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Looking good - post baby body

Coping with your post baby body

There’s no doubt about it, becoming a mum is one of the most wonderful things that will happen to you. But coming to terms with your post-baby body is another matter altogether

The rigours of pregnancy and labour can really take their toll on your body, and while outwardly you might appear to be back to normal, underneath your clothes you’ll never be the same again.

Most of us are prepared for the odd stretch mark, but what about the other things you’re too embarrassed to mention? We’ve spoken to mums like you – and a midwife who’s seen it all before – to prove that you’re not the only new mum who’s worried about the unmentionables.

The problem: Caesarean Overhang

‘I gave birth by emergency caesarean, and although breastfeeding helped me lose my baby weight, underneath my clothes it’s another story. My caesarean scar is like a ledge that the fat and skin hang over. I have no muscle tone and I’ve been left with a flabby tummy and purple stretchmarks. Likewise, my belly button is a grey-ish colour and hasn’t returned to its original shape.’

Eileen Heneghan, 32, mum to Ewan, four months.

Fix it!

‘Several things can help improve your abdominal tone,’ says M&B midwife Michelle Lyne. ‘Don’t wear pants that undercut the ‘overhang’. Also, think about your posture and do a sensible amount of exercise, such as knee bent curl ups and knee rolling. Ask your midwife to show you how to do them.’

The problem: Saggy Boobs

‘Having children has completely ruined my breasts. When I stopped breastfeeding after nine months, my boobs shrank a size and they’ve been heading south ever since. I’m now breastfeeding again and I’m worried that when I stop my boobs will end up looking like tennis balls in a pair of old socks.

I feel guilty for worrying about my body. I should be proud that I managed to deliver and breastfeed two beautiful children, but it’s really difficult to be happy and confident when we’re constantly reminded in the media of how unsightly saggy breasts are.’

Hannah Fear, 22, mum to Harry, 21 months, and Emily-Faith, eight weeks.

Fix it!

‘Sagging breasts have nothing to do with breastfeeding. They are in fact a common result of aging and gravity,’ says Michelle. ‘The size and shape of your breasts is determined by genetics, weight gain and skin elasticity. You can look after them by not smoking, avoiding exessive sun exposure, wearing a well-fitted and supportive bra, and doing gentle weight training exercises to increase your pectoral muscles. If you take care of your health and weight in this way, your breasts are unlikely to sag any earlier than a woman who has never been pregnant or breastfed.’

The problem: Wonky Stitches

'Everyone talks about six weeks as the magic date when you should be fully healed after giving birth, but not only was I still bleeding, I was still sore down below and things just didn't feel right. Being a first time mum, I didn't know whether or not to make a fuss.

I persuaded my GP to have a look, and he told me that I just needed time to heal. But two months later, I was still incredibly sore and sex was a complete impossibility. I finally went to see a private gynaecologist who actually gasped while examining me. Apparently one of my labia, which had torn during labour, had healed wrongly, fusing over to the other side.

I had surgery the following day, under general anaesthetic and almost immediately afterwards I was completely pain-free and back to normal.'

Claudia Cooper, 30, mum to Evan, three.

What you can do

‘This doesn’t happen very often but if it does or it feels as though it has happened to you then it needs to be repaired and this is best done by a gynaecologist who specialises in birth injury,’ says Michelle.

‘Even when your stitches are fine, they can still be sore, so try sitting in a warm bath with a little salt or lavender oil. You can also wrap an ice pack in a clean cloth and hold it against your stitches to reduce the swelling.’

Stretchmarks

The problem

‘My stretchmarks didn’t appear until the last month of my pregnancy. I loved my belly, and hoped the marks would fade. But during the last two weeks they turned bright red and itchy and I scratched so hard they bled.

I squeezed back into my jeans a week after giving birth, but underneath my stomach looks as though it has train tracks all over it. It’s knocked my confidence to the extent that I’m considering laser treatment. My partner is really supportive and says that I look great, but deep down I know I don’t.’

Emma Crook, 21, mum to Cameron, one.

What you can do

‘Stretchmarks are something nearly all women experience to some degree after pregnancy,’ says Michelle. ‘It can be particularly hard to come to terms with them if you were used to a washboard stomach pre-bump. Your abdominal muscles stretch to about twice their length and two thirds of their girth during pregnancy, so stretchmarks are sometimes inevitable. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do but they will fade and become less noticeable with time’.

Piles

The problem

‘I developed piles about eight weeks after giving birth. I didn't realise I had them to start with - things just felt a bit more painful and I hoped that if I ignored it, the problem would go away. But within a few days, going to the loo felt like passing glass.

After a week, I went to see my GP who prescribed an anaesthetic cream and I made much more of an effort to drink at least two litres of water a day.

Everyone jokes about piles, but they’re extremely painful and very unglamorous. Sex wasn’t really on the menu and at one point, I seriously wondered whether I'd ever feel or look normal down there ever again.

It felt as though I was the only one of my friends who’d ever had them – while we were very open about our other post-baby body issues, piles was something no-one else would admit to having.’

Alice York, 29, mum to Maisie, two.

What you can do

‘Piles (haemorrhoids) are a common side effect of pregnancy and childbirth but they can be resolved without too much effort for most women,’ says Michelle. ‘They happen when the veins around your bum swell up and make you feel like you need the loo even when you don’t.

They can itch, ache, feel sore, and bleed. Straining when going to the toilet can aggravate piles, so it’s important to avoid becoming constipated. A high fibre diet and drinking lots of fluids will help, as well as taking regular exercise.

Remember not to avoid going to the toilet, go when you feel the urge to, and don’t sit on the loo for longer than necessary.

If your piles protrude you can make yourself more comfortable by using a lubricant jelly and pushing them back inside with your finger. A witch-hazel compress might also help to reduce the swelling.

If they remain a problem your GP can prescribe a topical steroidal ointment, but in rare cases they might need to be reduced surgically.’

Incontinence

The problem

‘It felt as though my pelvic floor muscles were virtually non existent after I’d given birth. If I needed the loo, I couldn’t hold it in even if I tried. Thankfully things got better after the first few days, but I’m still not back to normal.

If I don’t go to the loo as soon as I feel the need to, when I stand up or laugh or cough, I just leak involuntarily. It’s quite terrifying and can make going out in public a real ordeal. Nine months on, things still don’t seem to be improving.’

Amanda Haliwell, 35, mum to Dylan, nine months.

What you can do

‘Many women experience a degree of incontinence as a result of pregnancy and birth,’ says Michelle. ‘It’s usually caused by weak muscle tone within the vaginal wall that supports your urethra and bladder.

The best and most effective first treatment is pelvic floor exercises. Firmly tense the muscles around your vagina and anus (the ones you use to stop mid wee). Hold as strongly as possible for 10 seconds, breathing normally throughout, then slowly release your muscles and relax for five seconds.

Repeat this exercise slowly up to 10 times. Then tighten and relax more quickly another 10 times.’

‘There’s a strong possibility that your incontinence will recur after future pregnancies, so remembering to do these exercises is important, especially if you become pregnant again.’

Which of the following post-baby side effects have you suffered with the most?