Getting body back after 2nd CS

[Helgicita]

I had my DD 9 weeks ago by Elec CS. She was a big lass at 9lb 12oz. All is well with her but I'm getting down about my still huge stomach and horrid overhang. I look at least 6 months pregnant, still wearing my maternity trousers as I have no other clothes that fit! I've started getting out walking most days(I used to be quite a good runner before motherhood!)but I've not yet attempted any specific tummy exercises. My other problem is that I'm bf-ing and eating alot - in fact I'm sure I've put weight on since the birth, but if I don't eat plenty I feel so weak and I'm sure it affects my milk. Does anyone have any recommendations. I love my new baby so much but hate the new me!

I didn't have CS, but did (and still do) bf - dd is 16 months now. I thought I was going to be 'stuck' at the post-birth weight/shape for exactly the reasons you mention. I was having to eat lots to keep up with demands of bf, and because of SPD really wasn't very mobile. By the time dd was about 8/9 months though (sorry if that sounds unhelpful, am trying to reassure) I felt more 'normal' and was able to push dd about in buggy, and started doing some exercise following DVD. Have since lost all pg weight, and although am still bf, feel a lot more toned and back to normal. Still have bit of spare tyre around middle, despite lots of crunches etc. But there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Like you, I felt breastfeeding made me put on weight, not take it off like the doctors tell you. It was only when I stopped breastfeeding that my voracious appetite went down and I was able to lose a bit of weight.

I think exercise is key, so when you feel up to doing some running/aerobics/whatever, you will probably find that makes a big difference, not just to weight loss but to how toned your muscles are. I've been doing exercise DVDs at home since dd was 8 weeks (she's now 14 months) and it's made a big difference to me.

Thankyou for the responses.

What DVD's have you been using? Anything specifically postnatal?

It's such a downer that for many breastfeeding is not a route to weight loss. I breastfed my DS for a year, felt like my body was coming back a bit after 8 months and then i was looking forward to getting rid of more weight whilst no longer bf-ing only to get pregnant again ! Happy about it of course but body wise it wasn't great news ...

Euurgh to post-CS overhangs it took me ages. If i'm honest I thought that I was losing weight and looking fairly good until I look at old pics! I walked 2 miles a day with the pram and it didn't do much for the weight although improved my fitness. DS is nearly 1, still B/F and I started Davina's power 5 DVD at the end of Jan, at least 2 20min sections 3x a week. Have currently lost 1.5 stone despite eating more than ever - even cake My tummy is still wobbly but the over hang has finally gone!!!

So overhangs can be worked off - that's really good to hear. I'm just a bit clueless about what exercise to do as I've always just relied on running to keep me toned up, never done exercise classes, bums and tums etc. What is the best way of getting rid of the overhang?

I had 2 c sections, ds1 is nearly 5 and ds2 almost 2. Second time round is harder as you have stretched everything again but I have lost is all bar about 4lb however my pre-pregnancy jeans are too big and are held up with a belt!!

The overhang does go but there is still the nipped in line of the scar, so although my skin doesn't over-hang per se it goes in a little bit.

I am currently doing an old Davina DVD which I find helps and I generally walk over 2 mile a day with the school run. I haven't done anything tummy specific just body conditioning and general fat burning.

Oh and I indulge in cake, biscuits, more cake, but am just sensible about it (I don't eat a whole family sized cake to myself no matter how tempted I feel )

Cardio. I started doing the abs section of the DVD practically daily. But stopped that quite quickly as I got a fantastic 6 pack but it was hidden under 3inches of fat and saggy skin lol. Cardio is the only thing that shifted the weight/fat and as I lost the weight the overhang got smaller too.

Takes a bit of time and persistence but well worth it to not have to tuck yourself into your knickers methinks!

I've been doing Davina DVDs too - I started with the pregnancy and postnatal one, which was great for a gentle return to exercise after so long off. I've now moved on to the "my three 30 minute workouts" one, which is a bit more demanding. It's a realistic system, because fitting one hour of exercise into my day would be impossible most days, but 30 minutes is *sometimes) achievable...

Thanks so much everyone. I feel encouraged now. I know it will take time and effort but I WILL do it!

It's good to know some people have managed to shift or reduce the c/s overhang.

Din't have much of an overhang after first c/s, but after second one it is HORRID, HORRID, HORRID.

DS is 5 months tomorrow (he was 10lb 10.5oz at birth ) and it's still as bad as ever...

Despite b/fing making me eat ALL day, I'm now 2.5kg lighter than before I got pregnant, but the overhang is still there.

I can't do much in the way of crunches etc at the moment as I had bad split abdo's (6 fingers ) and the physio said it could make things worse until they are properly closed up again (can only just get one finger in now so I'm nearly there...)

Sorry Helgicita, that's probably NOT what you wanted to hear

BetsyBoop thanks for posting. Its good to hear from others who have this problem.

How did you get to see a physio? Did you go privately? How did you know about the 6 finger split abdos? I don't know how you work it out.

Sorry to hear that your overhang is still with you. Maybe it needs far more time to be worked off.

I went to try on some clothes today and couldn't squeeze into a size 18, was a 12 before my first babe. So depressing.

Hi Helgicita

The hospital physio came to see me on the post natal ward as I'd had SPD again in pregnancy & she wanted to check how I was post delivery. When she saw how big DS was she said "I'd better check out your abdominals too!" I haven't seen a physio since then.

It's easy to check yourself this tells you how. If there is a gap your abdominals have split, the size of the gap is judged by how many fingers you can get in widthwise - mine was 6 after delivery, down to 1 now, so I'm almost back to "normal"

Thankyou BB - great link, really explained it all well. Now I need to get down and examine my tummy, feel quite sqeamish!