Second c-section recovery

[Beth621]

I had a cesarean 1 week ago and although I appreciate it's early days I'd just appreciate any past experience anyone has..

I had my first cesarean in July 2022,my stomach was flat within a week and I had no overhang at all..

It's completely different this time, I'm petite and gained the same amount of weight as I did with my first, 20lbs. However, I'm one week post op and I have a very visible 'apron/ shelf' I'm worried as I didn't have this atall last time..has anyone had this straight after surgery bur found that it has got better over time or if it is there after surgery, are the chances that it'll stay there now? I know it sounds ridiculous but it's just getting me down, as well as all the other post partum stresses and worries.

Thanks in advance

Exactly the same experience apart from my first caesarean was Nov '22 (also gave birth a week ago).
My stomach is still huge and looks like I'm pregnant still. Shelf is definitely there, scar is not neat.
can't tell you if it gets better as in the same boat but solidarity!

Congratulations on your new baby!

There have been threads like this before & some people see improvement from time, some see improvement from exercise & some either live with it or have cosmetic surgery.

Your body has done an incredible job creating a new life. Can I suggest you file this under 'things I can't control' for now, give it time to heal & then you can reassess?

That said, I have seen some videos on gentle massage to reduce the adhesions, which I wish I'd known about. Might be worth exploring if it helps you feel better.

Hello,
Ah congratulations!! How are you getting on other than that? I'm finding that the whole ' two babies are never the same is extremely true..my first was textbook..slept well, was just a dream all the time and still is..I'm only a week in but second will not be put down, won't sleep for over an hour during the night etc..I'm sure it'll get better!

Are you in the UK? Did you have steri strips this time? I didn't last time but I still have them this time.. my scar is also not neat atall ..I'm not sure whether it's all down to the doctor or whether maybe the second is just a more difficult procedure?! I was a bit silly to assume that everything would heal and look as good as it did the first time!

Section in 2022 and 2024.

To think after my first section I was annoyed because I had no shelf, neat scar, no stretch marks but couldn't drop that final half a stone. Eye roll.

Now I have a pouch, 3 stone to lose and its not shifting no matter what I do! Its like I'm wearing a small rubber ring made out of blubber.

Is anyone else's shelf not where their scar is? I thought the shelf was because of the scar?

Scar is neat and I don't know of its because I went private and they really took their time. My abdomen is definitely fucked from pregnancy in general though.