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Pregnancy

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Original poster

C-section overhang

50 replies

Joysofspring2 · 18/04/2025 12:35

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?

OP posts:

DrummingMousWife · 18/04/2025 20:15

Desparelyseekingfreedom · 18/04/2025 12:46

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.

This. I had an emergency c section and I have an overhang that will not go.

milleniumstar · 18/04/2025 20:24

I thought it was the position, lower down meant less overhang risk but not everyone can be cut that low down

Namerchangee · 18/04/2025 20:26

I’ll be honest. Massive overhang, but I’m 2 stone overweight. If I lose weight I’m hoping it will shift, but I’m not overly bothered.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 18/04/2025 20:31

My fit & slim friends x 3 have ZERO overhang. They were low body.fat pre and during pregnancy

I was obese before i got pregnant so I do...

I think the critical thing is the nhs just gives you surgery and walk 7 days post op you are on your own..no advice no nothing...
the scar should be massaged and silicone straps used to prevent internal scar tissue.

I have no internal scarring from 2 ecls and honestly I had a bit of a belly prekids so there is very little difference its minimally more noticeable nothing control tights dont hide.

Elcs was also a very positive experience for me both times so I am very happy with.my choices.

Statsinyoureyes · 18/04/2025 20:35

I've had two sections. One unplanned and the second one elective. Before my first i was quite slim. After my first I had no overhang at all. I then gained a lot of weight before my second (was about 2 stone overweight when I fell pregnant) and I have an overhang, and even worse it's lopsided. However now I am finally dealing with my weight and have lost a stone, and the overhang has reduced. I'm not convinced it'll ever completely go but I reckon when I've lost another stone it'll be much smaller.

Statsinyoureyes · 18/04/2025 20:36

Just to add my only regret about the whole thing was that I stubbornly laboured through 4 days of failed induction before having my first c section. In hindsight I would have gone straight to the section when labour didn't start naturally. Both c sections were totally worth it and very positive experiences.

Lunalovegod · 18/04/2025 20:37

A slight overhang, but not bad enough that it bothers me, which is surprising as I've always been slim and would have thought I would hate it. I was really against having a c-section for that reason, but as luck would have it, needed an emergency one. It seriously doesn't bother me at all, and the scar is so neat, the midwives said itll fade so much over time that I'll barely see it. I'm 10 weeks pp, maybe with some exercise the overhang will go, but I'm in no rush.
As others have said, it's numb between belly button and scar.

Christwosheds · 18/04/2025 20:38

mynameiscalypso · 18/04/2025 20:14

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.

I’ve been told that it’s due to the way the layers are stitched. My first surgeon was really careful, and the scar was tiny with no shelf. The second was much less careful, the scar is bigger which I expected as they cut out the old one, but it was also stitched up far less neatly. I had a thread the first time and dissolving stitches the second, I don’t know if that made a difference ? I am a bit overweight now but even when I wasn’t I had the shelf. I have a lot of scar tissue apparently, seen on ultrasounds.

pimplebum · 18/04/2025 20:40

I had a fat tummy before and over hang after
but I would have a saggy tummy even if I had a vaginal

birdieblues · 18/04/2025 20:42

I didn’t know about this before I had an c-section. It wasn’t a problem when I dropped weight first year as between breastfeeding and tons of stroller walks I dropped weight and was at my best weight for years.

When I returned to work after one year, I put on weight due to sitting more, not exercising and stress. I definitely ate more unhealthy and now the overhang is noticeable. I’m trying to drop weight again. I have always been slim but rounded, but definitely with a little tummy anyway naturally but the overhang is another battle.

I wouldn’t change having a c-section. I think with exercise, eating well and avoiding bloating drinks and foods, I will minimise it. I also got shapewear underwear for now, to smooth it out.

scubaprincess · 18/04/2025 20:56

I had 2 sections 3 years apart with my last baby born over 6years ago. There was no overhang after my first but got an apron with the second. I am definitely carrying more weight now (I went up 2 dress sizes) but I'm losing weight and it's obvious it's not going to disappear-the fatty overhang will turn into a skin overhang. I did also carry very large the second time so that was also a factor I think. Plus the incision was large in my case (almost hip bone to hip bone) which i don't think helped. The worst bit for me with apron is not the look (it's amazing what the right pants and fitting clothes can do) but it's when your knickers roll under the apron and rub-it feels like cheese wire! Don't worry about the apron. Pregnancy may leave its mark but see it as war wounds from having a beautiful baby. Don't worry about it and do what is safest for the baby and you.

SnakebitesandSambucas · 19/04/2025 14:59

@Lorlorlorikeet hi what binder did you use. My old one seems to have disappeared in the loft!

strawberrywishes · 19/04/2025 15:11

I had a section with my 2yo and do have an overhang now as well as numbness from there up to my bellybutton, it doesn't bother me as much now as it did at the start. The scar itself is very neat and now just a white line. I do have to wear high knickers now though as anything else rolls down and is very uncomfortable on my scar. I am a slightly overweight comfortable size 14 so I'm not sure if losing a bit would do anything to get rid of the overhang.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 19/04/2025 20:03

I don’t have an overhang but I do have a ‘step’, it’s weird and after 16 years it’s obviously not going away. I absolutely hate it! I had to have an emergency c-section so I’m gutted that I didn’t give birth and even more gutted that my body now looks the way it does.

