Body after pregnancy/ c-section

I just wanted to touch base with some people who have been through a twin pregnancy and c-section and might be able to give me a good frame of reference for body changes so that I'm not too hard on myself.

My c-section incision is healing and the nurse at my PP appointment yesterday said that all looks well. It's poofy, though. Great descriptor, let me try again. I can feel the harder scar tissue right under my actual scar, then the areas immediately around it seem to puff out around the scar. Will this eventually heal flat, or is that the nature of scar on this part of the body? I asked the nurse and she was somewhat dismissive (you look great!) and I was scared, with all the PPD screening they do, to give her the impression that I was going to develop body issues. He he.

With delivery I lost about half of the weight I gained during pregnancy. I have not been cleared for anything athletic yet, only being two weeks out of delivery, but I was wondering if there is any slow and easy way that you FY moms would recommend to start working out once I get the green light. I have not been very athletic the last ten years or so and I don't want to hurt myself, go too fast, etc. But I would like something that will start to tone me and help me heal properly.

And then finally, boobs. Ha! I have stopped pumping (it just wasn't a good experience for me) and I'm pretty sure that I'm starting to totally dry up. I'm not painfully engorged anymore. I'm looking a wee bit deflated and I don't know if that is from the comparison to my recent ginormous baby boobies, or what... Is this it? How long after you stopped pumping/ breastfeeding did it take to start looking like you do permanently?

I hope this post doesn't sound totally superficial! My only girlfriend who has kids had two singleton, vaginal deliveries and never breastfed, so she has no idea why I'm asking! Thanks ladies!

 

for about a month my scar, albiet small (my kids were early and 4lbs) was poofy and hard. it stuck out a bit too. after about the first month or so it did smooth out and now it just looks like any other regular scar, flat and pink although if you rub your fingers over it you can feel it still being a little hard.

i never breastfed and i purposely dried myself up w/ice packs to get rid of the engorgement pain within the first 2 days i got home (after 4 in the hospita for recovery). believe it or not, my boobs shrank....yep. before pregnancy i was a 34 c, during pregnancy i was like a DD and now i'm a b and yeah they look a little deflated.

i'm almost 6 months post op and my hips are wider, my boobs are smaller but everything else is normal if not smaller since i have lost all and then some of my preggo weight.

 

Yes, it will go flat eventually. Mine is the exact same way. It will just take a while. My friend had a c-section 7 years ago and she said you can hardly even see her scar anymore. Not that it will take 7 years but it will take a good while for it to go flat.

Walking!! I only gained 27 lbs. I delivered on a Monday and by Saturday I was down 20 lbs! I'm not allowed to exercise either, except for walking. But not vigorously, just gentle walking.

Now, this I don't know about but I think we're doomed...

 

My incision was exactly the same. I started rubbing it a little once it wasn't too sensitive to break up the scar tissue. Now, my incision just looks like someone drew a line on my belly with a pink sharpie. As for working out, I went back to the gym 17 days PP. I rode the bike and did some arm and back strength training. I was surprised that at 4 weeks, I was running again. Everyone's body heals differently. Do whatever you feel like you are up to doing!

 

My incision from my first was completely invisable within one year (probably much less) of surgery - I am really pale though and don't scar easily. The numbness (4 years later!) never went away though. I think I started walking again for excercise around 2 weeks post-partum. DON't DO TOO MUCH though. I wouldn't start walking or anything else until you are off pain meds so your body can tell you when its had enough. It sounds like you are having a good recovery if you can even think about all of this 2 weeks post-partum - good job!

 

Every woman's body is different, but I'll give you my perspective from 17 months out.

My scar is completely flat and has been since about 2-3 months post-partum. I did have some numbness for at least 6 months, but that's mostly gone. The incision is not painful, but I do feel it if the boys are standing on my belly or if I'm holding them an I lean really far to the side (reaching into their cribs usually).

I was an exercise queen and runner before pregnancy, but I've really only "officially" worked out probably 3 times since the boys were born. :blush: I was too sleep deprived the first year, and now I'm just lazy. A PP suggested walking, and I heartily agree. I did a lot of that this summer, and it really helped my energy and fitness level. It's gentle, low-impact, and moves your major muscle groups, which is important.

I nursed for 16 months and I'm still larger than I was pre-pregnancy (YAY! ). But I was underweight, and am now 10 pounds heavier which can really affect it. I don't know if my boobs are going to re-deflate, but I'll let you know.

Not superficial! It's hard waking up with a stranger's body, and it's understandable wanting to know what to expect.

Hope this helps!

 

After 2 years, I now can barely see my scar. It was just as you described it though, hard and poofy. My boobs are still blah. I lost all the baby weight before my 6 week appt. but it still took me 6 months or so to get back into my pre preg. jeans. I think the weight is easy to lose the first 3 months. What's hard is keeping it off! If you are one of the few lucky ones with great skinny genes you'll be fine.

 

Thanks, girls!! These are questions that you can't ask of too many people without them questioning your sanity!

Like a PP said, I do sort of feel like I woke up in another person's body! It's good to know that the scar will flatten out, I really was trying not to be bothered by that... And my surgeon cut me waaay crooked. I think he was trying to avoid my tattoo. I wish he'd asked! I'm not even remotely attached to that tattoo like I am a bikini belly!

For now, I'll start walking and just love on my babies. No matter what, it was worth it!

 

Thats how my scar was too, and now its just a pink line only 8 months out. I luckily (if you want to call it that) had a small a cup to begin with, so my boobs don't look deflated at all.. just still small . My lower stomach area on the other hand, the muscles are still not firmed up yet, so I have a 'pooch' and I think it makes me look pregnant again! But I've got my mind set to workout more once the move is over with. When you do get to start working out again, take it easy. I had wii fit and over did it, couldn't walk for a week!! That wasn't good at all. GL!

 

That made me LOL!

I'm also 3 months out and my scar is flat-ish for the most part, but still kind of a dark reddish color. I still have quite a bit of numbness too. And FWIW, my dr. made the incision not quite centered which is bugging my slight OCD-ness. But, what can you do??

Ditto the don't exert yourself too quickly early on. Just getting up and walking is great to get your muscles moving, and your metabolism back up (esp. if you had bedrest beforehand). Your body does need time to heal.

My stomach is a mess, though. I still look quite pregnant from the side because I have zero muscle tone. Granted, I still have the last 15 or so pounds to lose (the first 35 came off in the first 6 weeks), but I am no where near fitting into even my "fat" jeans which I wore the last time I was this weight PP. *sigh* You always hear "9 months up, and 9 months down" so I'm trying not to be too stressed about that. Once you are able to get up and around, I think you'll find that the weight will come off pretty naturally, at least to a certain point.

Boobs - well, that's another issue. My bb's shrunk down about 4 weeks after stopping any sort of BF'ing. They are, no doubt, more deflated looking... I think that's just part of the price of any pregnancy.

It is hard, and I'm finding this new insecurity about my body to be really disconcerting because I never really felt very "hot" to begin with. And it bugs me to no end when people say "Oh my gosh, you JUST had twins." I know they mean well, but I want my body back!

 

That's a great attitude! :good:

I just wanted to add that even though I lost most of the weight within a few months, my body kept shrinking down and I actually now wear 1-2 sizes smaller than I did when the boys were 6 months old (even though I weigh the same). :unknw:

Enjoy your babies! :wub: