[pottermamma]

OK, So I just had a baby (7 weeks ago this Friday) and I know I'm not supposed to be totally back by now, but I have been working out since about 4 weeks pp and doing well. I haven't been one to work out regularly but we hike a lot as a family, and I really think having a 3 yr old is a bit of exercise too!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"><br>
Here's my question though, no matter what I do my skin is still loose in my belly...it this just a thing that only time can help, or is there something I can do to help firm up the skin itself????? I can feel my belly muscles coming back ( they were never super there before my first pregnancy let alone my second...I always had a bit of a pooch but nothing much KWIM??) but there is this flab in my lower belly area that is just funky<br>
I am so desperate to get back into some semblance of shape too cause I have a wedding (very formal) to go to at the end of July!!!<br>
PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

[Boadicea]

Hate to tell you this, but I don't think there's much you can do to be rid of that "pooch" by the end of July. (Short of hiring some exercise guru, being *pounded* into shape, radically cutting back on calories/fat/sugar, and possibly endangering your milk supply/health/baby's health. Very Hollywood, but not very realistic.) The flab does get better with time, though. Especially if you do muscle toning exercises -- but gentle ones, especially this soon PP! Having said that, if you were a bit poochy before, it's going to be even more difficult to loose that now. (Believe me, I wish it were't so! Not only was I poochy, I was downright squishy!)<br><br>
Perhaps you can find a really flattering dress for the wedding? And anyway, you can take comfort in that thought that between the bride and your new baby, no one will notice your shape but you!

 

[Nathan1097]

I've been working out for nearly a year now and have lost lots of weight and have tight muscles. And I even have a flatter tummy- but nothing can take away all the extra skin except a tummy tuck for me. (I did have a breast reduction in December.)<br><br>
I think the above poster is right- you need to just find a nice dress, go to the wedding, and be proud of that baby you've just given birth too and remember that all eyes will be on the bride. Past that, plan to eat more healthfully, get an exercise routine you can stick to, and just keep plugging away. You have to let yourself heal from the birth, let your hormones restraighten out, etc. And it seems to me that the body doesn't easily give up that "baby fat" until you stop nursing. I know it was true for me. Not completely of course, but those "last few pounds" seem to stay no matter what. Must be a survival technique!

 

[pottermamma]

Thanks you guys...I know you are SO right...I kept joking with everyone prior to DS#2's birth that I was the only one who would be holding the baby so everyone would know why I looked so chunky!!!!! The dress I got looks OK and I think I can feel comfortable in it...I was just really hoping for that, "wow you don't even look like you had a baby 11 weeks ago" look!!!!! Don't think it will happen though....and I think I will remember, between the bride and the baby...no one will even be concerned but me...It is just so weird, I never had this loose skin after Ds#1's birth...I'm just waiting for it to spring back but it hasn't yet...hope it decides to sometime, even if it isn't before July!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[Boadicea]

It's a more difficult and longer process to get your body back after every baby, unfortunately. And men get pissy about a little hair loss! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="rolleyes"><br><br>
And I think the other poster is absolutely right that the mama body holds on to as much of that baby weight as possible while you're still nursing. Ain't nature grand?!?

 

[Terion]

wow...so that's why I didn't lose very much while nursing....my body was hanging on to it for sure, I too have the pooch, though now it's filling up with baby #3 but I was wondering how I was going to get it to be somewhat less of a mound after the baby, I hear good things about pilates, I haven't tried them and won't til after this little one is born, but you might check into them. good luck!

 

[Eddie's Mom]

Just want to add that it's 5 months after baby #2 and I'm dealing with the same thing. I've lost 20lbs, (8 more to go) but my stomach is still poochy. It's driving me insane, I definitely didn't have this after baby #1!

 

[pottermamma]

Well, as unfortunate for you all that it is.......at least I'm not alone!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">