C-section overhang - did everyone get one?

[Morgan12]

I'm currently deciding between a c-section and a vaginal birth and I know it's incredibly vain but I'm worried about the dreaded overhang that many women are left with after a section. I've also read that alot of women still look pregnant months later.

Has anyone managed to avoid this? I know the baby being healthy is the most important factor here but cannot deny I will be depressed with an overhang etc and it will affect my life.

I’ve had 2 and my overhangs terrible. After my first I was still a size 8 but looked 6 months pregnant. Having had 2 sections id also say if you can try to avoid it, try to as it’s not a nice procedure!

I have had a c section and I have the overhang. So does everyone else I know who has had one, no matter whether they are thin, fat or in between.

You will get a lot of responses saying you are ridiculous to be concerned about this and all that matters is a healthy baby. That is true of course (the last bit) but changes to your body after childbirth can be hard to come to terms with. I would say, from my experience and that of my friends, that I'd prefer to have c-section overhang than a ravaged foof, which seems to be a common side effect of pushing an 8 pound baby out.

I don't have even a hint of an overhang and I'm not particularly slim, so I was expecting one. I had assumed the only people that don't get them would be the super slim, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

I'm due to have another section soon and I'm also concerned that this time around I won't be so lucky.

Ive had 2 and if im carrying weight the overhang is there, if I lose weight it isn't.

I had three natural births and I have the overhang too!

I've had two c-sections and don't have an overhang. So it's not inevitable. I am pretty slim though and had small baby bumps during both pregnancies, that may affect things? I did have some swelling around the scar which gradually flattened out - it took around 12-18 months to go completely.

I wonder if it's got anything to do with genetics and skin elasticity??? I've been incredibly lucky not to get any stretch marks either - although at 34 weeks with my second there's still plenty of time and I have probably jinxed that now!

@1wanda1 I've given birth to a 10lb baby and my foof isn't ravaged. Such a bitchy comment. Sad you need to put others down to make yourself feel better.

Back to the original post. Op I know loads who've had C sections and none of them ended up with the overhang but there's no way of telling how your body will change after a c-section. It seems to be the luck of the draw.

I had a C section three months ago and I have a small overhang. It does seem to have shrunk a bit in the last few weeks. To me, it looks as though the scar is a thin, tight band, so the effect is like wearing a belt that's too tight. I suspect that getting back to my ideal weight might help a bit, but won't get rid of the overhang completely.

I, too, would rather have an overhang than permanent damage further south.

I've had two c sections, no overhang, or stretch marks if that's relevant.

I'm not especially skinny, top weight last year was 11st and was still no sign of an overhang, lost 2 stone now and my tummy is flattish.

I do have a weird numb section though by the scar.

I don't mean to imply that most vaginal births lead to permanent damage, though. I'm just reassuring myself that things could be far worse!

I think the causes of overhang are multiple but scarring is a cause. The scar causes different layers to stick together that then holds some abdominal tissue above it like a tight belt.
Massaging the scar causes it to loosen its grip and to to lie flatter and improve its appearance. It's a safe thing to do once it's healed.
Google "Massage caesarean scar" there are quite a few links and videos.

Poptart4 I simply said that from my friends' experiences, it seems to be a common side effect of natural childbirth. Not that it is inevitable, or even that most people suffer this. Just that it seems to be common among my friends. No need to be so touchy!

Ravaged foof 😂

I had a CS 3.5 years ago and no overhang, scar has completely faded. Also not particularly skinny - usually around 67/68kgs. Having another one in 2 weeks so fingers crossed...

I've heard it's down to the skill of the doctor who is stitching up your stomach.

I've had one, when I am carrying a bit more weight, there is a slight overhang, when I am at a lower weight (not super skinny - never been less than a size 12) then there isn't a noticeable one. I am having a CS again this and am worried I won't be so lucky, but it doesn't bother me hugely.

My very good (and rather arrogant) surgeon told me it's down to the skill of the surgeon. I don't have one. Just a small indent where the scar is.

I had the overhang and I was slim. In fact the more weight I lost, the more loose skin there was to hang down. It looked like a really weird bulge in clothes. I paid to have it sorted out surgically. It was a significant factor in deciding to have a vbac in subsequent pregnancy.

I do know people who say they haven't got one, and I've heard it's down to the surgeon too (in which case why the fuck is technique not taught as standard to avoid the overhang?!).

2 C sections, no overhang, very happy with scar. My friends who have had Cs, some have overhangs others don't, its very individual based on lots of factors.

I've had one CS and no noticeable overhang in underwear. But naked and looking from the side my stomach does stick out a bit above the scar.

I've had a VBAC too and would take that any day over a CS but obviously it's very much down to personal experience!

I've had four sections and have quite a bad overhang.
After my first it was bad but by the time I got pregnant with my second baby four years later it was only a little bit of stretched skin with no fat in it and hardly noticeable. Now it's worse, but losing weight will reduce it.

Nope no overhang .

I’ve had two c-sections and no overhang here either. I gained 3 stone each pregnancy too. I don’t have any stretch marks and to look at my body you wouldn’t know I’ve been pregnant - not a stealth boast - I’m not skinny at all, always hover around 11 stone. I think some of it is to do with skin-elasticity and genetics. My mum has had two c-sections and is now a tiny size 8 and she’s got no paunch just a bit of an indent.

No overhang from my emcs. Having another section on Thursday so will see. Of my friends, I'd say it varies and that both sets (c-sections and vaginal) can have. Certainly my very skinny dm does and I was a quick easy vaginal birth.

My section scar is very low down, don't think they could have cut me any lower which apparently helps and I was told do scar massage by a French neonatologist who was looking after ds in NICU. No idea whether that actually helped or not but my skin always moved as a separate level to everything underneath. As the "charming" male doctor who delivered ds pointed out though, I do have very elastic skin and very few stretch marks (5 with ds), none in this pregnancy.

I had a c-section 2.5 weeks ago and I have no overhang and my stomach has gone done loads now! I still have baby weight but definitely no overhang. And I'll be able to shift that extra weight easy peasy once I can exercise properly. I did a 3 mile walk today and feel great!

I'd like to add I've never been super duper skinny... I'm size 12-14 normally. 10-12 when I'm exercising well. So slim enough to not get an overhang I guess