A C-section bulge, also known as a "C-section shelf," "pouch," or "overhang," is a common protrusion of skin, fat, and scar tissue that forms above the C-section incision, creating a shelf-like appearance. It results from a combination of stretched skin, hormonal changes, fat accumulation, and scar tissue formation that tethers skin to deeper tissues, often compounded by abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti) during pregnancy. While often temporary, it can sometimes persist, affecting clothing comfort and body image, but can often be improved with diet, exercise, and therapies.
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 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.
Also known as a 'c-section shelf', a 'mum pouch', or an 'overhang', the bulge over your caesarean scar is a protrusion or swelling around the incision area, a combination of scar tissue, body fat and excess abdominal skin.
When a scar forms it tethers the skin to stick directly down to your muscle, and this creates the bulge of fat over the scar, or the C-section pooch. The C-section scar is anchored down to your core abdominal muscles. As a result, the stretched out skin of your belly and the fat above it are more noticeable.
There are several cosmetic surgery treatments that are commonly used to get rid of C Section Overhangs. Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tightens the underlying abdominal muscles.
An overhang after a c-section is common and is caused by the tightness of the scar in comparison to the surrounding skin, causing the appearance of an overhanging stomach area.
Does the doctor use the same scar for a second C-section? If you're having a second C-section, normally your surgeon will attempt to cut through the same scar. This might not be possible if there's lots of scar tissue in the area, or if the scar tissue is too thick to cut through.
Starting gentle scar massage at 6-8 weeks postpartum (or once cleared by your doctor), focusing on proper pelvic floor and core rehabilitation instead of rushing back to intense exercise, and maintaining good posture early in your recovery can all help reduce the development of a pronounced shelf.
If the skin creates excessive amounts of collagen while it heals, the result is a thick, widened, and sometime raised scar that remains within the boundary of the injury. This is called a hypertrophic scar.
What's the Difference Between Mummy Pooch and Tummy Overhang? A tummy overhang refers to the excess skin and fat in the abdomen that 'hangs' over the waistline. On the other hand, a mummy pooch describes the abdominal bulge caused by separated abdominal muscles, also known as 'diastasis recti'.
If you notice a painful bulge near your surgery scar, you might have an incisional hernia. It can cause discomfort, swelling, or pressure on your abdomen near the site of a past surgery. While incisional hernias are not unusual, they do require expert care.
Check your C-section incision for signs of infection each day. Contact your healthcare professional if: Your incision is swollen or leaking discharge and there's a change in skin color around the incision. This change may be a shade of red, purple or brown depending on your skin color.
Explanation. After a C-section, many women notice changes in their abdominal wall which can include the development of a hard lump. This lump is often due to scar tissue or localized fat necrosis that forms as part of the normal healing process. In many cases, these lumps are benign and may not cause any problems.
Pelvic tilts: Lay down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor close to your glutes. Engage your core muscles while you draw your belly button inward toward your spine, and your pelvis rolls up slightly from the floor. Hold and repeat. This exercise can also be done standing up.
A number of nerves are cut during the procedure, and it can take up to six months for all of the nerves in the abdominal area to heal completely. Some women continue to experience numbness, tingling and odd shooting pains around their scar for months after delivery.
Common signs of diastasis recti are: A visible bulge or “pooch” that protrudes just above or below your belly button (even after losing any weight you may have gained during pregnancy) Softness or jelly-like feeling around your belly button. Coning or doming when you contract your ab muscles or lean back in a chair.
As part of the healing process, the body produces collagen, a protein that aids in healing and strengthening the wound. Over a period of three months or longer, collagen builds up at the wound site, resulting in a raised, lumpy, and red scar.
A keloid scar is when a scar keeps growing and becomes bigger than the original wound. It can happen if you have too much of a substance called collagen in your skin. It can happen after any sort of injury or damage to your skin such as a cut, burn, surgery, acne or a body piercing.
The belief that topical Vitamin E is beneficial for scars treatment stems from its reputation as an antioxidant that promotes skin health. However, research studies have consistently shown that applying Vitamin E directly to scars does not improve their appearance or aid in the healing process.
New blood vessels form, and your C-section scar will get thicker and change colour as it recedes. Remodelling stage: This is the final C-section scar healing stage, and it can last up to a year. During this time, your C-section incision scar will flatten and fade in colour.
The incision made during a C-section procedure can create scar tissue that pulls the skin and tissues, leading to a pouch or overhang. The downward force exerted by the baby during the delivery also adds to the intra-abdominal pressure, stretching the abdominal muscles and causing a bulge in the stomach.
Incorporating Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Belly Fat After C-Section. Following are a few suggested lifestyle modifications for first-time mothers: Begin with gentle, low-impact exercises like walking and breathing exercises that strengthen core muscles.
How many C-sections can women safely have? In general, when a person has more than one cesarean delivery, also called a C-section, each procedure is likely to be linked to more health concerns than the last. But research hasn't found the exact number of repeat C-sections that's known to be safe.
Is VBAC more painful than a C-section? Not necessarily. With a VBAC, you'll feel labour contractions, but you also have access to pain relief options. Many women who've experienced both say that while labour is intense, recovery after VBAC feels easier and faster than recovering from surgery.
Conclusion. Our results revealed that CS birth is associated with higher risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, respiratory tract infection, and obesity in offspring than those delivered by VD. Among these, obesity has stronger association with CS.