Scar Jealousy!!
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: C-Section Support
Forum Description: Had a caesarian section? Planning an elective caesar? Or a VBAC? Or want to know about recovering from a c-section? Talk to other mums who have had c-section deliveries here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24816
Printed Date: 22 November 2024 at 1:51pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Scar Jealousy!!
Posted By: FreeSpirit
Subject: Scar Jealousy!!
Date Posted: 25 February 2009 at 10:42pm
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I'm having a gripe. I caught up with a mate today that I hadn't seen in years, her daughter is 2 months older than mine, and we both had c-sections, funnily enough we ended up comparing how our scars had healed. Now it's the first c-section scar I've seen other than my own or my mum's, and I got quite upset - her's was this nice neat straight 2 or so inch long line, nice and level, just on bikini line. Mine looks shocking in comparison!! To start with, it runs from hip to hip. Then we've got the fact that it's on a diagonal curve. And it starts at the top of my bikini line on the left but it's an inch above my bikini line on the right! I'm left feeling a bit ripped off, and now I understand all those people that go "oh, once they heal, the scar's hardly noticeable" because after looking at somebody else's I'm pretty sure that the statement would be true for most people. I know that because of complications and impacting that they needed elbow room, but it kind of sucks that I'm left with this disfigurement. I know I should wear it with pride, but I don't. It makes me soo self-concious when I have to get undressed, I feel like some bugger slapped me with the ugly stick. Sorry if I upset anyone, just had to get this off my chest. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 25 February 2009 at 10:54pm
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I look at mine and wonder how the hell they got a baby out of it .. and I do recall the surgeon saying to the person who cut it .. oh that could have been a bit bigger lol
------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 8:30am
hmmm, seems I'm in the middle then, mine's about 5 inches across the top of my pubis, and it's not straight either, but it's a kind of gentle curve (I guess it was hard to cut a straight line on my gigantic belly). Mine would probably have been alright except that when I got a wound infection they picked at one end of it to try to drain it, so one end is all raised and bumpy 
It is getting better with time, and TBH I find my mummy flap uglier than the scar itself  ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: pomikiwi
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 9:24am
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Mine's not too bad, I think it's pretty small now compared to what it was, but i've had 3 years of healing.
I've never seen anyone elses, lol, but would be good to compare I guess. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
DD-Carys Amelia 17.03.06 |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 9:36am
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Mines about 8 inches and curves slightly, and mine was infected and I ended up back in hospital. When I was in with Joel the midwives at the hospital all commented on how nicely it had healed and how you can't really notice it.(well I notice it) The overhang that came with it bugs me more......but then I have noticed at swimming other people having an overhang and they didn't have cs so that makes me feel better. Took a while for me to be ok with it though. I remember seeing the lady that I worked for in the states who had twins, her scar was about 2 inches if that so I thought that was the norm, but then her whole waist was probably 10 inchess total. -------------  
 
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Posted By: pomikiwi
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 10:38am
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^ what causes the over hang, is it the way it's been cut and re-stitched or something, or is it just fat?
I have a very slight overhang when i'm not pregnant, probably no-one else would notice it though. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
DD-Carys Amelia 17.03.06 |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 10:50am
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Mine you can barely see. You have to look really closely to see it. And this after the gynae saw me at 8 weeks telling me that I had messed up her work a bit (we moved houses and I lifted some heavy stuff until Grant forced me to sit still and not do anything). She was a bit upset as you really wouldnt see it then.
Just hope they do another good job for me here in NZ. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 12:11pm
Dunno, would love to know! I need to ask some mums who didn't have a c section whether they've got them. Mine certainly seems to be 'tigher' and indented a little iygwim where the scar is, so I thought it might be something to do with scar tissue holding the bottom part in place -------------
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
pomikiwi wrote:Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 12:18pm
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I'm sorry that you feel that way Flutterby. Do you know why they had to cut so wide?
My scar is very faint now & only about 10cms across (at a guess). I wonder too how they got a baby out of there
I don't have any overhang but it could be something to do with the way it was stitched up... -------------    
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 12:46pm
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I didn't have a csection but I do have an overhang, as do most of my sisters. My theory is that it's the extra skin andflab that develops during pregnancy. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 1:08pm
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I look at mine and try to figure out how they got 2 ,albeit small, babies out of there. It's about 3 inches wide and has really faded away I had to 'search' to find it as I hadn't looked at it in a long time.
And yes I have 'jelly belly' even though I'm down to my pre-pregnancy weight again. |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 1:38pm
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Thanks for that Fliss, good to know!!! Tishy, me too, I'm 6kg lighter than pre preg weight and still got the jelly belly / overhang. Dunno if I'll ever lose it (til I get pregnant again I guess!) -------------
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 1:52pm
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My overhang had pretty much gone, then I got pg again and it came straight back -------------
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Posted By: noodle
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 3:20pm
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i got told the reason the cut is a curve is because during the cs the bed (and you) is slightly tilted sideways so the oxygen supply isn't getting cut off to baby as it would if you were lying flat on ya back.
my cut is about 16cm long but in a good spot and really neat, I had bladder surgery 8 years ago and they cut through that scar but 8 years on i could hardley see the scar at all so they definatly do fade over time. would it make any difference to how big it is for whether you had an emergency or elective cs? i dont have the overhang but my belly is definatly alot more jelly like from what it was pre pregnancy and im 1kg off my pre pregnancy weight. *hugs* tho flutterby sorry you are feeling that way, have you tried bio oil or something on it to see if it would fade your scar? that might make you feel a bit better about it, i keep meaning to buy some to see if it makes a difference to mine but havn't got round to it yet lol ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 3:30pm
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I used biooil on mine during my second pg, seemed to help a lot. I still have overhang and i'm 16kg less than the day before I had him (was weighed at mw), but my belly is no more jelly like than before either pg. -------------
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Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 5:19pm
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I have a pretty horrid scar too. Its kind of puckered looking particularly on one side & one side you can see where they did the 2nd c-section. My last midwife was quite surprised how rough it was. It doesn't bother me except when I look at it & I just prefer not to. ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |
Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 6:30pm
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Thanks for all the responses guys, it's nice to know that no two scars are alike, makes me feel a bit better.
