Thread: C-Section Q with Belly Dance?

Has anyone else noticed that abdominal moves they could do BEFORE childbirth are like virtually impossible after? Prior to my c-section I could do ab undulations up and down and whatever...Now, I have no issue going up to down, but reverse that bad boy and my abs freeze....wth? Anyone else had this issue? Or am I special? ,f::

It happens a lot with abdominal surgery, your abdomen has been cut severely, and the nerve connections have been severely messed around with. You may not have the same sensation of what your lower abs are doing, or may not have *any* sensation of what they are doing. So that affects the messages passing from the abs to the brain. It's the same with the nerve messages that would normally pass from the brain to the abdominal muscles telling them how to move, they've been affected by the surgery and it will take time for the neural pathways to get re-established.

It makes learning any abdominal work quite difficult for students who have already had abdominal surgery before they took up this dance.

I had a c-section about a year ago. When I got back to dancing, approximately six months after the surgery, it was hard for me (at first) to control ab movements. It felt like my abs hard harden. But eventually, after much practice and perseverance, the movements became as smooth as before I got pregnant. My only problem now is the scar I got from the surgery and my hideous stretch marks! ..l;,

I'm not a medical practitioner, so I'm not really sure about the science behind muscles and nerves. ..c:: (I'll make that my assignment this week, research about that topic.) As long as your surgery has completely healed from the inside, my OB told me it's safe to do tummy exercises.

But you know, there's no harm in trying to practice that move over and over again, ayt? I really do hope, you'd be able to execute that movement again. Remember, I'll be cheering for you from across the globe!

Happy Shimmies!

Don't I know! I had an hysterctomy on March 20, as soon as my doctor told me it was OK to start dancing and exercice again, I went back on the track but little be little.

I have a horizontal scar is about 6 inches long right over the pubic area, and at the end of the day, specialy after working out or dancing, my lower belly gets so thight and numm, I swear you could stick a needle in it and I wouldn't feel anything!

My doc and friends of mine who have been into similar surgery, tell me that it could take up to 5 to 6 months for the inside scars to heal completely.

So hang in there sweety, be patient and lets sent each other good healing vibes!

I didn't start belly dancing until after my c section so I don't have a comparison, but I know that it poses some challenges for me. I still dont have any feeling in the majority of the nerves in that area (I had an emergency C Section and the cut the muscle wall in an unusual way as a result). I mostly have muscle control now...still a few spots that the muscles rebel and I have to work on stamina...but no feeling. Which is really weird. LOL I think I could be stuck with a pin there and not feel a thing. I know that my skin in that area can be touched and I don't know it unless I'm looking at it.

It takes me longer to be able to do certain movements, but I've not yet come across something that was impossible. I will say that I have the opposite problem with belly rolls...going from down to up is actually easier for me. But I chalk that up to me being completely obsessed with getting that bottom muscle to work and working on them incessantly ..l;,

So anything that relies on the muscles from that region is more of a challenge for me, but with perseverance it hasn't been a problem.

LOL....the funny thing, is I had my c-section 2 and a half years ago!!! I am just now getting back feeling in my lower abs....my body is seriously stubborn! My umis and pelvic locks are fine (can't pull them in as much as before, but at least THEY work), but that blasted down to up undulation is the death of me right now. Oh well, I'll keep practicing them and just perform the up to downs until my abs get with the program.

:)

I've had 3 c-sections, but I had them all before I started dancing, so I don't know anything different.

I do know my lower ab muscles are somewhat affected, though.

I just had a c-section exactly a month ago and after reading these posts I know what to expect. I was hoping to go back into dancing this summer, but it seems that I will have to take things really really slow at first.

I had one close to 4 months ago and Im only starting to feel normal again. Im still numb tho. When I danced at the Hakim concert I felt really stiff. I hope it goes back to normal....

My son will be 5 this October so its been awhile since mine. I think everyone reacts differently to them. I'm still numb and having muscle issues after almost 5 years. But I have a friend who hasn't had any of the issues that I have and had her c section 2 years ago. Go figure.

Just remember to listen to your body and don't give up.

I had my c-section about 2.5 years ago and it took me a very long time to finally get control. I teach 2 times a week and practice and I am just NOW starting to get control. It has been horrible!

I do believe that bellydance helped a lot with the healing process but I fear that another child will put the screws to my dancing career.

One thing that I still cannot do - bellyrolls! I could do them rather well before the slice. Now - I struggle greatly with them.

Ravena - thank you...I thought it was just taking forever, good to see someone exactly in my place....hopefully we'll get those muscles back...

Goodness grief during Memorial Weekend, I went to a cookout and all I did was stand and sit. I felt it when I went home, and I am 5 weeks postpartum. This stinks! I was hoping to return to class this July. So sad...

This recovery which is my second time around is really really different and not so fast like my first one.

I did find that the recovery took a little longer with each subsequent c-section, so I think that's normal.