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). For others, following an exercise program and focusing on core exercises can be enough to flatten the appearance of this pouch.
Sometimes all your C-section pooch needs is time and regular massage of the scar. After 6-12 months, if that C-section shelf is still there, chances are high that it will always be there unless we treat it.
In cases where the c-section pooch persists, a tummy tuck surgery performed as part of a mommy makeover can provide significant improvement. By removing excess skin, tightening the abdominal muscles, and minimizing the appearance of scars, women can achieve a flatter, smoother belly.
If you have an overhang then some gauze can be placed in the skin fold to keep it dry. ✨If breastfeeding use a supportive pillow or a lying-down technique to reduce your need for bending. If you invested in a maternity pillow during pregnancy this will come in really handy to help position baby!
This is because a c-section scar creates an effect akin to a tight band being placed at the bottom of the abdomen. This forces the lax abdominal skin and muscles to hang over the tightness of the scar.
The only way to fix that is a tummy tuck. You can't exercise it away, you can't get rid of it. You just have to stitch those muscles back together. That's part of what you're asking about with the C-Section.
The best way of getting rid of stomach overhang is a surgical procedure known as abdominoplasty at our London clinic, which will remove it completely. This procedure tightens the stomach muscles and removes excess skin and fatty tissues from the middle and lower abdominal region.
Some postpartum stomach bulges require more patience and attention, as it's possible that your stomach isn't shrinking due to an underlying condition, such as diastasis recti. Your abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy, and diastasis recti occurs when the connective tissue remains separated postpartum.
Regardless of where you land in this six-week stretch, you can still expect your postpartum belly to continue to feel a bit squishy, as your core muscles still need to be strengthened.
The connective tissue between the abdominal muscles can thin and weaken, and that can lead to a bulge in your belly. That post-pregnancy bulge is commonly known as a "mommy pooch" or "mommy-tummy" and it will not go away with diet and exercise. DRA is not a cosmetic concern.
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.
A C-section pouch is actually caused by scar tissue left behind by your C-section scar. In some cases, the way your body recovers after surgery can cause excess fat to find itself in your lower belly area.
It often takes six to nine months to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight. But it can take a lot longer, even 10 months to two years, especially if a woman gained 35 pounds or more during her pregnancy.
Returning to exercise
Try to build up gradually and stop if you have any pain. Once you have recovered from your c-section and no longer have any pain, it's usually safe to start low-impact exercises, such as swimming, pilates, yoga, gentle jogging and low resistance gym work.
We know that every patient has a different labor and delivery experience, but in general, it takes around six weeks to completely heal from your C-section. “We realize many of our patients also face the challenge of caring for the baby while they're recovering,” said Dr.