Post pregnancy tummy

I've had my baby 8 months ago today.

Since then my general body has gone back to being pretty normal, but my tummy is a whole other story!


my tummy is so loose it just sticks out there like i'm 5-6 months pregnant. this has bothered me so much and i've been very sensitive aobut my body image. before i was worried about the stretch marks, but that doesn't bother me as much since no body can see them. where as this tummy bulge is just embarassing! Especially when people think i'm pregnant and they offer their seats in the train/mtr. i've even had a salesgirl in toys r us asking me when i will be due.


any advice on how to rid of this would be helpful. i'm exercising but it just doesn't seem to budge.


thank you.

Hi Michelley,

I am in the same situation so from my experience I would suggest to go to doctor to check if you have -rectus diathesis-.

If you have it then you are not allowed certain routine in the gym.

I started pilates, it helped a little but not dramatically.

i looked up the condition u mentioned on teh internet and it seems to be what i have. whenever i do crunches, a little mound rises up in the middle of my belly. is it like that?

Yes, it is. Sorry to hear that.

The doctor will be able to tell you how many cm is the gap inside, and depending on that what type of routine you should do in the gym, and also if pilates or yoga can help or not.

Are you still breastfeeding? If yes, then this is another reason, as long as you breastfeed your body is not back to normal 100%, and hence your tummy.

If you are done having kids, they can do a surgery to add extra muscle where is the gap right now.

Bottom line, get a doctor to see your tummy and buy some clothes that can hide it.

Hope it helps.

thanks so much. at least now i know there's a reason for it. i will make an appointment to see my doc asap.

Hi Michelley,

I was wondering what did your doctor say? Did he give you any good suggestions?

I am not improving my condition as much as I was expecting actually, so I need to find something else beside pilates.

Thanks, M.

thank you for ur concern. i first went to see my family doctor and he did a physical exam of the situation. at first, when he had me lie down, he said it was just fat because he's able to move the tummy around. But when he had me stand up he saw how the tummy doesn't sag, and it just kinda sticks out. he thought i might have the condition u described or a hernia. so he suggested i go back to my ob/gyn for her to take a look.


my ob/gyn said there's nothing wrong with me. just that the muscles in teh tummy are really loose. i had a c-section and she said when she closed up the incision, she already closed up the muslce layer in my lower abs. the muscles where it's really loose now, she didn't do anything to because it was not touched during the operation.


she says she's seen many cases of this where the babies are big and the mom's tummies are really loose. she says some women tighten up and are able to get back in shape quickly, but some are like me, will be quite loose for sometime. she says i just need to do a lot of exercise around the tummy area and she didn't say there was anything i couldn't do. she suggested i go to the physiotherapy centre at the union hospital (where she works and i was seeing her at) and they have special courses for post-natal therapy. they will teach you specific exercises to help strengthen that specific area. i didn't go though, i just though i would try out more vigorous exercises as the doctor suggested and see what happens first. i think the course was $1000 for 8 sessions.


well, hang in there, it's comforting to know there's other people out there that are like this and it's not just urself. i know how you feel, so hang in there and hope with time and hardwork, it will get better.


*hugs*

Hi Michelley,

thanks for your reply. I am happy for you that you don't have hernia or rectus diathesis.

I also had a C-section...and my baby was 3.8 kg and I am petite.

Can you give me more details about the physiotherapy centre at the union hospital, please?

I googled it, but cannot find any schedule.

Thank you Michelley. Hugs from me too.

M.

here are the links:

physiotherpay page

http://www.union.org/new/english/services/services_allied_physiotherapy.htm

program pamphlet

http://www.union.org/new/tc_chi/services/files/post-natal_fitness_class.pdf


if u do plan on doing it, let me know how it goes. thanks.

Thanks Michelley,

I will give them a call tomorrow. Let's see how it goes.

will keep in touch.

M.