On the flip side, you might have an unplanned or emergency C-section if your labour isn't progressing, your baby is showing signs of distress or there is a complication during labour.ĭuring surgery, your doctor will make a 10cm cut to lift out your baby, before cutting the umbilical cord and removing the placenta. The decision to have a C-section can be made ahead of time (an elective C-section birth), usually if your baby is in the bottom or feet first position or if you're pregnant with more than one baby. It involves a doctor making an incision through your abdominal wall and uterus, either horizontally (the most common kind of cesarean section) or vertically (only used in emergency C-sections). This surgical procedure is a way to bring your baby into the world, without going through vaginal delivery. To really understand a C-section pouch, let's take a step back and explain what happens during a C-section. However, it's important to remember that this bulge is completely normal and experienced by the vast majority of women who deliver by C-section. It usually appears near your incision scar and is often made up of a combination of scar tissue, body fat and excess abdominal skin.įor women who have been used to a flat stomach prior to pregnancy and birth, this shelf can come as a surprise. In a nutshell, a C-section pouch is a 'shelf' of scar tissue that can protrude from your stomach after a C-section delivery. Let's run you through everything you need to know about C-section scars, what causes scar tissue and practical steps to take care of your postpartum belly. While there's no silver bullet to prevent a C-section pouch, there are ways to reduce its appearance and treat it, too. Plus, you might notice a pouch of excess skin above your near your incision scar, often referred to as a C-section pouch. Naturally, your stomach and core are likely to look and feel very different in the weeks, months and even years after surgery.Īlong with a C-section scar, one of the most common challenges you might face after this kind of surgery is stubborn fat deposits and excess fat along your lower abdomen. Whether planned or not, a C-section can take an enormous toll on your body.ĭelivering a baby by C-section involves your doctor cutting horizontally through layers of your nerves, muscle and tissue.

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