RosiePH · 19/04/2025 20:22

I didn’t get an overhang at all. Size 10 pre-pregnancy and I am more of a 12 now. After stitching me up, the surgeon did say I had strong abdominal muscles and that would serve me well for healing. I didn’t realise they were so strong but I guess years of Pilates did actually pay off haha. My incision also seems to be really low. Lower than I thought it would be actually. I don’t have any issues with clothing choice now as it’s so low. Maybe a combination of a low incision and ab muscles helped? Or maybe it’s all just luck!

I do have a bit of numbness below my belly button. Doesn’t bother me at all. Not something I particularly notice unless I touch it and even then it doesn’t faze me. I’d rather have that than a third of fourth degree tear that’s for sure.

peachgreen · 19/04/2025 20:24

I have a significant overhang despite losing a substantial amount of weight. It’s also itchy and numb. But I’m still glad I had a section because I have no pelvic floor issues etc.

peachgreen · 19/04/2025 20:25

I should have said – DD was 10lb 13oz (the longest baby ever born at the hospital!) so that no doubt had an impact!

Flopsy145 · 19/04/2025 20:36

The overhang from my elective (dc2) is far less than from my emergency c section (dc1). I had so much scary tissue from my first which was understandably a rush job given the circumstances, but then with my elective they took their time, removed the scar tissue and it's now flatter than it was. Also keeping up with scar massage I think helps. There will always be a small shelf, but honestly just wearing normal underwear, bikini, trousers, etc you can't yell

TeenLifeMum · 19/04/2025 20:39

I was massive - twin pregnancy! I have no overhang and realised recently there’s no visible scar anymore (bio oil was clearly my friend).

LuluDelulu · 19/04/2025 20:43

I don’t have any overhang. You can see the scar but my knickers cover it. I am not overweight, I think if you are then an overhang may be more likely.

PLHJ84 · 19/04/2025 20:48

Mine is shockingly bad and pokes out like i’m bloated all the time & i’m very self conscious of it. More so as i had a fairly flat tummy after my previous birth but i gained over 4 stone on a twin pregnancy (why i opted for elsc) and they’ve stitched it too tight combined with all the extra skin etc. theres nothing i can do. I’ve lost the weight, exercise lots, still soze 8 but can’t wear tight clothes. Lying down is only time
it doesn’t look bad. Mine is worse than any of my friends and don’t know if it’s the weight i’d gained or i’ve just been unlucky.
i don’t have pain, healed ok and scar is faint. Elsc was alright and i recovered well and i’d probably still have opted for elsc to get both babies out quickly and safely even if i’d know i’d be left with it
but 10 years on i’m still self conscious about it

Cherrycola4 · 19/04/2025 21:05

I had an emergency caesarean 16 years ago, I have a neat scar which is just a faded line. I’m 51 now and no overhang. Size 12. No regrets about having a caesarean.

Burntt · 19/04/2025 21:14

If you google c section overhang and look at the images I’d say they are accurate to how mine looks. I don’t know if putting a lot of weight on has an impact because I put it on then lost most of it. It’s uncomfortable because it makes jeans etc tight on my middle when I dress for my overall body but when I dress for my gut they fall down and the guy hangs over and are baggy in the leg and bum because I’m not actually that clothing size anywhere else on my body! also and this is TMI it wobbles like a boob does when exercising or scrubbing the bath if not in tight clothes. I hate it but I had an emergency section following induction with the drip and baby getting stuck so it was not a choice. That labour has left me with permanent lifelong damage it was like torture worst pain I have ever had.

I will say I’ve had 3 births. Two natural and one section. By far the worst recovery was the natural birth with episiotomy and appallingly care, then my natural labour with a tear was BY FAR the best the healing was a couple days not weeks and weeks followed by the section which wasn’t great but not bad like appalling after care and stiched up wrong episiotomy . If I had to choose again I’d opt for a planned section because while I hope for my second labour no fucking way would I risk what I went through with my first and no fucking way would I consent to an induction ever again

ttcat37 · 24/04/2025 00:11

coxesorangepippin · 18/04/2025 18:30

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

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

That’s not true. I was obese with my first, I had no overhang at all. I weighed slightly less with my second, a smaller baby, and got a terrible overhang. It’s the surgeon imo. The first was very careful, the second was like a bull in a china shop.

mrssunshinexxx · 24/04/2025 01:05

Size 10 3 sections I have an overhang and I despise it. My tummy above it is flat it’s as if the scar tissue healed too fast the surgeon as my last section and only elective said it’s look of the draw and skill of the first surgeon. I did scar massage and lost baby weight and more / exercise but I’m one of the unlucky ones

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