My Horrible Mommy Tummy

let me know if you come up with anything. I have the same thing. I have been working out for almost a year since my daughter was born (my second) and it looks better but still loose and yucky (its the stretch marks...the skin is stretched out) My son is 3 and my daughter is 14 months. I don't plan on having anymore so if there is something that actually works i will try it!
pass any thing along if you hear of something good. :)
good luck:)

I am dealing with the same thing. However my older sister (she is 36) has a 7 nearly 8 year old and her skin is coming back. She walks everyday and does ab exercises. Strengthening your core is what it is all about. I have some friends who their skin came back so well after child birth. I have just started a exercise regimen and started to use the same oil that I used on my belly during pregnancy (mixed it with a skin tightening lotion and used it every morning and every night religiously. I did this years ago when I did a physical fitness challenge and it worked well. Skin only has so much "bounce back" and we have to give it as much help as we can. I have that from seeing my sisters tummy skin its gives me hope that I too can get things tightened up! :)

Is it possible you have a diastasis? I've been going to PT for it and it's getting better. Essentially the PT is Pilates on the reformer machine. I hear that the surgery is a nasty one so I am working out instead. A friend of a friend said she closed her diastasis w/in a year doing her Pilates and PT.
Ask your OB to check you for a diastasis. If you have one there are certain movements you should avoid, also exercises that you should do splinted-like regular crunches. A professional can direct you! My insurance pays for mine too, which is really great.

Don't worry! Our bodies are definitely different from the way they were before children, but that doesn't mean they are worse. Even though I dislike my belly, my daughters love to cuddle my belly! Ha! A little to TMI, but I guess they remember when they used to live in there.... :)

E.

If the fat is gone and it is "just" sagging skin, then no. All the working out/eating great won't et rid of the extra skin.

Sorry! I know how you feel!
M.

Hi Jamie - man do I relate!

I actually went to a plastic surgeon for a consult...they told me that there is nothing you can do about it other than surgery...but I do know women who swear by Pilates.

I haven't tried it myself, but suposedly that is what the celebrities do (with trainers, and special diets, and the perfect clothes, etc.) and they get their nice tight tummies back.

I actually believe that all things are possible if you are willing to seek out the right trainer. I don't know who that person is...haven't gone to that level...but my goodness, if those people on The Biggest Loser can look as good as they do, our prego tummies must have hope!

As far as the stretch marks go - my dad says, "stretch marks are the badge of a real woman," my mom is a lucky lady.

Of course a plastic surgeon is going to tell you the only way to get rid of this is surgery -- they want your money! You are only three months into this so don't make any rash decisions. Your body is still bouncing back. I only have one child but I would imagine it takes longer with each subsequent kid. It's hard to say at this point whether it's just skin or whether it's tissue/fat. I'd give it at least a year, get on a good regular exercise routine, and see how you feel when you're back to a weight you're comfortable with. THEN decide if you really feel the need to alter your body. Personally, if it doesn't go away, I vote for just being healthy and living with the changes that pregnancy and childbirth subject our bodies to. This is all part of life. However, if it makes you unhappy of course you have every right to do something about it...just give your body some time first. :) Three months is nothing...it took you 9 1/2 months to get there, remember?