What happens to your stomach after 2 or more babies??

[HomeStyleMumma]

Hmm interesting thread....

It is hard for me to answer as far as what difference between 2 & 3 because I didn't make it to 'stretchmark territory' with #2 & already had sime from #1 (plus the teenage hip ones!) so even tho I did get a few mire with #3 I think it wouldve happened with #2 if had been a normal gestation itms as for what my tummy looks like I still get family/friends/STRANGERS telling I look so good for having 4 children!! Little do they know what myself & dh do about under my clothes lol but I think the skin that 'hangs' when bending over will tighten somewhat if I ever exercise enough to actually give it a work out in between pregnancies haha.

So I wouldn't worry to much ur bodyll do its thing and a couple more stretchmarks isn't enough incentive to not have the baby is like imo

[KimB]

I have had 6 babies and with #3 he was a big 'un lol. I got more stretch marks with him but even now after 3 more they are still silver. I had a c/s for #5 so I have the apron (didn't have it before) and it still looks like I'm pregnant 16 months after having the last one. Mind you I don't exercise :blush: so it may improve but I'll always have a saggy belly unless I opt for surgery. Don't get me started on the boobs

[Chrispe]

Getting a little worried about what my tummy will look like after I have another baby

After DD1 it mostly went back to normal. I didn't get any stretchmarks so my skin was the same. Took about a year for my stomach to get back to normal but it did.

With DD2 I didn't think I got any stretchmarks either but I could see after the birth that I did. I didn't get the red type stretchmarks that you can see, it's just that my skin now resembles crepe paper, lol. It looks normal standing up I think but if I lean over or sit it's all crinkly and my skin is just really thin! I'm ok with it, it's fine, just a bit weird looking. The skin on my boobs looks the same. I think it got seriously stretched with some crazy engorgement! I assume there's nothing I can do to fix the skin??

Anyway, I'm just worried about what will happen after more babies? I want 2 more. There just seemed to be a big change to my body with my second pregnancy, more than with my first. That's a bit scary. Will it get that much worse each time?? What damage will I do?? Or have I done all the damage already and it's already been stretched so it won't get much worse?? Please be the second one! lol.

And is there anything I can do now to prepare for the next pregnancy??

Interesting topic!

So to try and answer the question-
I think it depends intirely on what body type you have and to some degree how much you exercise/strengthen your stomach muscles.

Re:stretch marks
With baby 1 I only got stretch marks from the labour (none before birth)
No extra stretch marks with baby 2 or 3.
With this pregnancy my stretch marks have lengthened a little as this baby is bigger than any of the others already.
And even now my marks are only silver shadows.

Re: stomach muscles-
I've always been active/sporty.
With baby 1 I was walking everyday, busy all the time etc. With Baby 2 I was ballroom dancing 1-2 times a week until 30+ weeks. Between baby 2 and 3 I was playing netball, then horse riding most days. With baby 3 I was studying at a Uni that was an hrs bus ride away (standing on the Adelaide buses is a workout in and of itself)
After baby 3 my body bounced back super fast (as I was still quite fit) I was back in my pre-pregnancy jeans by 3weeks (don't hate me, it was partially the stress of having a prem that did it)

This pregnancy I've been the least active of all (due to complications) so I didn't know how fast/slow it will bounce back. However I do intend to start playing sports (mostly netball) again either this summer (indoor) or maybe autumn season.

If you can strengthen your core tummy muscles it makes a huge difference.

But like I said I think it depends intirely on what you're body type is.

[Chrispe]

Best of luck with everything though.

Don't let your body stop you from enjoying more babies.


DS1- 2.8kgs 37+4 weeks
DD - 2.9kgs 38+2 weeks
DS2 - 2.7kgs 33+3 weeks
Baby 4 - due sep 14.