HI,
I had a csection 7 weeks ago (2nd csection) and my belly still looks about 4-5 months pregnant. Is that normal?! I am nursing and have seen my doctor for my 6 week checkup. I'm sure my uterus has contracted some, but like I said, I still have a bulge. It's not flabby or fat, it is firm when I push on it, but nonetheless, a bulge there! Is this normal? How long is this supposed to take?
Thanks!
After my second c section in feb it took a while to feel normal. I'd say at least 2 months. Hang in there and congrats!
Sorry to break it to you, but it will take months for your stomach to go down, and even then it may not be flat. C-section or not, this is really just a side effect of pregnancy. Congrats on the new baby!
I'm at my prepreg weight now, but I looked pregnant until my daughter was 5 or 6 months old and was asked 3 x during postpartum if I was. Boo hoo, but it got me on a diet and exercise regime. Some woman loose it in 3 or 4 months, but I take about 10 months until my body is close to normal and that with some serious effort. C-section has nothing to do with it, though C-sescion does make it harder to get fit because you can't use the muscles until 6 months.
Yup. Totally normal.
It's honestly better for a slow return. Fast returns (twins, extreme weightloss, etc. can leave skin flaps. Mine weighs about 30 pounds. Aka the docs subtract 20-30 lbs from my weight because that's what the calculate the skin weighs :P
As 'ugly' / ungainly as it is... The slower the return to normal, the more likely your skin will shrink along with the rest of you... So you WANT a slow return.
HOWEVER... If your feeling ill, feverish, pain, etc... Tell your doc, because infection and retained tissue will also create swelling. That needs to be dealt with.
You have to give it at least 3 months with a c-section... think about it, the muscles have been separated and stretched as far as they can go, then you had a large incision made to the lower abdomen. You basically have had stretching in all areas of the belly! Once you can start exercising (if you haven't already), the belly will go down. Remember, cut sweets down/out of your diet, drink a lot of water, eat healthy, and exercise, and you will get there! It took me months after the birth of both my girls to feel semi-normal, and honestly, a good 9-10 months of solid workouts to feel toned again, and I was in great shape before getting pregnant. Hang in there!
Oh gee. I still have that bulge and my baby just turned 16. I didn't have a C section, either. You mean for some people that actually goes away?
Hang in there, it will go down.
it sounds like this is your second PG. the more children we have the more stretched the uterus and belly becomes so it could take longer for the buldge to disappear.
As you have more pregnancies, plus mature in age, it can take a bit longer four our bodies to bounce back.
Totally normal, it has been only a few weeks after months of your body stretching and stretching for a second time.
I've found that binding my belly worked well. I didn't bind after the 2nd pregnancy and it stayed looking like I was 3 months pregnant. I then used the belly bandit for the 3rd and 4th pregnancies and I had a flat stomach again in about 10 weeks. I had vaginal deliveries, but I've heard that it's very helpful for c sections because the pressure on the scar makes it feel better.
you may have diatasis recti
Hang in there it will go away. Honestly though....it's different for everyone. There are many factors, like whether of not you bound your tummy after baby, how much weight you gained during your pregnancy, how you carried (straight out, wider etc.) I had my 3rd c-section a year ago. 3 weeks after baby that bulge was gone! But I bound my tummy, didn't gain much and had a small tummy through out. Like by 3 weeks post partum I was done to 120 pounds. So not back to pre pregnancy weight but getting down there. Now my sis just had her 3rd baby by c-section about 3 months ago and although she looks great she still has the bulge you are talking about. But she didn't bind her belly and her tummy really got big this last pregnancy. But really, give yourself time. It will go down and get back to normal just give it more time!!!
Mine still looks like I am pregnant...2 yrs later. I am doing situps when I can and it helps alot. But I havent MADE the time to really knock it off my belly. Just depends on the person. I would do crunches as soon as you get the ok.
