{"id":931,"date":"2021-05-18T19:43:39","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T19:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.mutusystem.com\/en-uk\/?p=931"},"modified":"2026-08-08T22:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T22:21:15","slug":"why-do-i-still-look-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mutusystem.com\/en-uk\/why-do-i-still-look-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do I have a pregnant looking stomach when I’m not pregnant?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
This question comes up a lot for mums, and not just in the postnatal period. A pregnant looking stomach 9 months + or years postpartum is not uncommon. We are so used to seeing women in the media \u2018bounce back\u2019 quickly after having babies, constant messaging telling us that we should \u201clook\u201d a certain way post-baby, which can make it even more frustrating or confusing when we don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might be sick of people asking when you’re due, long after you’ve had your baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may have a condition called diastasis recti. But there could be other reasons why you may have a pregnant looking stomach long after having your baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Your posture, or, your alignment<\/a> could be contributing to the way your tummy looks. Good posture during pregnancy and motherhood is challenged every day. Bending, feeding, carrying babies, or wrangling squirming toddlers\u2026 All of the things we NEED to do to get through the day aren\u2019t great for alignment or posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine your pelvis is a bowl of water which you have to keep upright to avoid spilling any of the water. You can address and correct your alignment to help lose a pregnant looking stomach. It will also help make your bum perkier AND strengthen your pelvic floor! If you have lower back, knee or hip pain, correcting your alignment can help to reduce this too. A strong pelvic floor, a flatter tummy, no more back pain AND a perkier bum? <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll give you all the alignment knowledge and tools you need in the MUTU System programme<\/a>, but here\u2019s a little taster to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your belly gets bigger throughout the day, or if you feel bloated or uncomfortable after eating, there could be excess sugar in your diet, or you may have developed an intolerance to certain foods. These issues can lead to undigested food in your intestine pushing your stomach out \u2013 this is the swelling and bloating that you are so familiar with, and may be why you still look pregnant<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what can you do to help minimise this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, try cutting right down on processed foods (especially sugar).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also try cutting out wheat and dairy for a few weeks. You can continue to have a healthy diet without them, so don\u2019t worry about removing them for a while<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep a log of what you have been eating and how you feel\u2026 If you are feeling bloated at different points during the day \u2013 then it is likely not your muscles to blame. It is a food and \/ or digestive issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever possible make sure you\u2019re eating fresh, nutritious and unprocessed food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might already be working your core muscles, but it is possible that you could be doing exercises that aren’t working for a pregnant looking stomach, especially if you have diastasis recti. Or you might not be connecting with or engaging those muscles quite correctly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of it like this: the way your abs look when you’re exercising them, is the way you’re exercising them to look. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So look at your what your stomach is doing when you do certain exercises when you sit up from lying down, or lift your little one. Is your abdomen bulging out? You might be increasing intra-abdominal pressure which leads to your stomach pushing even further out. The opposite of what you are trying to achieve. When you are engaging your transverse muscles correctly your lower abdomen should hollow gently inwards as the muscle contracts. If they’re gong the other way, check your technique<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n
If you\u2019re over-arching your back or tucking your tailbone underneath you, then your pelvis is not optimally aligned.
This leads to the outward pressure on the rectus muscle (core), as well as the downward pressure on your pelvic floor, to be increased.
It also further weakens your transverse muscle, this is the important one to strengthen if you want to get a flat tummy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAlignment Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Eating to minimise bloating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Core exercises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n