Depressed by 6 month post partum stomach... Which looks like it is six months pre partum...

[andtellyouofmydreaming]

I'm so depressed by my stomach. I'm 6 months post partum, healthy BMI (albeit in top half of healthy), and by the end of the day my stomach looks like I'm at least 5 months pregnant. I don't know what to do - I've cut down food, I walk for an hour a day and I am over half way through the mutu programme. But it still looks terrible. It makes me so depressed. It doesn't stop me enjoying life and my two children but it makes me feel miserable about myself. And physically uncomfortable.

Not sure why posting this... Guess hoping someone has some out of the box suggestions that could help? Anything that people with a similar problem have successfully done to sort out their stomachs

Thanks.

Anyone got any success stories and advice on what to do?

It sounds like you're already exercising but I just wanted to say that was my main suggestion. I'm 7.5 months pp and strengthening my core muscles has really helped me regain my pre-baby belly.

You say it's at the end of the day - how does it look first thing when you wake? Did you have any separation of your abdominal muscles?

I am 6 months pp too. Despite now weighing less than I previously did and being at the lower end of my healthy bmi I still have this problem too.

Maybe it's because I'm older this time (early 30s). Perhaps exercise is the only thing that will help us? I can't help but feel though that it will take a very serious exercise regime to even make the smallest of differences.

@ExpectingatChristmas I was surprised by how much my body needed time too. I shrunk back 75% of the way within the first month but it probably took another 6 months to see that weird little pot belly pulling back in. I'm getting there now and am rebuilding my core muscles.

No drastic workouts but walking 5k per day on maybe 5 days a week (with baby in the pram), paying close attention to my pelvic floor. I run and do odd HIIT workouts when I get time but we all know that's not easy with a baby!!

No definitely not easy. To be fair I have hardly done any exercise this year. I spent a long time getting better from my c section and then it wasn't long until covid came along.

Homeschooling older children and having a baby has put exercise at the bottom of the to do list. Now I have lost the weight it is clear I am going to need a lot of it. It just feels like a big hurdle I need to cross still. My c section scar is so deep this time too so I think it looks worse.

Hopefully a little more time will help.

We have all made it through the first 6 months of our babies lives mostly under lockdown. We should be proud of ourselves for that alone.

I am naturally slim but didn’t ‘snap back’ after either of my births. I still looked pregnant for about 9 months after both, and it was about a year with both that I lost the belly and started to feel like my self physically.

It can take time, and you are doing all the right things. I know it’s probably not that helpful to hear, but honestly - go easy on yourself. Your body has just done an amazing thing and it needs time to adjust.

Please don't feel bad - this is extremely common, and you're only 6m post-partum.
My stomach is certainly not as I'd like it to be, and I'm 8 years post-partum! I have 'diastasis recti' caused by pregnancy - basically my stomach muscles got pulled apart so badly that they are permanently separated. So doing most of the normal core/abs exercises actually makes it worse (I discovered after years of doing them - eg plank, crunches etc). The mutu programme deals with this issue, I believe.
Maybe try to determine what exactly is causing the protrusion - is it an outer layer of fat, excess skin from being stretched, or the stomach muscles being weak and/or separated, bloating etc.
My other solutions are leggings with the belly control panel; tops that are loose around the belly area; and using weights - building muscle and tone helps your body all-round. Good luck OP.

I did postnatal pilates from around 12 weeks pp and I think that’s what made the biggest difference. I think I kept it up until around 6 months pp and did 20 mins 5 days a week. I followed Bodyfit by Amy on YouTube because her workouts were quick.

I don’t think just losing weight would have helped and it really helped with strengthening my pelvic floor. Best of luck x

Thank you everyone. All your replies made me feel a little better. It is making me so very miserable and it's nice to have been able to talk people, even if virtually, about it. I just find it so depressing that I am doing what I am supposed to and yet still looking like this,

@dottydally it looks fine at beginning of day - a little softer and rounder than it was before children (!) but a normal size for my shape and body and a belly I'd be happy with! That's why I think it must be muscular? As it gets worse progressively throughout the day.

@QueSera thank you for saying 'only' 6 months post birth!! Pregnancy seems so long ago already that it is hard to remember that it's not actually an enormous amount of time, and for the first 2 or 3 months I wasn't actively trying to do anything except pelvic floor muscles. I think it is muscular - I still need to lose a few kilos but not as much as my belly looks if that makes sense. Will look at belly control leggings...

@ExpectingatChristmas I think it being second child plays a part... with my son I was back to normal size at 3 months, and back to a body I liked at 9 months. You're right, reaching the 6 month mark with a happy and healthy baby, including 3 months of lockdown is something to be proud of. Thank you

@MyBingaling It is really so heartening to hear that other people have had the same problem and it can just take longer to go back to your normal shape, rather than it never happening. Thank you for your kindness

@Temple29 thanks for the Pilates youtube suggestion - will look her up!

I've been doing 15 minutes of stomach stuff for rebuilding TA core every morning, but I find it so hard to find the time to do more - the baby still only sleeps in a sling or a moving buggy.... and even if both children are happy enough playing on their own I feel so guilty not interacting them, especially as lockdown has meant only stimulation comes from home and me. Has anyone had any success sorting out belly with fitting in frequent tiny bouts of exercise, and if so what? Or maybe I just need to reorganise things so I can fit in a proper session every day.

I’m afraid I don’t have any advice, but I just wanted to say I know how you feel. I am 13 months pp and my stomach looks terrible. Like you it’s better in the morning but by the evening I look bigger than I did at 6 months pregnant.

I posted recently about how depressed this made me feel - I’m generally pretty happy but when I catch a glimpse of my reflection I feel totally miserable - and got lots of supportive replies from mumsnetters who basically told me to be patient and be kind to myself. So I’m just trying to do some basic core exercises every day in the hope that eventually it’ll pay off, and in the meantime trying to stop googling (she says looking on Mumsnet threads in case any magic solution has been invented...)

Good luck OP!

That's exactly how I feel @Ella123456 ! It is so depressing. I wish I could keep my pre 10am belly all day!! It's nice to know others are in the same boat and know how I feel. Though sympathy for you too! The core exercises have definitely made my core stronger and have massively improved my moderate prolapse, but the big belly is still there... I find it more miserable than if it was excess weight as then I'd at least know how to solve it. Am going to try and squeeze in as much exercise I can, it is just tricky to find the time before 9pm but maybe late night Pilates is the answer! If I find the magic solution I'll let you know!! Good luck to you too!

Oh I could have written this myself! I'm 6 months postpartum with my 2nd baby and also doing the mutu system. The shape of my belly is still a source of despair for me! I wouldn't even mind being a bit bigger/heavier than pre pregnancy if I could be normal non pregnant SHAPE without a rounded belly! It wasn't like this after my first baby and I'm scared it will never be the same again.

So no advice I'm afraid, but you're definitely not alone in feeling like this!

I do feel glad it's not me ! Yes completely agree, I would be much happier with a bit of excess weight and a normal shape. Plus it would be easier to get rid of as straightforward to know what to do. How far are you through mutu? I've added these exercises on daily too in the hopes of some results soon... www.hab-it.com/getting-rid-of-the-belly-pooch/

Does your stomach slowly expand throughout the day? I'm scared too that it won't ever go back to normal.... The pp who said it took her 9 months gave me some hope....

*feel glad it's not only me