Removing C-Section Overhang: Effective Methods for Moms

A c-section, or cesarean delivery, refers to the birthing procedure where childbirth is assisted by making a cut in the mother’s abdomen and removing the baby. Around 30% of all births are done via c-section, and different mothers have unique reasons for choosing this method over others. Birthing through cesarean comes with its drawbacks, including delayed recovery and a C-section overhang.

A c-section overhang, mommy tummy, or c-section pooch comprises a layer of excess skin hanging over the c-section scar. The hanging layer of skin makes mothers have a pooch-like lower tummy. Although challenging to get rid of, there are ways of removing the mommy pooch. This article discusses various ways of getting rid of the c-section overhang.

Ways Of Getting Rid Of The C-Section Overhang

The rate at which the mommy pooch goes depends on various factors. So, take heart and be persistent if it’s taking a while and there are no changes. With time you’ll see improvements. Here are ways of removing the c-section overhang.

Eating Right

Since a c-section overhang is made up of loose skin and fat, eating right can be a good way of rectifying it. When you eat right, you lose weight. This means burning fats, including those on the mummy pooch.

To lose weight, you have to be in a calorie deficit, consuming fewer calories than you burn or burning more calories than you consume. Eating vegetables, lean proteins, and fruits and drinking plenty of water is an excellent start. These foods are filling and provide nutrients needed for quick recovery. Avoid eating junk foods like fries, sugar-rich beverages, candies, and cakes. Junk foods don’t nourish the body, are not filling, and can easily make you overindulge.

Consuming foods rich in collagen is also a great way to strengthen the loose skin and tighten it. Foods like eggs are rich in collagen, which works great at healing skin. Vitamin C and A-rich foods are also great for healthy skin.

Exercise

Exercise is another excellent way of reducing the c-section overhang. You can tone and tighten the loose skin and excess fat with exercises. However, it’s crucial first to get cleared by your doctor before beginning any exercise. This way, you avoid hurting yourself.

When starting exercise, consider hiring a personal trainer instead of working on your own. Doing so ensures you get professional help and guidance. And you reduce the risk of overdoing exercise that you may not be ready for.

Although you want to lose fat in the belly area, avoid spot reduction exercises. Exercises designed for the belly work on the belly muscles and put lots of pressure on the pelvic area, which is still recovering. A workout comprising of different types of exercises should be considered.

Maximize NEAT

NEAT, non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Refers to the way the body burns calories through usual daily activities. Everyday activities like walking, cooking and other house chores may seem not to have any impact. However, they eventually add up and amount to 450-500 calories burned in a day.

So, try and get moving, and you’ll see improvements. Take the stairs, avoid the lift, cook and prepare meals, wash utensils, etc. You can also avoid sitting down for long hours and opt for a 5-minute walk every two hours.

Wear Postpartum Belt

A postpartum belt, postpartum girdle, or wrap is a supportive shapewear made to be worn around the tummy and waist area. When worn, this belt provides pressure which helps reduce the strain on the abdominal muscles. The pressure from the belt also relieves postpartum back pain.

Wearing a postpartum girdle lightly compresses the tummy overhang, making it an excellent way to hide the mommy pooch. What’s more, the support and compression provided by the girdle promote healing in the abdominal area, helping get rid of the overhang.

Rest

Resting is crucial following delivery and is one of the best ways of promoting healing. When you sleep, your body re-channels the prioritization of energy. Sleeping also releases hormones that help calm the body, slow down breathing, and lower blood pressure.

These hormones produced enhance healing. They also signal the body to repair blood vessels, prioritize tissue growth, and restore damaged muscles.

Moreover, when you sleep, more white blood cells are produced. The white blood cells fight dangerous micro-organisms in the body, like viruses and bacteria. Which would otherwise hinder the healing process.

Breastfeed Your Baby

Breastfeeding offers more benefits than providing nourishment for your baby. One, it burns calories. When you breastfeed, you use more energy to produce breast milk. This energy equals the calories burned, helping with weight loss. Studies suggest that breastfeeding burns around 500 calories a day. For this reason, don’t rush to do strict diets when nursing. Eat normal-sized meals but focus more on whole food groups, and you’ll still lose weight.

Another benefit of breastfeeding is that it helps the womb shrink back to normal size quicker than when not nursing. During nursing, oxytocin hormone is produced, which contracts the uterus down in the pelvis, helping it return to its normal size.

Establish If You Have Diastasis Recti

Diastasis recti involve the separation of abdominal muscles due to the pressure of the growing baby. Some women have their abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy, resulting in diastasis recti, hence, the mommy pooch. Once you’ve established you have diastasis recti visit a physiotherapist who can help you strengthen the muscles.

Cosmetic Surgery

Consider cosmetic surgery if you’ve had lots of loose skin and nothing seems to help it. Such surgeries remove the extra loose skin, leaving you with a flatter tummy without the c-section overhang.

Conclusion

There are many ways of getting rid of the c-section overhang. Eating well and physical activities help you lose weight and excess fat. Resting help your body heal, and maximizing NEAT ensures you’re active and burn more calories. Breastfeeding burns calories and help contract the uterus, bringing it back to its pre-pregnancy size. If nothing seems to work, consider cosmetic surgery.