How Long Will the After-pregnancy Belly "Hang Around"?

When I had my first c-section the hospital gave me a support band type thing to wear. It was an emergency c-section after 3 hours of pushing that got nowhere, so my abdominals were pretty traumatized in the process. This was a major help in not only support but pushing everything into place and not looking poochy. I have seen them for sale at like Babys R Us and Burlington, it is made by Medela and is basically an elastic band that is like eighteen inches tall with velcro to wrap it around you tightly. Hope this helps!

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I would think that seeing your newborn infant would be proof enough that you are not due. You might try telling them you "I'm due next week" while holding your newborn and just watch their reactions when the realize they have made a major mistake. ...at least it might give you some laughs ;)

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Hmmmmm well my kids are 5 and 9 and I'm still waiting! Maybe I should join a gym in my "free time" lol.

I'm just trying to be funny (sort of)...just enjoy your newborn and don't worry about your body. Honestly it won't ever be EXACTLY the same and who cares...you've got beautiful children. Eat smart and do a reasonable amount of exercise (jogger stroller) and then just enjoy life. We can't all look like we did when we were 22 for the rest of our lives.

Hugs to you and your newborn!

L. H

PS sahm to 9 and 5 year old girls

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It took 9 months to deliver a baby, it takes 9 months at least for the body to recover. be patient. Ignore rude people who ask when you are due.

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My daughter is almost three... but if I'm remembering right, it took about 9 months for me to get back to the pre-pregnancy weight... 9 months pregnant, 9 months back to normal! :-) Good luck!

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I am seven months PP and my belly has just returned to it's former form (with some leftover pounds).
I wore maternity clothes for at least 8 week post partum. So don't stress and ignore the comments.

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A.,

My son is 4 1/2 and my daughter is 14 months (both C-section). I think I still have the pregnancy belly, but I'm also overweight and not doing as much about it as I should.

I want to say six weeks or so for everything to shrink back to normal, but I'm not sure.

Hope this helps,
M.

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I just had my second C-section almost two months ago. It was 3-4 weeks before my belly really shrunk down. Though I still have some extra pounds to lose and am not pre-pregnancy size yet, I look "normal" again. I also warn against getting back into a fitness regime until cleared by your doc, mine told me that it takes 6-8 weeks for the stomach muscles to recover enough for this, even if your incision is healed. I just got cleared at my six week appt, and even with this, I had twinges of pain in some of my yoga poses. It will go away a lot faster than it seems, since time just flies with a little one.

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I think each woman is very different with this. For me it took quite a few months and it was more difficult the 2nd time around. I know breast feeding is suppose to help with making your stomach contract and go back. Before I left the hospital they gave me a stomach wrap that velcrowed around. It kept my belly in place and helped with all the questions of "when are you due." You can also find supportive underwear that can help until you get back in the gym. Don't put too much preasure on yourself and enjoy your new little boy. =)

I'm sorry to hear that people keep asking you when you're due, I'm sure that can be very annoying. I assume they are well intentioned and think you are pregnant and are wanting to share in your joy (I assume this happens when your baby isn't with you - but I wonder why you're going out without him while he's so young? do you have a good carrier or sling?). If they are asking you when you're due, seeing your baby, they must be pretty clueless! There may also be people who have bought into the cultural expectation that the pregnant belly should go away immediately and are making a comment about that, and they may need a little education. It would be nice if you had a shirt or a little sign you could wear that said something like "proud mama of newborn!"! Or you could come up with a simple smiling explanation ti give people - "he's already come out, and he was so big he needed lots of room to grow in!", or whatever appeals to you to say. It's sad that in our culture people admire thinness so much and don't appreciate the beautiful postpregnant shape (or the beautiful pregnant state, for that matter). I'd encourage you to really appreciate your wonderful belly that grew your beautiful babies. You could massage your belly gently, tuning in to what feels right (this will help with the scar healing and with toning the muscles as well). And, as you feel up to it, you could start doing some exercises (there are lots of good books and DVDs available, or even better would be to find a class where you could take your baby, such as yoga or exercise class). And it may well be that you belly will not return to your original prepregnant state, but that's ok! I do hope you are breastfeeding, as that helps with reducing belly size as well as having countless other benefits for mama and baby. If you aren't, it's not too late to start - contact a good lactation consultant, la leche league, etc.

I'm sorry to hear that your husband will be returning to Iraq. I know that must be really hard, and I encourage you to find lots of support for yourself and your family, and I hope you won't have to go back to work and will be able to enjoy time at home with your children. I'm wishing for you all the best.

