Left over Baby "Pouch"

I can't comment on the extra skin; I think that would be a nurse question.

But the favorite among moms here seems to be "Lose your Mummy Tummy" by Julie Tupler. It explains the medical reasons for the distasis (pouch) and gives a recommendation for a splint that holds the separated muscles together. It goes through specific techniques that are great if you can learn from a book. I hired a trainer to establish a workout and she helped me get the technique & breathing down. =) The trainer also helped me realize I had been exercising wrong the whole time. For example, fat burning STARTS at the 30 minute mark, and you're supposed to do your big stretch AFTER working out. My body had changed and I'm older now, so the workouts I was used to from college were no longer effective....
Good luck!

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All I can say is SPANKS. Triny and Sues from the original "What not to wear." Say that nobody needs to loose five pounds they just need firmer undergarments. I put those puppies on under some nice tight pants and people ask if I've lost weight.Worth every penny.

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Don't fret, mom. The "pooch" can be toned. Just watch your sugar intake and make sure you are doing cardio at least 3x a week. Obviously any AB work will help too! I teach ZUMBA and
believe me, it tones and shapes you while having fun. Check out my website for more info. www.zumbawestfield.com

It can take quite a while for your skin to regain its elasticity and shrink. However, it may not become as small as it was, so you may consider a tummy tuck in about a year or two. I suggest giving it at least a year before considering any plastic surgery. Many of my thin friends have experienced the same sort of thing.

I am expecting my second...both will be c-sections. I still have a pouch after my first 4 years ago. I have heard that many women use a belly band and have good results with the immediatly after. It helps hold in the stomach muscles so they can get back to normal sooner.
I still have yet to ask my ob about this but it might be an option.

Pilates is great for just that. Here's a wonderful video that I swear by:

http://www.amazon.com/Hilary-Burnetts-Pilates-Basics-Burn...

Before I got pregnant, I was in the most excellent shape in my life (at age 40!) and it was in great part due to walking regularly and doing this video. I know that it helped my back pain, etc. before and during and after pregnancy.

I've resumed doing the video (my baby is 12 months) and even with doing it only a few times a week, I can see almost immediate improvements to my core muscles. What I like about this video is that Burnett is a really good teacher, very encouraging, and the exercise is gentle and graceful, and the whole thing takes only about 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Listen to your husband!

You had your baby 3 months ago, and it took 9 months for the abdomen to grow and stretch to accommodate your baby. Give it some time and be patient.

The most important thing to focus on is your nutrition. Make sure you are eating enough calories and being smart about what you're putting into your body: clean, nonjunk food. Basically, if you shop the perimeter of your grocery store and eat fresh fruits and (most) veggies) along with whole grain products and lean/low-fat dairy and meat choices, that will help. Limit (not eliminate, but make them occasional treats not daily staples) white foods: pasta, bread, sugar.

The other thing you can focus on is your cardio workout. Make sure that you are performing cardio work that gets your heart rate elevated into your target heart rate zone and sustained there for 30 minutes.

You can do all the crunches in the world, but all that will do is strengthen your abs. Also, I second the advice mentioned by the previous poster that recommends the Tupler techniques; there are many abdominal exercises that, if you have abdominal muscle issues related to pregnancy, will only make the bulge look worse! Finally, you can do all the abs in the world but if you have a layer of fat or saggy skin over the abs, you won't be able to 'notice' them.

Look into Pilates and/or Yoga, PARTICULARLY Pilates!

i also just had my 2nd baby girl 15 weeks ago (hopefully you are getting more sleep than i am! ;o) & i have also noticed that the extra skin is there. with my first, i dropped all the weight within 4 months (55 pounds) but my skin was still a bit stretchy. around 11 or 12 months after delivery, one morning i was drying my hair & noticed that my belly pouch was gone & the skin was back to normal. so i agree with your husband; give it time. it may have something to do with the fact that skin cells replace themselves every 5-6 months (or so says my dermatologist).

i'm giving myself a year again to get back to normal (& that includes still losing 15 more pounds from baby #2). women's bodies go through so much during pregnancy, it's only kind for our minds to give ourselves a break for all our troubles! i really think a typical work out routine will get your belly firm again...just wait. until then, be glad that empire waist balloon shirts are in style now :o)

keep on working out, it may be permanent, but maybe some more toning is needed. get a personal trainer if you can afford it.

Not much advice here....I'm in the same boat - it won't go away :(

I'm a mom of 4. My youngest is 2 1/2 months old. The leftover belly pooch is really annoying. If you're skinny everywhere else like I am, then you constantly get asked if you're pregnant. After baby number 3, I still had the poochy belly a year after she was born. My kids were all close to 9 lbs and I'm petite. My abdominal muscles were spread apart quite a bit. I tried working out, but that didn't seeem to help much. The thing that helped the most is to use a tummy corset every day, and taking belly dance classes (really teaches you to focus on different parts of the ab muscles).

My skin never really tightened up again though. I have considered surgery to look better naked, but I'm too scared.

i just wanna say, i feel ya!!!! i had a baby 18 months ago and my tummy looks chubby still. i want to add to the girl that mentioned spanx.... they have the cheaper version at target and work well, i like the cami.
ps.... after taking the cami off, i feel like i got a workout!

It took you 9 months to get that pouch give yourself 9 months to get rid of it and yes it can be toned back up.It is hard work but you can do it. Go to gym and talk to a personal trainer and find out what the best exercises are for that area of your body.

A body firming cream might help a little with the skin, but depending on how much it is stretched, it might always be like that. However, you can definitely tone your abs. I am a belly dance instructor, and this can really tone the tummy, but you have to work at it. It will increase your body confidence and is a lot of fun. I teach in Montpelier and Bryan, Oh and could also help you find a teacher in other areas, if you would like.

I hate to say it, but I think your husband is right. I had my first baby at the age of 20. I was 25 and 28 with the next two. The weight did fall off much easier the younger I was. I taught aerobics for 4years in between the first 2. I exercised daily while pregnant with the 2nd one and was in a bikini within a week, but that was not so the third time around. Here is one of my favorite ab exercises:
Lay on your back near a steady piece of furniture
While holding onto the furniture(ie:couch)keep your lower back pressed to the floor at all times.
Lift and lower your legs together making almost a 90 degree angle at the top, but do not bring your legs all the way to the floor. About 18" is sufficient.
You will not be able to do more than 10-15 repititions at first, but you can work your way up to 3 sets of 10-15. You can also add variations such as legs out at a 45 degree angle and bringing your knees in towards the opposite shoulder to add some oblique work. It does take longer to work off the older we get, so do have patience. Good Luck!

I had C-Sections with both of mine and I still have a pooch that will not go away. My second is 16 months old. I have tried everything. Just try liking you for you.