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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

How long after a c section did you not look pregnant anymore???

39 replies

didsnbump · 23/01/2008 13:55

I had a emergency c section 2 weeks ago tomorrow, and although im healing really well and feeling really good, i still look pregnant!

I did gain quite abit of weight in pregnancy but dint expect to still look so pregnant!

What are other people experiences????

OP posts:
Susiemj · 23/01/2008 18:33

I had an em c-s three weeks ago and still look pregnant. So, at the least, you are not alone! I think it's normal

It could be worse - my mum came to stay after and came out with a comment such as 'are they giving you any medication to make it go down?' each day

If we don't deflate in six months time or so perhaps we could check in again and join forces to lose it?

bekkaboo · 23/01/2008 18:43

oh not could comment from mum!!sort of thing mine would say.

Looked pregnant for ages after! about 6 months im ashamed to say xx

Lulumama · 23/01/2008 18:47

congratultions on the birth ! did you post a birth story?

give yourself a good 6 weeks or so, then gentle excercise as advised by MW.... remember everything has been stretched over 9 months and then you have had abdominal surgery which can leave you swollen

2 weeks is no time at all

beeper · 23/01/2008 20:20

about 8 years...but I am preg again so have valid excuse for waterbed tummy, and overscar hang.

Dottydot · 23/01/2008 20:20

Still waiting (4 years and counting...)

whomovedmychocolate · 23/01/2008 20:22

I had a flat tummy at four weeks but everything else was bigger. But I had special muscle stitching. Honestly it does take time but it does get better. Drinking lots of water seemed to help me - well it stopped me continually eating biscuits which is as scientific an explanation as I'm going to hazard

Comments from parents/partners can be safely ignored. They are rarely in great shape themselves and hey, look what an amazing creature you created in you - of course you are a bit bent out of shape!

beeper · 23/01/2008 20:27

I am a 'lights off' kinda girl anyway..never been comfy with body even when slim pre pregancy.

cathshuck · 23/01/2008 20:54

5 months and still trying to get rid of the first overhang from 2 years ago!!

MissingMyHeels · 23/01/2008 20:59

I wonder if results would be similar for those who had a natural birth or if there is a BIG difference?

cathshuck · 23/01/2008 22:02

Should think cs might be a bit worse due to stitching poss? But as had 2 css then cant really comment!!

jcscot · 24/01/2008 19:51

10 days (well, that's when I went back to wearing normal clothes instead of maternity ones). I had a flat stomach before the pregnancy and a slightly curved one afterwards but not so much that there was a huge difference.

Everyone's different, I suppose, and however long it takes for your body to get back to hopw it was before will be perfectly normal for you.

Highlander · 24/01/2008 20:37

I've had 2 CSs and was back to near-normal in a week. Depends on your body I think.

doodledandy · 24/01/2008 21:19

2 months the first time - About 4 or 5 months 2nd time. Rather depressing at the time but it does go....

LoveAngel · 24/01/2008 21:22

I was still mistaken for pregnant up to a year after my son was born! Mind you, I did put on a lot of weight and lost it quite slowly. I thought I'd never shift that pregnant belly look, but eventually it did go. It's not the most attractive tum in the world, granted, but nobody asks me when it's due anymore

blueshoes · 24/01/2008 21:35

didsnbump, it is quite normal to still look pregnant after giving birth - don't know whether it is related to cs or not. I only had cs so not sure about vg. I would prob still look 5 months pregnant just after delivering.

I think it took about 3-5 months to go down completely. I also put on a lot of weight for my pregnancies. I put on 3 stone to my 7 stone pre-preg weight.

bf-ing is great for getting the uterus to contract down, and for losing weight. With dd, it took me 18 months to get down to pre-preg. With ds, I lost loads very quickly and lost everything within 6 months and more.

annabach · 26/01/2008 21:37

I don't know if it was anything to do with my CS, but I've had a pot belly ever since! It seems my abdominal muscles separated quite a bit during pregnancy, and never got back to their original position. (I got some small improvement from doing the "lose your mummy tummy" tupler exercises that are specially designed for separated tummy muscles, but not enough). I would really love to know more about whomovedmychocolate's special tummy stitching during CS. I am now 19 weeks pregnant with number 2 and trying to decide whether to go for VBAC or elective CS, and the thought of some special tummy stitching might just tip the balance! Whomovedmychocolate, are you still reading this thread?

manuka · 27/01/2008 10:20

Highlander- bloody hell 2 weeks?!! God thats so lucky! I am 19months post c-section and only just looking nearly back to normal! I was in severe shock for a year though which didn't help.
didsnbump- pilates is making an enormous difference but wait at least 6 weeks before starting. if you can get a personal pilates person to come to you thats the best way to do it. There's a brilliant tummy exercise that's working really quickly. pilates is marvellous!!
Also Calanetics is good too check it out on google.

gengis · 27/01/2008 16:07

Whomovedmychocolate are you out there? I really want to know about the magic tummy stitching for the same reasons as annabach!

VictorianSqualor · 27/01/2008 16:24
fizzbuzz · 27/01/2008 16:36

After ds vaginal birth, pretty flat by 3 months.

dd, c section, 18 months ago, still have big tum, and overhang, and same weight as pre pregnancy

Rochwen · 28/01/2008 18:21

(don't hate me) pretty much straight after delivery as dd was premature and I hadn't put any weight on. However, it took a good year before I completely had my body back to 'normal'. As they say one year up, one year down.

The tummy overhang story is a myth. Should you have one you can get rid of it by sliming down and toning up.

Rochwen · 28/01/2008 18:24

fizzbuzz I just reread my message. It sounds awfu. I didn't mean YOUR overhang is a myth. What I meant is that it's a myth that you are stuck with an overhang tummy after a c/s. It's only fat and the overhang dissappears once the fat dissappears. Sorry.

fizzbuzz · 28/01/2008 18:41

Alas, if only my overhang was a myth, but I fear not
Agree it is excess fat BUT stomach is much much fatter than before pg. Waist size went up entire size, but rest of me stayed sme...getting trousers is a nightmare

newgirl · 28/01/2008 18:48

im afraid i dont think the c section is a factor - in fact i think it can help cos they suck out loads of liquid at the same time!!!!!

about six months is average surely however baby came out

im a healthy 12-14 and ate too many biscuits during two pregs - no overhang at all - pilates and jogging worked for me (and feeding baby etc)

fizzbuzz · 28/01/2008 18:59

I think it is a factor. My stomach is a completely different shape to before I was pregnant.....much much bigger.

I hve done loads of exercises, and even had a personal trainer on it, but it is as big as ever. Used to have small waist pre-pregnancy, now have practically no waist

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