To the Women Who Asked When Her Pregnant Belly Would Disappear

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm one of the many posters who wondered how long it would take (and what it would take) to get rid of the post-partum belly. Last I posted, maybe 4 months ago?, I was 4 months PP, and still had a damn big "front bum." As a consequence I still looked about 5 months pregnant.

Well, at 7 months post partum, and many core-ab excercises later, I went to see a plastic surgeon. He said: "Your ab muscles are stretched apart. If you're doing all the ab exercises you say you are, then it's clear you have strong muscles." After some touching, he said that my muscles were severely separated, maybe 3 going on 4 finger widths apart. No amount or type of ab exercises would bring them back together. I was basically looking at the finished abdominal product of my pregnancy: a big, poochy belly. I might even have a slight hernia.

Bottom line: keep exercising (it's good for you), but a tummy tuck would be required to bring things down to where they were before. Not lipo: fat wasn't the issue, and he didn't recommend any fat removal. And the tummy tuck procedure doesn't put future pregnancies or pregnant healt at risk. Pregnancy would just undo the tummy tuck, and I'd likely be stretched out all over again. Cost: approx. $10,000.

The end.

Just FYI. Some folks are just genetically inclined to be "big" down there after pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Poster, you are spot on.

Sad, because the surgery is very very painful.

[Anonymous]

Are you talking about diastasis recti? If you have a c-section, those muscles are sewn back together along with everything else. Even so, I had a c-section but also have a pooch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about diastasis recti? If you have a c-section, those muscles are sewn back together along with everything else. Even so, I had a c-section but also have a pooch.

That is NOT true. the incision is sewn back up and the LOWER abdominal muscles are sewn back up. They don't touch the upper muscles. Those are spearated on EVERYONE regardless of delivery type. The only difference is that on some women the muscles go back together in a few days/weeks/months. In some people they NEVER go back.

The only people who might have this type of ELECTIVE COSMETIC SURGERY at the time of birth are celbrities or women who are very concerned and have a lot of money and elect to go through the painful process. This surgery is done by a cosmetic surgeon and NOT your OB when getting a c-section.


Where do people come up with this crap?

[Anonymous]

OP here

Yes, diastasis recti. For me, likely permanent situation, and very noticible. After 8 months I still look pregnant. (Had 2 c-sections, but sugeon suggested this has nothing to do with it.)

[Anonymous]

yeah, tummy tuck (pulling muscles back together) sans lipo is painful apparently.

But screw it. You should do it! It's only going to get worse in your abs and it is s frustrating to be so in shape and work so hard and have a damn pooch! That's bullshit!

Everyone has told me that my breast aug, hernia surgery and invasive oral surgeries were each and all going to be living hell during recovery. They were a JOKE compared with natural childbirth! Ha! Seriously, though, everyone heals at different rates. I don't handle pain well and was not stoic during any of my surgeries--I simply did NOT think they hurt that much. I am very lucky.

I guess I am saying, dont only listen to the horror stories!