Hello A.,

Well, you've probably heard that the end results for your belly can be very "up in the air".

One thing that I can tell you is after you have healed, 9 weeks to 3 months - Lay on your back and check your stomach muscles with your fingers in a verticle position to your belly button. Then tighten your stomach muscles and feel around for a gap. The muscles there usually separate during pregnancy.

If there is a gap, you need to strengthen those muscles with muscle workouts, if they are tight together then you have to do fat burning workouts - if both, then - you know - you have to do both workouts.

I never got past the little hanging belly after my second child (I had three) - it really has changed my life (even at a size 1), but only in what I can wear. I am short and don't have very much of a waist line area, so that might have something to do with it.

Never give up on your youthful body. Having babies changes your body, but it's not always a bad thing.

Yes, I gained a few pounds, but I got boobs and a butt, and for me - that was a good thing - I never had much before. And, as you grow older you will find that a few pounds fill out wrinkles.

You just had a baby, give yourself a break! Lord knows that you need one. I only say it that way because I am a Grandma now, all my children are grown and I have been there.

From a Grandma to a Mother of babies, let me tell you - focus on your good parts, learn that your so called bad parts aren't that bad and appreciate them now. You won't always be young.

And my other 2 cents, try to re-invent yourself after every pregnacy and every 2 to 3 years after.

In the end, you'll be glad you did. I re-invented myself after 4 to 6 years and I somehow lost track of myself here and there - that was a lot worse. You're young, enjoy it and always ask yourself what you like and what you don't like.

Your worried about your belly now. But, you will be fine in that area because you're worried about it.

Just don't lose sight of who you are and what you want out of life.

And, it's not so bad for a Mother to keep your family on their toes a bit. But, you'll learn that in the pre-teens and teen years : ).

But, I will admit, I am still thinking about my belly - lol.

Best wishes,

K.

I had my second C-section baby two months ago, and my stomach was pretty much back to normal after one month. Of course, it was never flat to begin with, so maybe that's why it went so quickly. I could wear my regular non-elastic pants/jeans at around 6 weeks. I also started going to Curves again at 6 weeks. It helps to get back into a fitness routine as soon as possible.

Good luck to you!

I had three C-sections and for me my belly was never normal again. Even though the loose skin flab slowly shrunk, I have a mommy pooch that stayed behind. I used to have a perfectly flat stomach before kids and now the muscles will not tighten up the way they used to be. I too had people ask when I was due, it is very hard on the self esteem. Good luck to you.

S.

Hi A.,
With my second child it didn't take too long for my belly to go away, I'd say within a month, or maybe closer to two, I can't remember exactly, it hasn't been till #3 that I've had the difficulties with my jelly belly, but that was probably because I became pregnant with #3 when my #2 was only 6 months old, so that most likely my problem. You probably get asked when you're due because your body is fit and it's obviouse you're not chubby, so I would take it as a compliment in a way. To say the least, it'll be gone before you know it.

Hi A.! The speed in which your muscles resume tension and your skin resumes it's new normal shape is very individual. You can start by doing compression exercises for your deepest layer of muscle (transverse abdominis) within the next week or two -- ask your doctor...
With a c-section, you should wait the alloted 6 weeks for any other type of exercises so that your body can heal. Then, you can start on a workout program that should help you speed up the belly wt loss.
Keep in mind, breastfeeding keeps Relaxin (a hormone) around in our bodies up to 18 mos postpartum. Relaxin does have some control over your skin's elasticity, so give it some time....
If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me at ____@____.com or visit by moms page at www.selenamoffitt.com

congrats on your new baby!

I have heard after having a c-section it takes about a month or so to get everything to look unpreggo. I havent had one I have had natural but I have a girlfriend who had one and that is about what it took her. Good luck and congrats!!!!! Do alot of walking once you can and you should be back to your regular se3lf in no time!!!

I just started to fit in my loose jeans at 7 weeks post partum and I have been walking/running a bit. I think strength training with cardio is the key - you need both. I am hosting a strollercize type class here on mercer island starting June 12th if you are interested. we are meeting at 10 30 am at a local park. I can give you details if you want - it is a great way to workout with your baby and get to know other moms. rai ____@____.com

I don't know how long it takes, I think it depends on each pregnancy...with my son I gained a ton of weight and it took me a year to get it all off and my belly never looked the same, I'm 7 months along with our second now, so we'll see how it goes!! Do you watch Oprah? She had her favorite summer things on a while ago and there were these things called yummy mummys (not sure I spelled that correctly) that you can wear post-delivery that are supposed to suck things back in and at least make it look normal again!! Good luck!