Belly After Baby

Me and My hubby both have used scran wrap and I bought a tummie tucker/gutlie it works well to cause it helps with the muscles. I have also had three babys It is hard to get back there but you can do it.

I look forward to reading any advice you get, since I'm in the same boat!- I've got a 3 yo, a 2 yo, and an 8 mo old- all 15 months apart, and a poor tummy that just doesn't seem to be re-bounding. I read about the ace bandage thing too, but haven't tried it myself.

I have the same thing and have been told that surgery is the only option to change it back. It's not fat (if that's any consolation); it's just skin that stretched and is now just hanging out with you.

I guess it's just a badge of honor! Any girl who has 3 babies in three years needs all the honor she can get!!

Sorry I dont have any advice to give since I too have that same problem but I just wanted to Thank You for bringing this topic up.

I am within 10 lbs. of my Pre-Pregnancy weight and have worked this stomach so much that I have a two-pack up on top but then 3 inches below that is the weird pooch.

I am just shocked when I see celebrities that dont have their "kangaroo pouch" (sorry, thats what my husband calls it and it has since stuck). they must know a secret underground society that lasers it right off or something.

I admire your diligence, working out with 3 small children is more than hard! To make sure you are getting the most out of your ab workouts, check out this website with advice on the best & worst ab exercises. No time to waste on things that might not be getting the job done.

Good luck! Stay motivated, you are doing great!

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/abdominalcorestrength1...

thanks for your question. I too had three in 3 years and wonder if I will always have to look like this. My baby is 16 months and I have 6 pounds to go but I still have the tummy that makes me look 3 months PG. Hope to look at more of the letters from the others. I always thought my age had something to do with it. I was 42 when I had my last one.
hope you can get your down.

Hi V.,

A lot of women who breastfeed their babies get their tummy back because the uterus returns to its original size with all the breastfeeding. Some women don't however. I did not breastfeed and I had to work hard to get my tummy back. I did a lot of kegel exercises, yoga, pilates, and now I'm doing Tae Kwon Do. My children are 4 and 2. I will say that it will be a little harder for those women who did not exercise during pregnancy that much to get back their figure. I did prenatal yoga and stretches that I kept up since my gymnastic days and it really helped me during my pregnancies and after. I have used a corset to help with the "tummy wrapping" you mentioned and yes it did help. I also have back problems that prohibit me from wearing a regular bra so a corset was my next best thing. It was wonderful. Hope this helps. God Bless.

I am having the same problem and recently did some internet research to find some help. I came across a book by Helene Byrne called Bounce Back Fast Exercise After Pregnancy. The exercises in the book are targeted to getting that flat belly back. Hope this helps.

Hi V.,

Sounds like you are on the right track already with your workouts. I suggest complementing it with suggestions from the book, "The Flat Belly Diet" by Liz Vaccariello. It worked for me, although that was at least 10 years ago! Take care. C.

Wow - being a step-mom I have not had to deal with the after pregnancy affects on my body - other than the mental stress haha...but I still would like to be thinner! I think you have done a great job getting back in shape and a little flab on the belly is pretty good for having 3 kids!! I have not tried a corset, but I know back in the days when girls wore them all the time, their bodies would conform to that shape...it may help your skin have less gravity/pressure on it and be able to mend itself. The most important thing is that you're healthy and I'm sure your kids and family love you just the same! Also - there are some very flattering shirts and bathing suits designed for that very problem. :)

Please share what works for you. I'm in the same boat, two babies in 3 years. Baby weight is gone and even a few more pounds gone but my stomach looks so different and definitely not bathing suit ready, nevermind bikini....

And I thought I was busy! : ) I just want you to know you're not alone. I am having the same problem. It seems like no matter how much I worked out after my babies, I just can't seem to lose the extra skin and pooch. It's not horrible, but definitely annoying. A lot of the styles these days only look good with a flat tummy, so I find myself feeling frumpy.

