Maternal health professionals are challenging the common misconception that women who undergo Cesarean sections (CS) are destined to have a larger abdomen and cannot achieve a flat tummy postpartum. Experts emphasize that genetics play a primary role in determining a woman’s abdominal shape after childbirth, regardless of whether she delivers vaginally or via CS.
Gynaecologists interviewed highlight that while pregnancy inevitably alters the size and shape of the abdomen, achieving a flat tummy after delivery is possible for women who have had a CS. They advise women who have undergone CS to avoid practices that may hinder their recovery, stressing the importance of rest, adequate sleep, and a nutritious diet.
The Stigma Surrounding Caesarean Sections
Studies reveal that women who deliver via CS often face unwarranted stigma, with some falsely claiming that CS prevents them from achieving a flat abdomen. This belief appears to be rooted in the traditional practice of tummy or womb binding after delivery, which is believed to help “expel blood and remaining dirt” and restore the abdomen to its pre-pregnancy shape.
Many women who undergo CS are discouraged from tummy binding due to concerns about their surgical scar. This has fueled the misconception that the lack of tummy binding, rather than natural postpartum body changes, causes CS mothers to have a larger or sagging abdomen. However, gynaecologists advise women who deliver via CS to avoid wearing tight clothing, especially around the incision site, until the scar is fully healed, to minimize irritation and reduce the risk of infection.
Genetics vs. Mode of Delivery
Abubakar Panti, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, refutes the belief that women who undergo CS cannot achieve a flatter abdomen after childbirth. He clarifies that abdominal sagging after delivery is primarily influenced by genetics, not the mode of delivery. Both women who deliver vaginally and those who have CS can experience it.
Panti notes that many women mistakenly believe that tummy binding after vaginal delivery gives them an advantage over those who deliver surgically. He explains that during pregnancy, the baby stretches the abdomen and skin. After delivery, the skin gradually retracts, but those who develop a larger abdomen are more likely influenced by their genetic predisposition.
He further emphasizes that even women who deliver naturally and bind their abdomens may still experience sagging due to the stronger influence of heredity. “There are some people, even if they deliver vaginally, who still have that sagging tummy, no matter how they try to tie it. There are some people who have delivered through caesarean section, and they don’t have any sagging tummy issues. All these things depend on genetics,” he states.
Panti adds that mild abdominal support after CS is acceptable but advises against wearing tight-fitting supports. “Who said that after a caesarean section you don’t apply slight support? We are not saying you should not apply support. It’s just that we are saying that you should not wear tight-fitting support,” he clarifies.
He reiterates that women should not attribute postpartum abdominal changes to CS, stating that “The issue of tying or not tying is truly a myth. It has nothing to do with the mode of delivery. No matter how you tie, there are those that have vaginal deliveries, and they tie, and it does not prevent that sagging.”
Panti urges women to seek guidance from qualified healthcare professionals rather than relying on myths or societal pressures surrounding childbirth and recovery.
Factors Influencing Recovery After CS
Christopher Aimakhu, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, emphasizes that the recovery and outcome of a patient following a CS depend on various factors:
- Reason for CS: Was the CS planned or an emergency?
- Type of Anaesthesia: What kind of anaesthesia was used?
- Surgeon’s Skill: What was the skill level of the surgeon?
- Hospital Setting: Where was the procedure performed?
- Previous CS: Has the patient had a CS before?
These factors can collectively influence the outcome of the CS and the subsequent recovery process.
Aimakhu advises women undergoing CS to “have the procedures in good hospitals that have good infection control in their theatre and with the instruments and operate good sterile procedures.”
