C-section pouch is a bulge or protrusion that can form in the lower abdomen after a c-section surgery. Diastasis recti is abdominal separation that can occur during pregnancy or childbirth. C-section pouch is caused by weight gain during pregnancy, hormonal changes, and weakened abdominal muscles.
This incision is what can cause a C-section shelf from appearing, which can present as a bump or a stubborn pouch of fatty tissue. For some women, this scar tissue can't be removed with exercise or diet changes alone (which may mean surgery is the only way to completely eliminate a postpartum pouch).
The C-section pooch occurs when the C-section scar is anchored down to your core abdominal muscles. That makes the stretched out skin of your belly and the fat above it more noticeable. When the layer of fat between the skin and the muscle is disrupted during the surgery, the scar is not able to move freely.
Some women are lucky to come away scar-free, without any sign of a C-section pooch. However, other women are left with a red, rigid scar often accompanied by an overhang of loose skin.
That scar can inadvertently form adhesions between layers of abdominal tissue pinning tissues down. If there is excess skin/fat from pregnancy or postpartum, it may end up hanging over the adhesion creating a shelf-like appearance.
Reducing belly fat after C-section requires a combination of exercise, healthy diet, and lifestyle changes. Studies have shown that these strategies can be effective in reducing overall body fat, including belly fat.
The term 'C section pouch' is used to describe the build-up of surplus skin and fatty tissue that aggregates in the abdominal area following a caesarean procedure. This physical manifestation is also recognised by several other names such as 'pannus stomach', 'mummy tummy', or 'apron belly'.
While diet and exercise can help with overall weight loss after pregnancy, they may not be effective in eliminating the c-shelf. In cases where the c-section pooch persists, a tummy tuck surgery performed as part of a mommy makeover can provide significant improvement.
Treatment options for stomach overhang include lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, as well as surgical options, such as tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty).
Obesity: Sometimes, obesity can cause fat deposits to hang down from the abdomen, causing a large abdominal pannus. Weight loss: If a person loses a lot of weight rapidly, such as from bariatric surgery, they may have an excess of skin that hangs from the stomach.
The muscles in your stomach will not be cut. They will be pulled apart so that the health care provider can gain access to the uterus. An incision will then be made into the uterus, horizontally or vertically.
A stomach overhang is excess fat hanging down over your pants' waistband. A mum pouch is excess weight, skin, or muscle separation that many women carry around their midsection after giving birth. The mum pouch often differs in that it is often caused by diastasis recti.
Generally, if the muscles are going to heal on their own, they will within three months of birth. If you are several months postpartum, it's likely that your diastasis recti is here to stay. Some women have had success using targeted exercises to help the muscles move closer together.
Your postpartum belly won't instantly go back to how it was before you were pregnant – it's a process that can take months or even years, while some bellies may take on a different shape permanently. Some moms may experience a bulge caused by diastasis recti, a separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy.
All scars heal differently, and your C-section scar could develop into what's called a keloid, which occurs when a lump of overgrown scar tissue appears above the skin, creating a hard ridge. Keloid scars can continue to grow and may spread.
Both vaginal and c section delivery affect the abdominal muscles and can cause postpartum diastasis recti. Some research has found that the condition is more common in women who have given birth by c section. The nature of c section delivery and recovery can weaken the core, resulting in diastasis recti.
While this laxity is common among all pregnant women, those who have had a c-section delivery are likely to be left with a noticeable hanging belly following the birth. This is because a c-section scar creates an effect akin to a tight band being placed at the bottom of the abdomen.
Both your c-section scar and ab separation need healing. You can rebuild the lost connections and nerve pathways through movement, touch, excellent nutrition, and hydration. If your c-section pooch won't go away, and you've been eating well and exercising regularly, it's likely because of diastasis recti.
While pregnancy itself takes a toll on your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, C-sections cause even more stress to this area. Due to this, extra care and dedication is needed to rebuild and restore the belly. While it may take more work, it is not impossible to lose the post-C-section pooch.
Aging, weight gain and loss, pregnancies, and other health-related conditions cause fluctuations that often result in loose skin, extra pockets of fat, and separated or weakened abdominal muscles. The excess fat has a tendency to settle around your hips due to gravity and is difficult to target with diet and exercise.