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getting body back after baby

9 replies

BigFairy · 09/01/2013 17:04

I'm after tips on how to get back in shape after my first baby, which will be born by planned c-section. I've gained just over 2 stone. I realise it will take some time to recover from the op, but would like to get back to normal as soon as I realistically can as I know it would make me feel much better about myself. I plan to breastfeed so hope that will help to shift some weight. I've seen a lot of posters mention c-section overhang. Is this inevitable? Anything I can do to help it heal nicely? Can my tummy ever be anywhere near the same again after a massive bump (it's huge) and c-section? I was size 8-10 pre-pregnancy and as I'm short being larger does not suit me. Am 38 weeks now and so fed up with feeling so heavy and uncomfortable all the time.

OP posts:
dinkystinky · 09/01/2013 17:06

Drink lots of water, walk everywhere once you're feeling up to it and start some exercise after your 6/8 week sign off.

And dont make the mistake of eating lots of cake/biscuits because you are on maternity leave - make healthy choices, snack on fruit and you'll have lost it all by the time you finish your mternity leave.

QueenCadbury · 09/01/2013 17:54

As the other poster said walk with the buggy and eat healthily and not see bf as a license to eat everything in sight (speaking from experience).

I don't have a section overhang as such but I do have saggy skin which has got worse after each child (3). You can get back to the same size/weight but you're shape may change and what fitted before may not fit the same afterwards.

In terms of healing the scar, lots of rest, bathe in lavender oil baths, take your painkillers if needed and don't over do anything.

Above all don't be too hard on yourself and don't rush. It took 4 months at least with all mine before my figure was vaguely back to normal.

I had a fab book which I can't remember what is was called but is was about exercise after a cs (I got it on amazon). I started very simple leg exercises the day after and gradually built up very slowly and sensibly.

Good luck.

OnlyWantsOne · 09/01/2013 17:55

Dd3 is 4 nearly 5 months and I'm still 3 stone over weight.

Sad!!!

TheBrideofMucky · 09/01/2013 18:00

Avoid biscuits when on mat leave! Grin

Stay as fit as you can and eat as healthily as you can throughout pregnancy as this definitely helped me. Being small to start with generally helps I think.

Gentle exercise until you have completely recovered and then put together a fitness programme or start a DVD if you can't get out of the house to run/gym. I'm doing Insanity at the moment and toning up muscles I never knew I had Grin.

You can get your body back if you want to. Just make sure you how yourself enough time to recover first.

MoomieAndFreddie · 09/01/2013 18:03

you can do pelvic floor exercises as soon as you feel able after the birth. according to my friend who is a MW this starts to help pull in your abs

drinks loads of water (because that will help flush out the extra water you will have been carrying during pg). Also, you haven't really gained a silly amount of weight so i think it will probably fall of naturally. as remember the baby and placenta combined will probably weigh up to a stone or so. but please don't under eat because you will just make yourself feel shit. if you are BFing apparently this helps shift the weight but i never did it so i don't know from personal experience.

but just dont do what i did after i had my 1st dc, i made the mistake of crash dieting literally as soon as i was out of hospital :( and the weight did fall off me but i felt horrendous.

and once you are given the go ahead to exercise pilates is great for post pregnancy toning. its VERY boring though, i will warn you...

MoomieAndFreddie · 09/01/2013 18:05

oh yeah and walk everywhere with the buggy, once you are able. even just walking round town, window shopping or something. i used to walk for hours with my 1st. once you have more than one, you can't really do that..... Wink

CareerGirl01 · 09/01/2013 20:54

Hi Bigfairy two stone's not a lot - I was an 8/10 before DD1 and put on 3 stone while pregnant with her - lost it in 5 months - and that was without dieting. I used an exercise cycle while she napped (with i pod plugged in) did lots of walking and ate heathily. Walking is great!

ReturnToPlanetVenus · 09/01/2013 21:06

2 stone isn't much - you should lose a lot of that really easily. You'll be amazed at how the scales keep going down for the first few weeks despite sitting around all day eating chocolate biscuits and watching daytime TV.

Usual diet rules apply for the last little bit. Don't go mad while you are BF and getting used to being a new mum, just aim for 1lb a week or so - cut out the rubbish and eat healthily.

Re C-section overhang, I didn't have one after my first c-section, but do after my second. Not sure what the difference is - maybe one more pregnancy, or a less skilled surgeon? It's tiny though, and only noticeable without clothes on. No biggie in the scheme of things!

I had a book called something like "C-Section Recovery", it had simple exercised to do from the day after your section - really gentle at first then IIRC taking you through to about 6 weeks pp, at which point the exercises were still extremely gentle but had got me in the routine of doing a tiny bit ever day.

Be VERY careful about wound hygiene after your C-section. An infection will set your recovery back (had one after DC1, they are quite common, recovery was much slower). 2nd time around I acquired a bottle of hibiscrub (from a nurse friend who really knew about these things) and washed with that all over before my section, and a couple of times in the days afterwards, did a few salt baths and dried my wound religiously with a hairdryer.

Don't feel too much pressure though to snap back into shape. It takes a bit of time, and the main thing is to have a lovely time with your newborn. Good luck.

BigFairy · 10/01/2013 12:19

Thanks for your replies! In particular, I didn't realise pelvic floor exercises helped pull tummy in. I haven't really liked being pregnant so am looking forward to feeling more like myself again.

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