Sally belly, mine is so wide because I had a very long labour, my pelvis was to small for elizabeth to descend through so her scull became badly impacted and they needed elbow room (not a figure of speech, DP turned around at one point during op and somebody had their arm in me up to the elbow) so they could hold her firmly enough to pull her out. They put a hat on her in the delivery room because they didn't want me to see her head, and then it was strapped and covered in the incubator. Weegee, even with being a c-section I'm kinda lucky, don't have an over-hang or flap, just the comfy cottage cheese tummy that sticks out a bit. Noodle, I've been using bio-oil since about 8 weeks post-op, I don't know if it makes a difference to the way it looks but it sure does make it more comfortable - stops it feeing sore and tight. I always know when I forget to put some on for a few days. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com">
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 26 February 2009 at 9:28pm
my scar is great it was pretty good even for a scar at the begging i also had a infection aswell but it has healed well i still have the fat over hang but i,m hoping that will go with the wight loss ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 27 February 2009 at 3:39pm
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Mine is ok, but its only been 8 months. Its still quite a dark pink but its straight and about...5 inches at a guess.
Mine healed well, i had no infection or anything. I dont like my scar, i feel ugly down there now, but oh well, our beauiful(9lb 8oz at birth) boy came from that scar  ------------- |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 27 February 2009 at 6:19pm
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Mine is barely noticeable, except for a dimple at one end where they obviously knotted the stitches and a thin pink line. I have to admit I am quite impressed with the scar I am left with considering the labour and emergency c section I went through.
I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight and don't have any over hang, although do have a bit of a jelly belly!! The only thing that annoys me about the scar is it still gets itchy, especially when I go running! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 27 February 2009 at 8:50pm
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Noodle, I was told that the table was tilted so the surgeon coud reach.
I am not sure about my scar. I still have a dressing on it till Monday (6 weeks, not seen it) but I had a peak at the edge that has peeled and its a lot further out to the side than I expected....but I had a big baby and they probably needed the "elbow room" too. I think the edges might be visible once the hair grows back. Oh well!....my bikini modeling days are over. |
Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 27 February 2009 at 10:12pm
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Mines almost as long as my hand, and is horribly lumpy cos I had a massive abcess underneath it a couple of weeks later that stretched it out a lot, and I have always had that horrid overhang too! I am now 25 weeks preg and it STILL hasnt filled out yet ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003  
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Posted By: pomikiwi
Date Posted: 23 March 2009 at 8:11pm
I'm sure my overhang is worse than when I had DD. My hubby keeps telling me it will go down as it's only been 3 weeks and that it's all brusied and swollen inside. My god I hope he is right, but somehow i'm not convinced.  I'm not even overweight but think it maybe there to stay.
It looks hideous, I cry everytime I look in the mirror now
Will it look better with some serious exercise and abdominal workouts? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
DD-Carys Amelia 17.03.06 |
Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 23 March 2009 at 9:03pm
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My scar is no where near as raised and lumpy now as it was 6 weeks after I had bubs, it's still not smooth or nice but the best way to describe it would be that it feels like an thick seam line through a layer of clothing - I'm still not happy with it as it's above the bikini line so in full view, and on that funny angle, but I wear it with a little bit of pride now. I'm pleased it's better then it was, bit of a shame it shows over some of my hipsters! ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com">
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 30 March 2009 at 2:05pm
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Mine is quite long but has definitely faded over time. It down below the top of where a bikini would sit - so only those who see me with no underwear on would ever see it, so it doesn't really worry me (although its not attractive!). I had the overhang for ages though. My doc said its just fat and will go when i lose the baby weight - which it did - but now that I'm pregnant again its back - grrr!! ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 31 March 2009 at 8:28am
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I haven't read all the other replies, but when I had my 6 week check with my OB, I remember him saying that c-section scars (or cuts I guess) are really hard to get right and looking good because you are on an angle for a start (I was tilted to the left on the table) and there's a baby in there distorting things as well depending on what position it's in. I guess the only thing I can say is that I look at my scar as a war wound and the way I brought my beautiful, adored baby into the world, and regardless of how it looks, it has marked me for something wonderful.
I hope you feel better soon! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 02 April 2009 at 11:01am
Well said Ginger! That's exactly how I feel about my stretch marks and my c-section scar. Motherly war wounds  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: pomikiwi
Date Posted: 03 April 2009 at 3:17pm
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^^wish I could think like that! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
DD-Carys Amelia 17.03.06 |
Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 06 April 2009 at 1:07pm
I agree ginger! Just glad I don't have stretch marks .... at least the scar is only seen by me, hubby and Jake!  ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 06 April 2009 at 3:23pm
I also agree with Ginger And with what you said Nikki. I didnt get stretch marks, and even though I dislike the look of my scar its only seen by me and DH, and Caden! So its ok ------------- |