I have found something though that has really helped. It's not a corset, it's called the Kymaro body shaper. You can wear it under just about everything (exceptions would be tank tops with thin straps and shirts that come off the shoulder). It comes in nude and black and is very comfortable. You wear a regular bra with it, so it doesn't flatten out your chest. It costs about $40 and they have specials where you can get both colors for that amount. Just google Kymaro or kymaro.com if you want to check it out.

Just know that you are not alone and that we all just have to do the best we can. I've been trying to make myself feel better by remembering the joy and love I felt when I was pregnant with my girls and knowing that my tummy is evidence of the miracles my body went through to bring my girls into the world. Take care and God bless!

Hi V.:

I'm a belly dancer with two young kids, so I feel your angst. My youngest its now three. I was in tip top condition before I had the kids and after the first one was able to get into good enough shape to resume performing again. I haven't performed since the second kid, but mostly because of time. I'm teaching now and my belly is once again flat, albeit with some extra skin that I've just learned to accept. Try a belly dance class. It will help tone your abs and it is LOADS of fun. It will also help you learn how to work your new curves to your advantage :-) I teach at Encore studio in Sterling. Feel free to drop by any Wed. evening at 7:30.

-C. F.

i have no advice. only awe. not just for the 3 babies in that time frame, though that's awesome enough, but for doing it and being within 10lbs.
i mean.....
:O
:O
:O
khairete
S.

I've seen so many women try so many things. It's weird, some have success and some don't although there is no appreciable difference in the way they tried to fix it. My conclusion is that it's basically genetic. Some women snap back afterward, and some don't. Furthermore, some women are able to get back to flat with hard work, and some have no hope of it no matter how hard they work (I'm one of these, I worked out for YEARS after my first and never got it back to normal even though I dropped BELOW my PPW).

So my best advice is to do what you can, and if that doesn't work, then accept it and invest in some pretty one piece swim-suits. I actually was a competitive swimmer and always found the racing style suits to be more comfortable anyways. :)

I have 3 year old twins and I have the same issue that you do with the tummy roll (as I like to call it). I asked my doctor and she told me that because my stomach got so big with 2 babies in that I will have to have a tummy tuck. She said it's totally normal, but I need to lose the rest of the weight. I am almost there. I do wear the high waisted spanx all the time, it doesn't help the tummy go away, but it makes all my clothing fit better and you can't see the roll with them. They are greaT!

Good luck!

ughhh....well I don't have any advice beyond exercise, cutting out refined sugars, etc - everything it seems you are doing. I feel time does help tighten some, but that fights the opposig force of gravity anyway. Here is a website that is good to look at just to know you are not alone. http://theshapeofamother.com/

The conclusion I keep coming to is that I would be self conscious even with surgery bc the scars would be there and I would be poorer and have risked anesthesia etc. Plus, there will always have to be some mental acceptance that we will never have our pre baby bodies back, even if we never had babies our bodies would change, droop, stretch, etc.

Keep loving yourself and appreciate the finer points of your body and treat yourself well - and there is a new show about loving yourself naked (something along those lines with Carson??) that I really would like to see.

Good luck!

Oh and I just want to add that for those who choose surgery that is a personal decision and if they feel it is best for them, then that is their best decision!

Hi V.
My name is C. & I am a licensed massage therapist. I know a non-invasive technique called Lypossage that is a body contouring technique. It takes away inches, breaks up cellulite & detoxifies through the lymph system. It will cut in dimension. It also improves skin condition because the technique releases & promotes more production of sebaceous oil. Since you are working out a lot you are a perfect candidate. This was designed for women w/ problem, stubborn areas who also eat right, exercise & are not seeing results. I would invite you to check out the website www.lypossage.net to read about it & see some before & after pictures. My last client has had to take in a pair of jeans (3 times) she had made right before we started. And she doesn't work out. I don't know where you are located but please check out the website & if its something you are interested in please call me w/ any questions. Sincerely
C.
703/862-2927