C section belly

Everyone’s different I didn’t breast feed and was back to normal within a few weeks. However I know people who breastfeed tend to end up eating a bit more as you are counteracting the calories lost whilst breast feeding. Either way 3 weeks is still super early and I would give it at least another month then maybe start some gentle exercises. Honestly don’t put too much pressure on yourself 💜

All different not just in our body types but the skills of our surgeons and our genetics. I was swollen for a few months and went back to flat, no overhang at all. At 3 weeks pp you’ve still got a lot of internal bruising, water retention, your uterus is still shrinking, your organs take up to a year to return to position and you are still recovering. Give it a few months and you’ll be surprised xx

I didn’t breastfeed and I went back to normal after maybe 8 weeks, maybe a little more. No overhang, my stomach looked the same as pre-section. That’s with pretty much no exercise, as I found recovery really tricky!

Hey mama, it takes 6 weeks for your uterus to go back to normal size, and up to a year for your belly to shrink back! I’m 5 months pp and my tummy is only starting to go back to normal now (and that’s with no exercise!)- allegedly breastfeeding helps but I’m not totally convinced 😇

@Kash this isn’t correct. The method of feeding doesn’t change how quickly the uterus shrinks down.

@Lottie breastfeeding triggers uterine contractions which does speed up your uterine recovery. Not by much but it helps, it’s in the nhs website under the tummy section. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/after-the-birth/your-body/

@Sarah @Kash Breastfeeding triggers the hormone oxytocin which triggers the uterus to contract. So anything building oxytocin will do the trick. You’re not going to end up without a c section over hang just because you breastfeed. Regular exercise when you’re up to it and a healthy diet will help with any weight gain. But also be kind to yourselves, you’ve just had a baby.

@Lottie I totally agree, overhang is predominately factors like surgeons skill, the placement of the actual incision and genetics. But the OP had two separate questions about the belly and the overhang, I didn’t imply that BF could shrink overhang. That’s diet, exercise and most importantly, just time. The overhang however is muscular/scar tissue. The belly is uterine recovery, water retention, organ positions and surgery swelling. That needs time to heal and to contract which can be helped and hastened with BF. I combi fed but whilst BF I felt those awful pangs and contractions and they were definitely working at quickening my recovery 😊

I’m 4 weeks post section and my stomach is still a bit swollen and bruised from the surgery so I still have my overhang! But it definitely isn’t as bad as it was it all just depends on genetics really x

I’m 2 1/2 years on and still have an overhang/diastisis recti. I think a lot has to do with genetics although I haven’t been in a place to see if I can really improve it due to a number of reasons.

Mine is still there 11 years on …. I’ve learned to love it (after a long time) x