For women who have been used to a flat stomach prior to pregnancy and birth, this shelf can come as a surprise. However, it's important to remember that this bulge is completely normal and experienced by the vast majority of women who deliver by C-section.
A hernia that occurs after surgery is called an incisional hernia. The C-section is a surgical procedure that can create a weakness in the abdominal wall. A hernia occurs when part of the intestines or stomach protrudes outward through this weakened area, creating a bulge.
Women can find a bulge of tissue from the scar of the C-section. If a woman stands tall and straight, this bulge can be felt in the abdomen area. It is even while coughing or doing physical exercise when women can feel such a bulge in the abdomen. This is the next symptom of hernia among women after a C-section.
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. Here are non-surgical ways to try to minimize and possibly get rid of the C-section pooch: Losing weight.
Swelling after a C-section is completely normal, and gas pains can be excruciating. They should pass within a week, once your bowels are moving normally again (abdominal surgery causes them to "shut down" temporarily, so pooping after a C-section might not come easy).
Just make sure not to push yourself too much, as overexertion after C-section delivery can have serious consequences, including wound infection or injury.
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.
Cesarean births require additional recovery time – typically in the four to six weeks range, but often result in a flabby pouch forming above the C-section scar. This pouch normally reduces over time but may never totally disappear.
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.
Due to having had a caesarean section your abdominal wall muscles may be weaker and it is possible that some tissue is bulging through a weakened area in your pelvic area. If a hernia is present you may find that the area is particularly tender and painful on movement, coughing and when lifting.
You need to give your body at least 6 weeks for the incision to heal, and for the abdomen to recover from the trauma.
Getting up and walking around once you are home will help you heal faster and can help prevent blood clots. You should be able to do most of your regular activities in 4 to 8 weeks. Before then: Do not lift anything heavier than your baby for the first 6 to 8 weeks.
With a cesarean birth, lifting too heavy too soon can cause your incision (either external or internal) to open, rupture, or cause other serious medical issues.
Does a Postpartum Saggy Belly Go Away on Its Own? With time, your postpartum belly will start to reduce on its own. Although, there are a few things you can do to help the process along from home. After your doctor gives you the OK, try and work some exercise into your daily routine.
The battle of the bulge
One reason belly fat is so hard to lose is that it's considered an “active fat.” Unlike some fatty tissue that simply sits “dormant,” belly fat releases hormones that can have an impact on your health — and your ability to lose weight, especially in the waist and abdomen areas.
Functional reasons for a distended abdomen tend to involve digestive problems that cause gas and/or digestive contents to accumulate. Causes might include: Gas from functional indigestion, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Constipation causing a build-up of feces and back-up of digestive contents.
Abdominal swelling, or distention, is more often caused by overeating than by a serious illness. This problem also can be caused by: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (this can be a sign of a serious medical problem)
Many women see their C-section pouch decrease over time, but this often takes years. In the meantime, you'll be dealing with loose skin and low self-esteem. A C-section shelf may not go away on its own, but Silhouette Plastic Surgery Institute offers options to get rid of it with natural-looking results.
After a c-section, you should sleep on your back or side. This shouldn't put too much strain on your c-section wound. You can also try sleeping on your back with your head elevated. Use pillows to keep your spine aligned and take pressure off your joints.
After you've been home from the hospital for 3 weeks or so, you might be walking for up to 15 minutes, gradually building up the time if it feels good. Keep up your daily pelvic floor exercises too.
At around 6 weeks postpartum, or by the 2-month mark, your uterus should be completely back to its pre-pregnancy size. But that doesn't mean everything is back to normal, of course.
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.