One question that we are always asked by new mums is “how do I get rid of my mummy tummy” so I thought I would dedicate one of our ‘Post Pregnancy Bodies’ series blogs entirely to “mum tum”. Hopefully, this will help all new mums understand a little bit more about what mummy tummy really is, why women have it and how you can go about changing the way you feel about your post pregnancy tummy.
For those of you who know me or are regular listeners of the podcast, you will know how much I dislike the phrase “mum tum”. Don’t worry, that has not changed. However, for the purposes of this blog, we’ll use the term a lot so that it helps in the Google rankings…oh the things we have to do 🙂
For the majority of new mums, their tummy becomes the area that they are most conscious of and it is often an area that many feel never really returns to ‘normal’ after having a baby. When researching into why your tummy looks the way it does now, you will probably just be bombarded by workouts videos and exercises to undertake but this doesn’t answer the questions that you have in this regard.
So, to help any mums sitting at home with little ones worrying about the way their body looks currently, we have answered the most common questions about mummy tummy.
What is mummy tummy?
When new mums refer to their ‘mummy tummy’ or their ‘mum tum’, they are usually referring to the new shape and look of their stomach. Everyone’s body is different and what mum tum looks like will differ from person to person.
Some mums find that they still look pregnant months after giving birth, others have a cone-like shape to their tummy or a ‘pooch’ at the bottom of their stomach. Some women may just have excess skin that they can’t seem to get rid of, and all of this falls under mummy tummy.
Who gets mummy tummy?
Anyone who has had a baby may feel as though they’re left with a mum tum once they’ve given birth. Some women will notice this more than others and some even struggle with the way their body looks for weeks, months or even years after they’ve had their baby.
Of course, all mums should know that it is completely normal for their body to look different post-pregnancy. After all, your body goes through so many changes during pregnancy and you carried your baby inside you for 9 months, so you should really expect some changes.
What causes mummy tummy?
Many different things can cause your stomach to look the way it does once you’ve given birth and you can’t always put mum tum down to one thing in particular. For some, the way their stomach looks is simply down to how big their bump was during pregnancy.
Another cause for mummy tummy can be diastasis recti, which is also known as split stomach muscles. We have written about this in detail before so if you’d like to find out more about diastasis recti in particular, please feel free to read our blog. There are several different forms of Diastasis Recti so not everyone who suffers from Diastasis Recti has the same tummy shape.
Is mummy tummy worse with a second baby?
There is no predicting how your body will react to pregnancy and even if you didn’t have any problems at all with your first pregnancy, there is no guarantee that things will be the same second time around. Of course, unless you have been medically advised not to have a second child, the potential effects it may have on your body shouldn’t put you off trying for another baby.
You can expect your body to go through a similar experience to what it did during your first pregnancy and many women experience weight gain, stretch marks and the stereotypical mum tum again. However, there are no rules to say what you will personally experience.
Can you get mum tum after a c-section?
Whilst women know that having a c-section is usually more complicated than a normal delivery, it isn’t often looked at as a major abdominal surgery but ultimately, that is exactly what it is. However, women still worry about what their stomach will look like after they’ve had a c-section.
Ultimately, no matter whether you have a natural birth or a c-section, your body will still have changed during pregnancy and you can expect your stomach to look different afterwards. New mums should know that the recovery period is different after a c-section, so don’t jump straight into anything and make sure you’re following any professional advice given to you.
Will I be stuck with this tummy forever?
It is so important for mums to know that whether they are 3 months or 3 years postpartum, they aren’t stuck with their mum tum. There are things you can do to heal issues like diastasis recti and when you put your mind to it, there is nothing stopping you from feeling strong and confident again.
Of course, it is important to remember that your mummy tummy won’t disappear overnight. The same way growing your baby was a gradual process, it takes time to start feeling fit and strong again after pregnancy. With the right help and some determination, it will happen though.
How can you heal mummy tummy?
From post-natal diet advice to post-natal exercise programs, there are many ways you can start to ‘heal’ your mummy tummy. As mentioned above, every woman is different and depending on your personal experience, you may find that different methods work best for you.
Whilst it can be tempting to take to the internet and search for exercises that specifically target your stomach, this isn’t a good idea. The majority of workouts that you’ll find aren’t aimed at post-natal women and sometimes they can even do more damage than good.
If you’re wanting to start feeling fitter again then make sure you’re specifically looking for post-natal exercise advice and specific programs for mum tums. You can then relax knowing that any exercise you are doing is right for your body at this moment in time.
How Healthy Post-Natal Body can help
Hopefully, this blog will have provided you with the answers you’ve been looking for regarding your post-pregnancy stomach. If you have any additional questions or if you’re looking to find out more about your body in general after having a baby, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team here at Healthy Post-Natal Body. We are more than happy to assist you further in this regard.
Here at Healthy Post-Natal Body, we are passionate about helping women feel fitter and stronger than ever before, even after having a baby. Whilst we are very clear that your post pregnancy body will always be different from your body before pregnancy, there is no reason why you shouldn’t feel confident in the way you look now. What we do at Healthy Post-Natal Body is more than just helping you lose your ‘baby fat’ and getting your ‘pre-baby body back’.
A Healthy Post-Natal Body membership is for anyone who is suffering from diastasis recti, neck, back or shoulder pain, bad posture, pelvic floor problems and much more. With your membership, you will receive expertly designed home exercise programs as well as access to an expert forum. This forum is monitored by qualified personal trainers and is a place where you can ask any questions you may have, safe in the knowledge that the answer you will get will be correct and safe for you. And because we believe that post-natal health is a right, not a privilege, you can start a free trial today!
Take care,
Peter