Why is my tummy so big after my baby?

[shinyshilling]

I had my DD five months ago. I'm a very active vegetarian. I'm not finding parenting unduly difficult as DD is fortunately really easy going, so I can't hide behind that with a biscuit barrel. I don't sit around on my bum all day watching TV, and don't eat loads of rubbish...so why have I now got the belly of two people? Since having DD, I have developed a massive saggy belly which is really uncomfortable and making me feel a bit self-conscious. Has anyone else got this and what can I do about it. Any advice would be really gratefully received.

No mine is still taut and slim....NOT!!

Of course you will have this for a while. Do you do sit-ups? That is the way back to a flatter tum (so I am told)

You could have that thing where the muscles separate, can't remember what it's called (someone will know.

me too (and ds is 19mo, aaaarrrrggghhh)

I'll be watching this thread with interest.

It can take a year or more for your body to get back together again. If you had nice firm abs and no excess chub before conceiving, then I believe it's easier. If, like me, you had the tummy muscles of a jelly, and a generous topping of custard on top of the jelly, then the sag is worse before during and after pregnancy. The only thing I can suggest is to do some targeted exercise (rather than just the usual mother's runaround) to work on your core body muscles. Though I guess it's probably a good idea to check that your muscles have knit together again properly, not sure how that's done though.

I had the separated muscle thing (partly because ds was big, partly because I had a cs I think).

If you lie on your back and curl your shoulders up as if doing a crunch, can you feel a gap of an inch or two where your abs meet above your stomach? If the gap is a decent size (maybe two finger-widths I think), you should avoid sit ups until they've gone back together.

My doc told me that my stomach muscles had separated, during my 6 week check.

BTW - I had an easy preg and vaginal birth with an average sized baby (7lb 1oz), so I have no idea what caused mine to go walkabouts !

Pilates is supposed to be very good for getting tummy-back in shape as it focusses exercise on that area.

Pilates is supposed to be very good for getting tummy-back in shape as it focusses exercise on that area.

Sorry for posting twice, computer bit slow this morning- bit like me!!

Get a balloon. Blow it up really big and let the air out. Look at it agin. That is why your belly is so big