surprised by how low down the scar was.

I have a bit of a overhang but I don’t care about that it was more the scar that worried me, but it’s invisible! Barely noticeable and I’ve had 2 c sections

@LookingForAChange21

That's interesting!

I'm trying to have a reasonably healthy diet and will be slowly increasing my exercise now that I feel well enough, but good to know it's mostly down to the surgeon

Is it frowned upon to ask them to take their time on the day? 😂

I’m thinking this.. is it bad to say ‘I know you’ve already done 3/4 of these today but can you please make this a really good one’ 😂

I'm 9 weeks post c section and the scar is so neat and unnoticeable, (midwives even commented on how good it was) it would be no larger than 6 inches and healed up so well already. As for overhang, the initial weeks after, I noticed it a bit but after losing weight, it's tightened up so well!

DS is almost 2. I don't have an overhang and if anything my stomach is better than before I had him. It took almost 2 years to get visible abs back though, so I def didn't snap back in to shape. I put on 2 stone exactly and started at 9st5.

My scar is very faint and you can't even really see it. I had an ELCS for a breech baby and I did actually ask my consultant to do the smallest, neatest scar she could and not to let a medical student sew me up. She said she actually prided herself on doing small incisions and neat scars and that she'd give a medical student something "they won't be able to fuck up".

No overhang and can barely see my scar, maybe just a very thin/silvery line..had my CS 10 years ago.

I’ve had four c sections and only got an overhang after the third. The scar has faded and whilst it’s there and shiny, it’s not obvious. The overhang isn’t that apparent either.

I was size 12 before my first baby (emergency c section), lost the baby weight easy enough then crept up to size 14. No overhang at any point. And I didn’t have a firm tummy before, and didn’t particularly diet or do any abs exercises afterwards.

Now awaiting my second c section (planned this time) so will be interested to see if I am as lucky this time! Interesting to hear posters say it’s due to the skill of the surgeon.

2 sections here, no overhang but now I've put quite a bit of weight on there is a dip where the scar is.

I have an overhang which I hate. I was a size 8-10 before pregnancy and got back down to a size 10 and around 9 stone after. No matter what I did, it hasn't gone away. I've tried various exercises but nothing seems to have worked. I'll be getting surgery when I'm finished having children. My scar however is barely noticeable 2.5 years down the line.

No over hang but my scar is still dark and due to issues with my emcs and being reopened etc it is wonky and bigger than I would like. I also have a scar where i had to have a drain in.
Hopefully mine is relatively rare and others don’t have the same issues

I have twins and don't have an overhang. My scar is very neat and faded it literally looks like an indentation as if i have worn tights that are slightly too tight. I was a size 10 pre twin and am now a 10-12