How To Eliminate Your “Mummy Tummy” After A C-Section

Having a C-Section is much more complicated than a normal delivery. It’s a major abdominal surgery where they have to cut through skin, fat, and muscles to get your babe out. They move your organs around in the process then sew everything back up. 

It’s some pretty rough business and the first thing women think of in the aftermath is how they’ll get their body back. They worry about the dreaded tummy shelf that is often left behind when everything is said and done. 

Many women will tell you that nothing will help this bulge except for surgery.  But this is not necessarily true. 

There are some things you can do to get it flat that really work and if your situation is very bad they will at least work to minimize it greatly. The key is to be determined and consistent. 

***By the way, I just wrote a post on C-Section recovery that you should read too because your recovery period has a lot to do with how things turn out in the long run. You can see it here. 

So let’s talk about what really helps and make sure you read all the way to the bottom because I have some unconventional little-known advice that really works!

***Taking a prenatal course is the single most proactive thing you can do to prepare your body and mind for what’s to come. There’s a great online course you can take in the comfort of your home that was created by a labor and delivery nurse named Hillary.  It’s very popular and the first part of it is totally free. You can sign up for free right here. 

By the way, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep my blog up and running and I only list products that I have and have used myself. Thank you for your support! 

How To Get Rid Of Your C-Section Tummy Pooch 

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Let’s start with the most obvious and then I’ll get to the good stuff. 

You Absolutely Must Wait! 

Many mamas want to jump right into exercise to get that ball rolling but you have to wait until you are truly and completely healed. Your scar may be looking great but you have to remember that all the tissue underneath has to heal too and your body has a lot of work to do. 

If you rush back into exercise you can do permanent damage to your muscles and create more scar tissue on the inside. That will not help you on your path to getting your body back believe me. 

You need to give your body time to rest and heal properly. But that doesn’t mean staying in bed. 

Get up and move around and even do some walking just don’t get into the targeted training until your doc says you’re ready for it. 

Eating Healthy To Reduce The Fat Bulge

If you want to get rid of the bulge you’ll have to get rid of the fat. So eating a clean diet is an absolute must. 

Make sure you find a plan and stick to it, Like this one made especially for postpartum moms. 

But let’s get serious now, what does it REALLY take to move the bulge? Read on to find out what you have to do..

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An Exercise Program Just Made Just For Postpartum Mamas 

I know you’ve heard that none of this will help much and that even skinny girls with C-Sections have the bulge. This is true to an extent for several reasons. Because there are problems that come with having a c-section that involves your abdominal wall and muscles. 

You must correct these problems to get rid of the bulge and you need to know exactly what you’re doing so you don’t cause more damage than good. 

First, you need to address your  Diastasis Recti. If you haven’t heard of this before it’s the gap that forms between the abdominal muscles as they stretch during pregnancy. 

This means your belly will stick out because the space between your left and right belly muscles has widened. It’s especially common when you’ve had a C-Section because your muscles have actually been cut. Bummer Right? 

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And there are certain ab exercises that will make this problem so much worse like crunches, situps, planks, and bicycles. 

You really need an exercise program geared especially toward postpartum moms that will address this issue first hand with specific exercises. This is absolutely one of the main keys in minimizing your tummy shelf after a Cesarean.

The program I used to fix my Diastasis Recti after my third pregnancy was The Postpartum Cure. It’s a program to heal your separated abdominal muscles and your pelvic floor in general. 

It also has the clean eating dieting plan I mentioned above so that you can lose the weight without losing your breastmilk ( if you’re nursing ). 

Check out The Postpartum Cure here. You will love it. 

Wearing A Postpartum Girdle 

Some believe that abdominal girdles can help close separated abdominal muscles and it does seem to help. My OBGYN recommended that I use one when I ask her about it. 

They also help the uterus shrink by putting everything back in its place. A girdle will provide support and reduce pain as well. 

You can get a great one right here and they are recommended even if you’ve had a vaginal birth. 

Massaging That Scar

Massaging your scar is very important. Scar tissue doesn’t form in an even fashion. It’s sorta all over the place and it can cause serious issues like adhesions in your fascia ( one of the main reasons for the fat shelf ),  poor muscle recruitment in the abdominal wall and misplaced organs.

I’m no expert at this so I have a video for you to refer to below that will show you what you need to do. 

Using An Ice Belt 

You’ve heard of Cool Sculpting right? You know where they freeze your fat cells and they die and shrink over several months. Well, that’s an expensive option but a great way to get rid of some of the fat in that overhanging pocket. 

But many can’t afford such expensive procedures. There is an alternative option that you can do at home. It’s a product you can buy on Amazon and it works great. 

I know because I own it and I have lost several inches without changing anything. It’s a belt you wear that has pockets where Ice gel packs go. You wear it tightly and it works just like Cool Sculpting. 

I have some friends who have used the belt and done the Cool Sculpting treatment and they agree that they both work just as well as the other. You wear it 5 times a week up to an hour and you will see a difference.

Here’s a picture below:

I just love this thing and I think every mama should have one! You can buy it here and it’s worth every penny!!

Must Read: How to get through Postpartum pain without crying

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Breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding your babe exclusively for 6 to 12 months will help greatly reduce your tummy bump especially while eating a healthy diet. It will also help shrink all your organs and get them back into place. 

Here’s a breastfeeding course I recommend to all new mamas. It’s an online course that only takes a few hours to get through and it costs a whopping $19. It’s called Milkology and it’s the best of its kind. Breastfeeding is not nearly as easy as you’d think and taking the course will teach you how to help your baby get a proper latch quickly so that’s one thing less you have to stress about. Here’s the course if you want to take a look. She has a pumping class too if you’re interested. 

You can have the post-baby body you have always hoped for, you just have to be determined, motivated and consistent. Don’t make excuses. There are plenty of women who shrink it back down to the way they were before even after C-Section and then there are those who simply give up. Don’t be that mama. 

 If you loved this post or think it could help another mama it would be awesome if you’d share it with your friends. You can save it to Pinterest below with the special images I created or you can share with one of the buttons to the left, top or bottom. 

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