C-section overhang

[Joysofspring2]

I am researching the long term effects of C-section as I was maybe thinking of electing for one as my baby is measuring small and I have also been treated for strep b.
i have heard really positive experiences from
elective c sections however have also read that a lot of women struggle with overhang on their tummy’s after due to the scar which can leave to pain and issues.
I don’t want this to sound really vain so wanted to know if people could educate me or share their experiences of the recovery of the scar after birth?

I have a very very sllight overhang but it is only noticable when completely naked and leaning over at the same time. If you are larger there may be a bigger overhang (but then that might be the case even without the csection)

Csection scar is very low so any dip of the scar is covered by my bikini or knickers :)

I had a c-section in July 2023. I’m 5 ft 4 and 60KG. I have no over hang. But I have worked bloody hard to get back to pre pregnancy weight.

(I should add that i am 3 years postpartum after csection and for the first year the overhang was more noticeable but thats natural i think :) )

I found the first 9 months to a year that the slight ‘overhang’ got me down a bit but once the muscle tone came back a bit and I’d slimmed back down again, the overhang was nigh on non existent. We’ll see how we go along this time, I’m only 5 weeks pp at the moment.

I have an overhang that doesn't shift. However much weight I lose. Even when I went down to 8st 4lbs after having covid, it was still there.
I also have some numbness around my belly button.

I don't know how common it is or what I might have ended up looking like if I had had regular births though so I suppose it is a toss up.

I have an overhang and I’m 64kg and 5’9’’. I’ve always been this weight and (pre kids) with a washboard stomach. I hate it. It is right on the line of my knickers which is really annoying. It is getting worse as I get older (i’m nearly 50) as my skin loses its elasticity. My scar has adhered to the abdomen wall in the middle - from the side I look like I’ve been stapled just above where my pubic hair ends.

The scar and overhang got a lot better in my early 40s by the way (had my second at 39) so those of you a few years post op saying it has improved, that was also my experience then. It’s the last 2-3 years it’s got worse, bloody hormones.

I have just had my second. Overhang gone quick time this time as threw everything I had at it. Mepiform tape, winback tecartherapy, lymphotouch and professional scar massage.

I do think you also need to be in good shape to begin with. If your overweight the surgeons are going to struggle to deal with that extra skin neatly.

I very recently had an elective c section (just over 3 weeks), so can’t share personal experience re having an overhang as I’m still in the deflation phase. It is something that plays on my mind though - I’ve read that doing scar massage once healed can help so will be giving that a go in a few weeks time.

It's there.
I am quite skinny but you can see small shelf there.
Tbh I do not stress about it as biking covers it and any bloke that sees me naked and notices 1cm skin missalignement first can pack and go.

Me too.

Also for some reason it left the shape of my hips a bit lopsided.

Two C-sections, excellent recoveries, no overhang at all, just a neat little scar I’m so proud of.

I was very active during pregnancy and wore a belly wrap/compression band on day 2 onwards, which definitely helped with my flat scar and flat tummy.

No overhang here, 8 months pp. Not particularly slim or fat (size 12). Scar is super neat and faded already.

I have no overhang whatsoever. My scar is a little bit keloid in the middle and occasionally gets itchy but that’s it. My incision is very low (midwife remarked “that won’t worry you in a bikini!” when checking my stitches) so I don’t know if that affects it.

I was religious about my hypopressives and would recommend them (online) or working with a PT who can help you re-establish your intraabdominal pressure.

If you are slim to start with then there may be minimal overhang. None of the mums I know have it - one has had three sections and her stomach is flat! I unfortunately am overweight and do have one.

Mine exists irrespective of weight, but then I've had 2.

My first two CSs I had no overhang and the scar was minimal. The third was a messy affair tbh, overhang and a wiggly scar. I think it depends on the surgeon and possibly how toned you are. I was fit with my first two and swam most days not so much with my third DC.

I have an overhang despite being v slim. The scar is a bit wonky too so don't know if it's to do with how I was stitched up. I also got a v nasty infection which maybe didn't help. I thought I would care more than I do though, don't really think about it day to day.

Unless you're really slim, you will have an overhang

I've have one - it's not that bad

My recoveries were horrendous, long and painful.

first one I was in significant pain for several weeks and it took 3 months to get back to normal.

second was worse including post op complications, 10 days in hospital, wound infections. I was again in significant pain for several weeks and it took 5 months to return to normal

several years later I still have a big overhang which is unaffected by diet or exercise as there are just no active muscles left in there

I am prepregnancy weight (and worked damn hard to get there) but I still have a pouch. I was 41 when I had CS and I still have very little feeling on the skin between my belly button and the scar. Same for friends who had c section.

I've kinda accepted no more low rise jeans or belly button rings for me, but I have a beautiful daughter as a result. Not a bad trade.

Younger people I know who had emcs don't have as much overhang. Or those who didn't gain much weight (I gained 60lbs 🙄) but we all have the loss of feeling there.

My first was fine, no shelf. Second terrible. Rougher looking scar, noticeable shelf that as pp says has got even worse post menopause. I really hate it .

I have to wear high waisted knickers now or normal knickers cut into my scar ! And still numb under belly button (had 2 sections in 16 months)

8 months in and definitely have an overhang that wasn't there before. The tissue also feels sort of harder than how I'd expect a bit of flab to feel, so I'm not sure what that is.
I still get redness and irritation on my scar if I wear normal knickers so can only do high waisted. I also get awful cramping in behind my scar, like period cramps but not related to my period.
(GBS doesn't mean you need a c section, know that's not what you asked, but just in case you didn't know.)

You have to do massage and different techniques on the scar to prevent numbness and shelf. (It’s scar tissue so it’s just typical biology )

No overhang here, and I’m not particularly slim and definitely don’t have a flat stomach. My scar is quite low down and I stayed very fit in pregnancy so I imagine those both help. Although it’s probably just luck and a good surgeon.