Wrinkly stomach :(

[BeanoNoir]

I'm only early 30s but dc2 has left me with a very wrinkled stomach. The skin must have stretched too much during pregnancy.

Is there any hope? I've got a nice body shape back but feel so down about the appearance of my stomach. I'm hoping there's some kind of non surgical option because undergoing such major surgery as a tummy tuck when I have 2 dc for purely vain reasons doesn't seem appropriate. Although I may feel differently when they're older.

Any miracle cures out there? Or do I just need to accept and move on? I was really looking forward to getting my figure back and getting into shape and now I just feel a bit sad. Looks fine with clothes on but I want to feel lovely in my underwear and just feel like I look horrible at the moment.

I know it's a shame I can't just accept and embrace but I can't.

I have a wrinkly stretch marked stomach following 2 big babies with big weight gains during both pregnancies.

I then had to have major abdominal surgery when ds2 was 15 months so now I have an overhang too

I've come to terms with it, it's not attractive but I would have died without the surgery (cancer) and that helps put things in perspective.

Honestly, I think there comes a point when the only option would be surgery. Or acceptance. I've gone for acceptance and it works for me.

Yes, just to add I'm not suggesting you are at the point of surgery being the only option yet. Give it a couple of years and hopefully things will improve.

A series of dermaroller/skin needling appointments would definitely help. It's perfect for things like this as it stimulates the skin to rebuild collagen.

I have had three sections and after about 10 months of yoga my stomach is fairly flat - but the skin is wrinkly and saggy and stretchmarked all around my lower abdomen. And there is a slight bulge at the top of the scars. I am nearly 40 though, so it's just one of the many adjustments to body image that I am having to make.

It's pot luck really, I've a friend who has had three children whose stomach is as smooth and toned as if she never had children..

I am nearly 40 though.

It does give me hope if it has taken years for people's to go. I was 'all bump' too and would surprise people by how far along I wasn't compared to what they had guessed from looking at me.

I'll give it a couple of years and then reassess.

Is it worth my time rubbing bio oil or similar on daily?

If it was just me I'd have the surgery but I'd worry if anything went wrong I need to be there for my children and I wouldn't want them or me to think 'if only I'd just been happy with what I had'.

I think to an extent it is part and parcel of getting old/having kids, and as a pp said, at least I have two amazing dcs to show for it.

I don't think I can just roll over and accept it though, even though body acceptance is such an important thing, I think I'm going to need to do something about this if it doesn't go.

In a couple of years I think I'll go to a skin clinic and see what they say. I'm pretty happy with the shape and muscle underneath the skin, I do a lot of tummy clenching Pilates-style when I'm lying in bed at night. Will get to a Pilates class when ds is a bit older too.

It's great to hear from others in a similar boat. Not that I'm glad you have it too, just nice to not feel like the only one I suppose the fact everyone covers it up means you never see anyone else's to normalise it.

doyouthink I hope things are better for you now. That must have been so hard with a young child. It definitely does put things into perspective.