Belly looks abnormal

[Labmum321]

I’m 3 months postpartum and my stomach still looks 6 months pregnant.

I’ve never had a flat stomach, I’ve always had a pouch and after my first child I went back to normal with my pouch. This time round I still look pregnant and I’m getting regular constipation and bloating that’s lasting almost a week at a time. Something just feels off in there.

I feel like my insides haven’t gone back to their normal place and it’s all protruding as even when I lay flat it’s just quite bumpy whereas if it was fat I’d expect it to sink in.

Has anyone had this before and know what it could be? Or is this just life now and this is my mum tum? Could it be my pp hormones still settling and it’ll take time? If it’s the new me then that’s fine but it doesn’t explain the stomach aches I’m getting.

I have been to the doctors with the abdominal pain as it makes me feel sick sometimes and I can’t eat as I already feel so full. The last time I had an ‘episode’ I barely ate for 4 days and lost 4lbs because of it. The doctor suspected it could be a womb infection as urine infection tests were clear but I had some sensitivity when they felt around that area. I took a 5 day course of antibiotics and the vaginal swab came back as having coliform present so I’ve now just finished a second course of stronger antibiotics this morning but I still feel full, bloated and constipated with stomach ache.

I want to go back to the doctors tomorrow but I worry they’ll think I’m being silly and that it’s just a normal belly. Has anyone experienced this and is it normal?

I agree with you, that doesn't look right OP. You need to go back to the GP and make a pest out yourself to find out what's up.

Look up Diastasis recti.

Agree with this - I should have been referred to physio, but again failed by NHS regarding maternity and post natal. It causing multiple issues years on and I have a feeling that I need surgery - I'm getting a private consultant as constantly fobbed off. Keep pushing for referral to a consultant and physio.

Thank you. I called the drs this morning and I’m currently sat waiting to be seen so we’ll see what they say.

Would definitely agree diastasis recti. A referral to a women's physio will have you sorted in no time OP.

I second that it looks like diastasis.

The dr doesn’t think it’s distasis recti. She suspects Irritable Bowel Syndrome so I’m being sent for a blood test to rule out ovarian cancer and have to provide a stool sample to test for colon cancer and Irritable bowel disease. I need to keep a good diary to try and identify any triggers to the stomach ache before we next meet in 4 weeks.

@Labmum321
hi OP,
how are you getting on now?

I had blood tests and still samples, all completely normal. It kept happening every 3 weeks so I’m assuming it’s hormonal. I’m 6 months postpartum now and breastfeeding so my periods haven’t properly come back but I feel like I still have PMS symptoms each month so I think it’s part of that. I kept a food diary as recommended by the dr and no one food was causing it but I eventually noticed a pattern of when it comes and it would be around a period time.

so still no closer to answers but it’s less painful than it was and it comes and goes a lot quicker now.

Bumping to see if anyone can shed any light on this as I still get it. I don’t always feel bloated.

Doctors dismiss this as IBS as they can’t identify a cause. No particular food causing it.

when I lay flat I still have a soft raised area above belly button. Feels like my organs/intestines just never went back to the ‘correct’ areas.

Could it be endometriosis? Have you seen a gynaecologist?

No I don’t have endo.

Hernia?

How it looks tonight. God, it’s really getting me down now. I’ve been eating really well, exercising a lot more but my stomach still protrudes very oddly. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and go back to the doctors. I’m now 12 months pp. They just don’t take me seriously and because I’m not in pain and just feel a bit bloated they don’t care. Is there anyone I can price up to see privately? I wouldn’t even know what kind of ‘specialist’ I’d need…any thoughts?

A physio.

Aren’t hernias supposed to be painful?

No hernias are not always painful

A scan / ultrasound will tell quickly if it is a hernia.

Yes I was thinking start shouting for this test

Wow I will definitely push for a test to check this then! Thank you. I will keep the thread updated after I’ve had an appointment

Hi, I have this also.

I am now 15 months postpartum. I have had tons and tons of tests and seen so many doctors, I have private health insurance luckily. However we are still struggling to find an exact cause of my abdominal distention. I tested positive for SIBO months ago and we have been focusing on getting rid of that as SIBO causes bloating but as the bloating is permanent and never goes up and down despite losing or gaining weight my most recent stomach doctor thinks my ‘corset’ muscle is weakened due to my pregnancy and that is why my stomach is hanging out. So, now I am off to a physio next week to see if this helps. I was checked for Diasistis Recti 3 months after giving birth but apparently I didn’t have it. But who knows if they checked properly. I have also just realised I have postpartum rib flare so this also can give you issues with bloating. Honestly it’s the most frustrating and upsetting thing ever I just want to know the actual cause and to fix it quickly! I still look like I’m having a baby also. So depressing

Can you self check for diastasis. I use katrina Oakleys youtube videos.
You look like you have rib flare and anterior pelvic tilt. I'd definitely seek a good womens physio. Unfortunately many doctors don't have a clue.