Flat Belly After Delivery/C-section

I had my son about 7 1/2 weeks ago. I bought two of the bands (one for the hips area, one for the belly) To be honest, I didn't really notice much of a difference...but, although my belly was still kind of big, it was helping rid of all the extra water I gained (from pre-eclampsia). My belly is still ....not what I'd expect now... But, it would definantly help with a c-section with swelling and whatnot.

Sighhhh . . . .
Once you're allowed to exercise, exercise.
The belly band or girdle might feel good
but it isn't going to help you put your body
back to . . . . what you'd like it to be.
Wishing you a marvelous healthy baby
and lots of help and support from your family.
S.

Yes, wrapping your belly can help!
It will of course be harder for your midsection to recover after a c-section vs a vaginal birth, but as you wrap your abdomen from the beginning, it retrains everything as to where it should be. Did your hospital not give you a surgical wrap after your first two? Most hospitals will do that now as they have found that it can help significantly in retaining muscle tone, as it forces them back where they should be instead of just letting gravity help everything hang out. :)

I have only delivered vaginally, but started wrapping after my 5th baby, as after 4 kids in 4 years I definitely had that dreaded mommy pooch that I really didn't like and really didn't want. I saw a definite difference in my midsection recovery after that baby, so I have continued to wrap after my subsequent babies. It really has made a difference for me! It would stand to reason that after 8 babies in 11 years, my abs should be 100percent shot, but between using something to hold it in immediately postpartum and then putting some work into it once I'm cleared to word on my abs again, they looked awesome by the time my 2yr old was less than a year old, and I'm hoping for the same again! (my baby is just 4wks so no big workouts yet)

Someone mentioned ribs spreading, and your hips do too as everything relaxes to accommodate baby. It is possible for all of those things to be narrowed again, even if it isn't to your original pre-pregnancy size.

You can check out Lindsay Brin's website (lindsaybrin.com)-she has had 2 c-sections and shows her recovery pics week-by-week, and by the pictures after her first section (which include abs that most women would envy even before having babies!), you can see that it can be done!
GL!

I had my 3rd, at 44 y.o. I wore a garment I found on designveronique.com, item #C50. It was actually made for people to wear after lipo, but I figured if why couldn't it work for after delivery!? It did work, I wore the zippered one from 2 days after delivery for 6 weeks (24/7, except for showering) when that one started feeling loose, I started to wear the pull on one for another 6 weeks (24/7) I had gained 32 lbs total, By day 8 I had already lost all but 8 lbs, by 2 weeks I was back to my pre preg size. After 12 weeks my stomach was flat, my hips were back and I looked like I had never been pg. With my first two pgs it took almost a yeat to get rid of the last 10 lbs. This really worked for me, as well as a few of my friends. Good luck to you!

Hi A., I am about to have my 2nd child via c-section as well and have the belly issue as you indicated. Girdles do help but along with proper diet and exercise. I have a slipped disc which made it difficult in my first pregnancy and now in the 2nd as well to exercise but after my first I visited a dietitian and changed my eating habits and did 30 minute of walking for at least 4 days a week and also when i was breast feeding it helped my tummy go down faster.
Also after about 1 yr after my c-section I started therapy for my back which concentrated mainly on strengthening my core (abdominal) muscles. At first I didn't see much of a difference but now that i am in my 2 pregnancy i feel alot stronger in the abdominal area.
I know with having kids it makes it difficult, sometimes near impossible to exercise, but just take 30 mins a day when everyone is alseep maybe, and do some strengthening exercises for your abs.
Just note it is important to do both dieting and exercise specifically for your needs in order to get the desired results. I tried exercising alone and it didn't do anything but frustrated me. But with a sensible diet in the proper portions and with some exercising ..... you will succeed :0).

Best of luck to you.... i myself need to gear up for this challenge after baby # 2.... hope this was helpful.

C..

Ha! The only flat belly I know about after having kids is on the Pregnancy Barbie doll they had out a few years ago! Even after just one child, my ribs spread (and my shoe size went from 7 1/2 to 9 1/2). If you are done having more kids, and you really want that flat tummy back, it might be worth it to look into a tummy tuck.

They don't help, structurally or appearance wise, for your belly.
It is just 'supportive'.

I used to have 6-pack abs and was very fit and toned and hardly an ounce of fat on me... prior to getting pregnant with my first child. I also ate way healthy.
I have had 2 c-sections... and my Abs...well, they just did not rebound back into shape after wards, despite my having been in great physical shape, prior.
But that is just me.
After my pregnancies though, I had "Diastasis." Which is a separation of the abdominal wall etc. I carried my babies, real big and forward, in utero.

Anyway, my pregnancies, all happened after I was 37 years old.... and my kids are 4 years apart.

To tone your Abs... it is best, to just try to be fit... not only spot tone.. but work out the whole body... then that way, your 'core' will also get toned as well. I used to do fitness counseling as well at one time.

All the best,
Susan

Was your stomach flat after the first two? If not, unless you are unlike the majority of mother who have c-sections, especially those who are no longer in their 20's, there is one thing that will make your stomach flat...surgery. Most times during pregnancy the muscles separate and as a bonus with c-sections, women often have what they describe as a "shelf" over their scar, so while you can lose weight and exercise, do not expect it to be flat. Good luck with the birth

I had two c-sections in my 40s - one at 43 and one at 44. My stomach is flatter than it has been in years because I started a running program and stuck to it. I also weigh 10 lbs less than I did when I got pregnant with number 1. My suggestion would be to implement a serious exercise program - I get up at 4 am 2 days a week plus I run two weekend mornings. I have two kids and work full time. You might think you don't have the time but you really do. Go for it! You will look great!

I had my son 4 yrs ago c-section. I'm 5'0 very petite was 119 lbs before I had him and now I'm 125lbs. It's mainly belly fat and I hate it!!! I have tried running, sit ups and the ugly elephant skin just wont go away...I'm in my early 30's and want to have more kids, but I'm afraid that I will stay fat after having another child...I'm considering surgery...

When you figure out the magic secret...please let me know, lol! I've had 4 sections in 9 years and I've given up hope of ever having a flat belly...until I can afford lipo ;) No amount of exercising or training or healthy eating has helped me in that area. It gets thinner, but still, never flat. I've tried the support bands and found that some high-cut undies in a size or 2 smaller were about the same amount of support. After that first couple of weeks when you no longer need the muscle support though, they're pretty much useless IMO.

I have found any kind of tight clothing on the belly to be too painful after c-sections for anywhere from 18 months to 3 yrs (I've had 3 c-sections).

All I can say is I use the belly band while I am pregnant (on #4 and 40). I have not notice a marked difference at all. The only thing I see that helps is massive exercise (including cardio and muscle building) and a near perfect eating plan to get the flat tummy back. I wish it were easier but it just never is for me.

Good luck on #3!

I think the belly band did help me. After my second I had a little pouch that just never seemed to go away (granted I didn't exactly put forth any effort into exercise, but it just didn't bounce back like it did with the first). So I bought the belly bandit for the third. That time I didn't end up with the little pouch like I did with my second.