DS is 4 months old but i still look pregnant

[Mandymoo]

Seriously, my belly starts to stick out from just under the boob area and i look about 6 months gone

Ive lost count of the number of people who've asked me when i'm due - i dont bother correcting them now.

This is my 2nd baby so i know my body will take longer to get back to normal but this is really getting me down.

Any tips/advice?

i had this this first time around, currently 8 months preg again.. i know I'm gonna have same problem,,, this time i really must try and tone up the muscles but it it hard... its prob all to do with muscle tone...

So, its a case of stomach crunches etc? Ive joined SW to lose some weight but tbh i'm still quite slim, which makes my sticky out belly even more noticeable!

I know what you're going through! I HATE HATE HATE my stomach and I look about 20 wks pregnant (had dd 6mths ago - ds 3 yrs ago).

I've had physio on the NHS as i was referred by my gp and midwife. Apparentely stomach crunches may definately NOT be the answer. You might have what is called divarication (sp?) - where the stomach muscles split - there are very specific exercises you could do to improve the tone of your tummy - the side to side vertical muscles need strengthening - 'sit ups' strengthen the horizontal tummy muscles and can actually make the situation WORSE! AHHH! I wasn't told i had divarication after my ds - (I'd always had very strong tummy muscles as i was an ex-prof dancer.) So i started doing sit ups and the like to try and 'tone-up' but didn't imrpove - awful. It did go down A BIT but not much and it left me feeling really down. Luckily my mid-wife noticed whilst i was pregnant with number 2 that i might have divarication symptoms and now i'm better informed.

I've stated pilates too as that helps build up your 'core' muscles. I'm improving slowly but still a way to go.

Go to your gp and insist s/he take you seriously. It's not just a vanity issue - improvement helps clear up all sorts of potential health problems you may develop later - inc prolapse, back problems, incontinence etc. This is all what my physio has told me from my local hospital. She thinks there is too much ignorance in this area from health professionals and post-natal women should be better informed. It was amazing that it was missed first time but sadly i think that is very common.

Sucks, doesn't it?

i look like that too; ds2 is 7 months. 3 people have offered me a seat on the bus this week I totally hate myself. Am just finding a bit of time to get back to running, but have never been able to do situps even when fit; they just seem to hurt my weak back.

Ask for a referral to your physio

They will teach you the RIGHT exercises - crunches alone might make it worse if you have a separation

I want to go and see my GP (especially after my mother in law asked me today if i was worried about the midwife having left something in my stomach that shouldnt be there??? WTF?!) but feel he would simply laugh at me. Might have to do it though. I am by no means a vain person but to still look pregnant (and i am not exagerating) is really depressing me

Thanks for your replies X

I know what you mean about it depressing you..i feel exactly the same

wait

and buy one of those control knickers things

believe me - it is an option i have seriosuly considered!

Oh yes - i confess to owning a couple of M & S's 'bridget jones' style knickers..mmmm...just gave me tummy ache!! and they seemed to squash me in displacing the flab to just under my arms instead! Exaggerating a tad but you get the picture

Don't forget the old saying too...it takes 9 mths to make a baby...9 mths to go up and 9 mths to come down. (think it might take 9 yrs to come down in my case)

Get used to it!

No sorry that's not helpful is it ...

it's early days, your DS is only 4 months, if you get checked out and have no problems with your stomach muscles IMO it's just a case of exercising, loads of cardio, don't just focus on the tummy muscles and diet.

I wish people would stop with the "9 months up 9 months down" nonsense

It just makes me feel inadequate

dd is 14 mo and I am still largely waiting for the down

Actually, it goes...mainly, ime. At 4 m, though I remember the pain-I thought I had blood arthritis. I don't think I was exercissing enough as it was so bloody painful. That went though.

(am completely jokin btw bg)

beegee, my dd is 3 mths old and I have a large 'joey' pouch...but I find if I wear anything tight, or that slightly presses on it, it does really hurt!!

I am a bridesmaid in January. How humiliating to be measured and have two fat seamstresses debating how much I will potentially gain/lose by then as I am breastfeeding. Lovely.

jaffa - lol at joey pouch..good one. Exactly what mines like!

filly - yep, know what you mean...just trying to be helpful but to be honest i've never gone back down! In fact when i got pg with my 2nd i felt relieved that i finally had an excuse for the jooey pouch.

By the way - i bet we all look more gorgeous than we realise!!

I would like to get pg again soon-ish and though I haven't told DP this, I'm secretly looking forward to it just so I can stop trying to hold my joey pouch in all blimming day.

old Posh wasn't stupid having the nip and tuck done. But my husband says she looks horrid so viva the pouch.