Need advice about Lower abs

Okay,  Ive had two c-sections.  Because the first one was an emergency C-section 8 years ago,  The incision was made from my belly button down, its about 6 inches long.    I had a second one 6 years ago that was done the same way because the first one was done that way.   My problem is that no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to tighten up that part of my stomach.   As my waist line goes down, the pooch below my belly button gets bigger.  The left side of the scar pooches out just a bit more than on the right side and both sides kind of meet each other over the scar.   Someone, who shall remain nameless, tried to make me feel better by telling me that it looked like a butt.  When I got upset, he said but I like your butt.   He might like my butt, but I only need one.

I need serious help.  What kind of exercises should I be doing to tighten it up.  Belly dancing seems to be helping everything but my lower abs.  Does anyone  have any suggestions. Can I even tighten them up now that those mucles have been cut through?   Its bad enough, Im seriously considering a tummy tuck. But, I don't know if that would even  do any good.

I'll start with the last statement first...if you consider a tummy tuck you must do your research because there are small operations not considered cosmetic to have the muscles sewn back together, and pull in so to speak.  I was also consider this after the birth of my twins and my second c0section too.  My cut was horizontal like the first, but this time around due to the obvious insane stretching of the muscles they still have yet to fully recover.  I still have a small separation down the middle, but I try and strength it through exercises.

I started with basic exercise to focus on the specifi muscle groups...so since my cut was low bikin i focused on leg lifts, swimmer legs, planks, and the like to help withthat group of abdominals.  Also I strengthern my back as much as possible. Beginning with deadlifts, lateral pull downs, and twist, crossvers, etc, to help the obliques, and posterior muscles in the back. All in which will help your posture, which is the first step in  minimizing the hang of your belly gut.  You can do these types of movements with weights or without and all the time focusing like you are trying to pull your bellybutton through your back.  My doctor told me that any exercise that is good for the hips, back, and abdominals can help in recovery, and also be sure that you dont have a hernia behind your belly button which can cause it to pertrude even further, making your gut look like it pokes out even if you are sucking in!  Like mine!  I am still considering the small operation, but since I might want to have more children in the futre, I will save the money, until I'm done, to fix the muscles.  If you can do this without surgery, try this first of course.  Good luck. and you can message me if ou have other questions.

If you dig belly dance, look up belly rolls. Not the fat, but the movement. They require you to control your upper and lower abs independently and are exceedingly more difficult than other undulations and body rolls. I had to practice every day for three weeks on my back with weights on my stomach before I could ever see any movement, but boy is it awesome now. Check youtube. Best of luck.

Edit: Can't find the link I want. http://youtube.com/watch?v=_IGJVY8CHsQ&fe ature=related

Belly rolls, require the tilting of the ribcage and the pelvis in such a way to make the abs appear to be rolling.  Though it does work the abs, its still more of the upper and side abdominals than the lower.   Ive been doing those for a while with no luck.  But, thanks for the idea anyway. 

Original Post by mv3:

I'll start with the last statement first...if you consider a tummy tuck you must do your research because there are small operations not considered cosmetic to have the muscles sewn back together, and pull in so to speak.  I was also consider this after the birth of my twins and my second c0section too.  My cut was horizontal like the first, but this time around due to the obvious insane stretching of the muscles they still have yet to fully recover.  I still have a small separation down the middle, but I try and strength it through exercises.

I started with basic exercise to focus on the specifi muscle groups...so since my cut was low bikin i focused on leg lifts, swimmer legs, planks, and the like to help withthat group of abdominals.  Also I strengthern my back as much as possible. Beginning with deadlifts, lateral pull downs, and twist, crossvers, etc, to help the obliques, and posterior muscles in the back. All in which will help your posture, which is the first step in  minimizing the hang of your belly gut.  You can do these types of movements with weights or without and all the time focusing like you are trying to pull your bellybutton through your back.  My doctor told me that any exercise that is good for the hips, back, and abdominals can help in recovery, and also be sure that you dont have a hernia behind your belly button which can cause it to pertrude even further, making your gut look like it pokes out even if you are sucking in!  Like mine!  I am still considering the small operation, but since I might want to have more children in the futre, I will save the money, until I'm done, to fix the muscles.  If you can do this without surgery, try this first of course.  Good luck. and you can message me if ou have other questions.

 I don't intend to have anymore children.  I have 6 already.  Hubby has been fixed and the doctors told me that having anymore would be dangerous for both me and any new baby.  All of my pregnancies turned out to be dangerous.  But, if there is ever a 7th it will most likely kill me so that isn't a problem.   Tummy tucks are a huge deal.  I know I don't have a hernia.  Due to back and arm injuries I sustained at a fairly young age,  Im not suppose to lift more than 15 lbs.  I would throw out my shoulder or spine before I would give myself a hernia.  

I don't know if their is a difference in how a vertical C -section works in comparison to a horizontal.  The Horizontal is suppose to go under the muscle instead of cutting it, from what I understand.  My concern is that the cutting of the muscle makes it impossible for it to actually work the way its suppose to now.  I have yet to find anyone who can tell me one way or another.  My doctor didn't even know. Go figure. 

well, my final thought would be that, childbearing weakens the abdominals anyway.  All your muscle are softened during preganacy because of hormones, and then the stretching to accomodate the growing baby.  IT is said that the muscles can regain strength back to close than before childbearing, but never like before.  You can do many exercises, and you can stry and try, but if you have had a lot of children then that process only weakens the muscle more and more and more.  Think of it like your va-jay jay---once one child goes out down there, then it is easier for another to be accomodated, But the muscles done regain the smae tightness.  Tis way they have come up with vaginal rejueventation now to better this side effect. 

