Why your stomach may still look pregnant after a C-section — and what can be done about it
Many women notice a persistent lower abdominal bulge, pouch, or “shelf” after a C-section that does not improve with time, exercise, or weight loss. A C-section shelf is a lower abdominal overhang that forms above a C-section scar, most commonly caused by scar tethering, excess skin, or abdominal muscle separation after pregnancy. This is also referred to as a C-section pouch or overhang above the scar, and may develop as a more general post-pregnancy abdominal prominence that often does not resolve with time, exercise, or weight loss.
Understanding why these changes occur is important, because different underlying causes require different treatments. This article outlines the most common anatomical reasons for post-pregnancy abdominal contour changes and explains how surgeons distinguish between problems related to the scar, skin, fat, and abdominal muscles. These distinctions are important, as treatment options such as scar revision, muscle repair, or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) are tailored to the underlying anatomy.
