Post pregnancy stomach issues

IrishMikesWife · 12-14-2006, 12:01 AM

Hi everyone. I'm new to this. My question is about the hangy stomach thing after having kids. (I have 3) My youngest is 13 months. I got huge with all three pregnancies & I have issues with my stomach. When the skin gets stretched out that far, will it repair & not be so flabby? I'm not concerned with the stretch marks being there or showing...it's just the skin thing. Has anyone else dealt with this & overcame?

abcreations · 12-14-2006, 07:22 AM

My youngest is six. Unfortunatly I still have a little saggy skin. I have noticed that the more I work out it is slowly shrinking. I think it has to do with the elasticity and the underlying bodyfat.

I would think the more bodyfat you shed, the smaller your stomach will look. But you may always have a small amount of extra skin due to the stretching.

I also got very large with my 2 kids. They actually thought my second was twins. LOL. The sono said just one. 9lbs 6 oz.

IrishMikesWife · 12-14-2006, 09:02 AM

My 3 are 6, 4, & then the 13 month old. I gained (in order with each) 54, 62, 43. Guess I'm gonna have to step up the ab workouts a little. Ahh, it'll get better someday I hope...ty for shedding some light.

Quote:

Originally Posted by abcreations

My youngest is six. Unfortunatly I still have a little saggy skin. I have noticed that the more I work out it is slowly shrinking. I think it has to do with the elasticity and the underlying bodyfat.

I would think the more bodyfat you shed, the smaller your stomach will look. But you may always have a small amount of extra skin due to the stretching.

I also got very large with my 2 kids. They actually thought my second was twins. LOL. The sono said just one. 9lbs 6 oz.

Mr. G · 12-15-2006, 12:37 AM

I always wondered...do chics., or can chics do crunches when pregnant? it's a dumb question, but I'm curious...

spirit3530 · 12-15-2006, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. G

I always wondered...do chics., or can chics do crunches when pregnant? it's a dumb question, but I'm curious...

Did you just say chics in a female forum??? You'll be lucky if you aren't negged for that one or better yet ignored.

Amris · 12-15-2006, 07:06 AM

I lost that belly after my first child. The key is to be absolutely certain that you don't overwork the belly, and UNDER work the back. They balance each other... women tend to forget this after pregnancy.

As for crunches while pregnant, no.

During the first trimester, crunches can cause a miscarriage.
During the second trimester, they can cause premature delivery.
In the last trimester... you're lucky if you can even contract those grossly stretched muscles, much less do something ridiculous like crunches.

Mr. G · 12-15-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spirit3530

Did you just say chics in a female forum??? You'll be lucky if you aren't negged for that one or better yet ignored.

hahaha...sorry. I'm totally oblivious and ignorant. my bad.

Mr. G · 12-15-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amris

I lost that belly after my first child. The key is to be absolutely certain that you don't overwork the belly, and UNDER work the back. They balance each other... women tend to forget this after pregnancy.

As for crunches while pregnant, no.

During the first trimester, crunches can cause a miscarriage.
During the second trimester, they can cause premature delivery.
In the last trimester... you're lucky if you can even contract those grossly stretched muscles, much less do something ridiculous like crunches.

Thank you! I'll make sure to pass this info on to my uninformed sister...combined we form a pretty low IQ

Starlite · 12-15-2006, 11:53 AM

I had two c-sections with my two sons who were 11.5 and 10 pounds. I'm with 'ya in hoping it will shrink a bit.

Eileen · 12-15-2006, 04:59 PM

You can do stomach vaccums and similar exercises, but you should not do anything which involves lying on your back. The weight of the uterus can compress the blood vessels which supply the baby with oxygen.

IrishMikesWife · 12-16-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileen

You can do stomach vaccums and similar exercises, but you should not do anything which involves lying on your back. The weight of the uterus can compress the blood vessels which supply the baby with oxygen.

Actually, I am not pregnant right now...my daughter is 13 months. I was actually wondering how the stomach regains some shape after all the stretch marks and stretching out so far. Ty though for your advice.

Amris · 12-16-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishMikesWife

Actually, I am not pregnant right now...my daughter is 13 months. I was actually wondering how the stomach regains some shape after all the stretch marks and stretching out so far. Ty though for your advice.

Right. She was answering someone else's question.

The way that I found works best to get the muscles back is to be really sure that you balance back to front. Work out your back as much as your belly, otherwise, the belly muscles protrude and make it look worse.

I really like the jacknife and the V-up myself, for regaining abdominal strength.

IrishMikesWife · 12-16-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amris

Right. She was answering someone else's question.

The way that I found works best to get the muscles back is to be really sure that you balance back to front. Work out your back as much as your belly, otherwise, the belly muscles protrude and make it look worse.

I really like the jacknife and the V-up myself, for regaining abdominal strength.

Sry...my misunderstanding. Thanks for the advice...I didn't know that about the belly muscles.

soon2Bgoddess · 12-16-2006, 08:35 PM

I had the same prob from my 3 kids- ages 2,4, & 6. I gained a lot & I have some stretched out tummy skin. It hasn't really gotten any better yet. My stomach is almost flat & the skin hasn't tried to tighten back up yet. I'm going to continue working out for a couple of yrs & then if it's not better, go have a little nip & tuck

Plato458 · 12-17-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amris

I really like the jacknife and the V-up myself, for regaining abdominal strength.

Blimey - these don't bugger up your back at all ? My vertebrae are squealing just looking at the V up

I found it almost impossible to lose the last bit of fat under the skin just below my navel and this looked very odd with a 4 pack above it

I also found that the stretchmarks looked really creased and baggy when I bent over... any ideas on fixing this or should I just not look ?!

Px

Amris · 12-17-2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato458

Blimey - these don't bugger up your back at all ? My vertebrae are squealing just looking at the V up

No. I work very hard on my back to make sure that it's very supple and strong. That's VERY important to your belly work.

reboot42 · 12-17-2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

I found it almost impossible to lose the last bit of fat under the skin just below my navel and this looked very odd with a 4 pack above it.

Thanks for posting that. I thought it was me! I don't have a 4-pack, but have developed a nice ab strip, and I'll be damned if I can shake that fat below my belly button. It does look odd. At 42, and after giving birth 3 times I guess I can't expect miracles. :-)