Stomach after birth

[sleepyhoglet]

After my first birth my stomach was back to flat within a week and couldn't tell I had been pregnant. In fact ,.... I was my best shape ever as actually had boobs! I am wondering if this will happen again second time around. I am older now at 34 and have had a 6 year gap between pregnancies. Anyone had two or more pregnancies and did your body react the same each time?

While preg with the 1st, I could suck my pregnant belly in at 7 months gone and not look pregnant. After he was born it wasn't too bad but I did have loose skin slightly and stretch marks - runs in the family.
After the 2nd who was nearly 11 pounds it was a write off.
It didn't get any worse with 3 and 4 because they were much lighter then the 2nd.

Now I'm 38 and the youngest is 11 and I've lost a lot of weight it looks like crepe paper but with the right knicks on it can appear completely smooth and flat under clothes.

I know (and am jealous of ) lots of women who sprinted back into shape. I just sadly don't have that type of skin.

*sprung back into shape that should say and some that don't have a single stretch mark

1st pregnancy fine.
2nd took a little dieting and weights, fine.
3rd twin pregnancy I’m still the size of a house two years later. Don’t have twins.

I've had two C sections and unfortunately have a very minor overhang. I think it's from when the surgeons stitch you up but you still have a bump following the birth so it's not like stitching skin together that's already flat.

It could be corrected with surgery (local anaesthetic so not a big deal) but I'd have to go private and never really felt the need. Doesn't show through clothes unless they are tight fitting.

Think I'm buggered then! Before pregnancy 2 I was an 8 but a bit squishy around the middle. I think my 16 week isn't really a bump but squidgyness.

I’ve had 3 and mines gone flat. I think you’ll be fine so long as you carry on exercising and eating well throughout your pregnancy.

Had two at age 35 and age 38. Back to normal stomach within a week or so. No stretch marks. But I think it's down to metabolism or biology. I'm a size 8.

First I was back down to a size 6 with a flat stomach pretty quickly. I was 25.

Second at 29 and I still feel huge. My stomach is not flat and I have a lot of stretch marks and crumpled skin. I'm a size 10 to 12 which I know is not massive but its big for me and I feel awful about myself. I eat well but I'm 32 now and really struggle to lose weight.

I think the difference is age and time to look after myself during and after pregnancy.

Ooh, similar to me OP, I had a bit of a gap (6.5 years) but was a few years older than you. Yes, body did very similar things each time. It didn't get worse as I thought it might.

I should add - I am slim, but did NOT have a flat stomach within weeks of each birth! In fact, I lost most of the pregnancy weight over six months after the births but an extra 7-10lbs or so hung around until I stopped breastfeeding. Then stomach got nice and flat again.

I snapped back really quickly after our 1st, she was an average 7lb 7oz.
Our 2nd was 10lb 12oz with polyhydramnios and so my belly was never the same again. Had another singleton then huge twins (17lb combined at birth) born via elcs, left me with diastasis recti, loads of excess skin and a bad overhang. I can repair my abs in the gym with powerlifting but been saving for a tummy tuck for a few years as the skin is horrendous no matter how slim I get (looks like I'm melting if lay on side lol).