With the tummy tuck, they would probably take your belly button off to reposition late once the extra skin and folds are swen.  If you have your doctons also do a makeover so to speak which is extra cost than the regular tummy, they will pull the abdominals together with sutures and this will help the muscles be close and not have that separation like you have now.  This will sometimes help you acheive a flatter tummy better because you can now hold in your stomach because there is not major separation.  After that, they obviously put the folds back down, pull tightly, and make a clip to where the final sutures will be and begin sewing you up.  then they will make a hole and re sew your belly button back on.  This procedure is very costly and has a long period of down time to recup.  

I used ot work in the OR while in the military and we did dependents surgeries and also military personnel so I've seen  it all practically! 

What I also advise is that you consult with a plastic surgeon and ask for a consultation for them to evaluate, because of your past injuries and alsosurgeries, plus the reason why your pregancies were so dangerous, it might be skeptic on his behalf to have to under general anesthesia due to the risks.  So please do that, and they would be able to answer more seeing as how they do it almost every day.  Good luck, and I hope you make the best decesion for you! 

If you are trying to work your lower abs try this:  Hopefully I am good at explaining the exercise LOL.

1.  If you are not at a gym:  Lay down near your bed with your head near the edge of the bed and grab the edge of your bed for support.  Pull your legs in and out at a 90 degree angle.  Then try the same thing with your legs going up and down straight out.  If you really want to work it I would do at least 50.

2.  If you are at a GYM:  sit on the edge of a weight training board and and bring your legs in and out toward your chest then straight out.  If you really want to work it I would do at least 50.

Have you tried yoga or pilates.  Both of these focuss on the inner core and can be beneficial to helping with this issue.

Begin with exercise 1; without stopping continue on to 2, 3, 4 and 5. Finish off the pyramid by doing the moves in reverse order: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Complete the routine with a stomach stretch. Do the routine at least three times a week, along with 20 to 30 minutes of cardio three to five times a week.

1. Basic Crunch Lie face up on the floor with your legs hip-width apart and knees bent about 45 degrees. Place your hands behind your head, but do not lace your fingers. Lift up toward the ceiling until your shoulders leave the ground. Exhale on the way up and concentrate on pulling your belly button down toward your spine. Lower to starting position and repeat. Keep your chin lifted and make sure you're not pulling on your neck.
Number of reps: 10-15

2a. Modified Bicycle Crunch Begin in the same starting position as the basic crunch. Bring your right elbow and left knee toward one another. Lower. Bring your left elbow and right knee toward one another. Lower. Your feet should return to the floor between reps. Throughout the move, concentrate on keeping your chin lifted and holding your abs in tight. Make sure you're squeezing up as far as you can without pulling on the neck. Your elbow doesn't necessarily have to touch your knee.
Number of reps: 10-15 on each side

2b. Bicycle Crunch This is the same move as the modified bicycle crunch except instead of lowering your feet to the floor between reps, keep them in the air. Try to get a good twist and almost touch your elbows to your knees. Be sure to twist from the abdominals, not the neck.
Number of reps: 10-15 on each side

3. Suitcase Crunch Lie face up on the floor with both knees together and at a 90-degree angle with your hands behind your head. Lift your feet up as if your lower legs were resting on an imaginary bench.
Beginner version: Lift your shoulders off the ground as you bring your knees toward your chest (knees to nose, nose to knees). Lower to the starting position.
Advanced version: Instead of returning to the starting position between each rep, touch your feet all the way to the floor without resting (act like you're testing water with your feet and then come right back up). Keep the abs contracted the whole time.
Number of reps: 10-15

4. Lateral Reach Begin in the same starting position as the basic crunch, then bring your feet as close to your buttocks as possible. With your hands at your sides, lift your shoulders as high off the floor as possible (keeping your head in line with your spine). Keeping your shoulders lifted, reach your right hand toward your right toes and then your left hand toward your left toes so that you're skimming the floor with your shoulders. Keep your shoulders elevated the whole time instead of resting in the middle of the set.
Number of reps: 10-15

5. Isolated Oblique Crunch Lie on your right side as if you were going to do a leg lift, with your right arm outstretched under your head and your right leg outstretched (from finger to toe forms a straight line). Your left knee should be bent 90 degrees and rest on the floor.
Beginner version: Lift your right arm off the floor. Lower.
Advanced version: As you lift your arm off the floor, simultaneously lift your right leg. Lower.
Number of reps 10-15 on each side

Abdominal Stretch Lie on your stomach. Come up on your elbows (think of pulling your elbows toward your rib cage) and lift your chest and chin toward the ceiling. This will give your abs a good stretch, help lengthen the muscles, and minimize any soreness.

Thanks everyone for the help.  Im going to try the exercises before the tummy tuck.  I don't want to do the surgery if I can help it.  I have no problems doing the exercises and giving it a couple of years to work.  I also don't expect it to be like it was before.   I just don't want it to be as bad as it is now. 

Sorry it took so long for me to say thanks.   I  had a mother in law to deal with. LOL  Shes gone now, but I almost forgot about this thread.  Thanks again for all the help.