I gained over 60 lbs while having my son. He is 2 months old now, and I am finally cleared to work out. I had a very messy delivery process that ended in a C-section and another additional abdominal surgery because the C-section didn't go well.

I'm having problems with numbness in my abdomen which is making it hard to do any core exercises and I have weird pulling sensations and pains when I do cardio. I am also trying to get back to healthy eating but feel like my tastes have totally changed! I used to be into sour/salty/bitter/savory food. Now, all I want it sweets - I have a ridiculous sweet tooth.

I am also trying to learn how to manage being a mom and the full time caretaker for our son, while still working (I work 20-30 hours a week from home right now).

Has anyone experienced any similar issues and/or have any advice?

Hello and congratulations! I imagine it must be stressful enough to have a first baby, not to mention the diffiuclt delivery and two abdominal surgeries you have had.
I had two C sections within three years. My recovery was not a breeze, as I got really sick during both my pregnancies (excessive nausea and preeclampsia towrds the end of both pregnancies) so it took some time for my body to recover.
One thing I did not struggle with was pregnancy weight, despite having twins (both times) I walked home from the hospital weighting less than before I got pregnant. That must be the only good thing about being sick like a dog for nine months streight. I gained more than 40 pounds each time, but that was mostly water retention and got sorted out before I was discharged from the hospital.
I did, however, gained weight AFTER that. And quite a lot, both times. The reason being I did not sleep enough (in fact, there were nights I did not sleep at all) and being tired or exhausted even makes me compensate with food. And not healthy food! I craved sugar and I craved it a lot. I could eat two bars of chocolate before my day really began.

Are you breastfeeding? It has a lot to do with your hunger and energy level.

As for the excercise, I would not push it. If it still hurts, skip it. Do what feels good to do - walking for start! You can walk miles and miles with a baby in a stroller. It's good for both of you! Perhaps add some swimming if you can. And gently watch what you eat. Mostly I want to say, don't push yourself too hard. You've had a lot to deal with. Give yourself some time. It will all work out eventually.

Wow, 2 sets of twins? Hats off to you! I am working on getting more sleep (my husband and I are working on setting up systems where we can both get at least 6 hours). Did your sugar cravings ever go away? I feel like all I want to eat is candy and ice cream.

I also had a c-section and I think it took me a good year before some of the feeling came back in my lower stomach, and it progressively got better after years. I still have painful pulling (7.5 years later) if I'm pinched in certain spots in my lower stomach, but most of the feeling is back again.

Give it time - it's quite a surgery!

When my daughter was born I worked 55 hours a week and was president of our union so I had a lot of "take home" work to do on top of it. I spent weekend mornings cooking a few easy recipes, portioning them and freezing them. I'd always make 2 chicken breasts in the crockpot to use for wraps, burritos, salads, stir fry, mix with pasta/grains. I'd also make my meal plan for the entire week on Sunday, and I'd make a one pot meal, at least one soup, and a small pot (2 servings) of beans for rice and beans. I relied on instant brown rice, frozen turkey meatballs (at that time I'd buy them), pre-made veggie burgers, frozen fish, frozen vegetables, canned fish.

Now I cook and freeze just about everything, but the above was how I started to meal plan and meal prep. Details here

No kidding. Ten years of marriage without children and then, within less than three years, you are a family of six. To say it's been turbulent would be an understatement. We have been tired, exhausted, hysterical even, but mostly very, very happy in this household.

My sugar cravings go hand in hand with exhaustion. I found out things that help - to not get hungry, (curiously enough) to not eat meat, as meat seems to aggrevate my sweet tooth, but what was the most important - I had to break the vicious cycle of craving candies - eating candies - craving more candies. I won't lie, there are still bad days, like today, when (having slept around 4 interrupted hours at night) I give in a have chocolate, but it's much less chocolate than before, and it's not every day. However, it took me 10 months to even gather some strength and begin to mind what I eat. First 6 months this second set of twins was in the world, I just ate WHATEVER I could lay my hands on. Now it'has stabilised, and I feel like I have energy and power to watch my eating habits again.

I have three kids (ages 7, 4, and almost-2). The last 2 were delivered via c-section.

My advice: Give yourself time and grace.

I know how it feels to want desperately to lose the "baby weight." But right now is a time for your body to heal. It needs to be nourished. And it needs kindness.

Focus on eating healthy and adding light activity to your day. At this point in your post-partum life, that's all you probably need to get the weight loss moving.

In a few more months when you've had more time to heal and adjust to your new role as a mother, you can focus more on yourself and your weight and your body.

For now, enjoy the process of being a new mother. I know sometimes those days feel long. But believe me when I say that the years will fly. Spend these early days inhaling the scent of your baby, cradling him in your arms, committing his baby features to your memory. There will be time to lose the weight later, when he's moving so fast that he doesn't want the cuddles and snuggles that are so precious right now.

I'm not saying you should ignore your health or weight. I'm simply saying that a healthy diet and some light movement will get you started and perhaps better balance your life right now.

That's beautifuly said, and very true.

Congratulations on your new baby! What an incredibly wonderful and overwhelming time in your life!

Please take it easy on yourself, you've had 2 major surgeries, abdominal surgery is about as major as it gets, don't be fooled that it's just a routine surgery. I had a C-section nearly 4yrs ago and I still have numbness in my lower abdomen. The physical strain of caring for a baby, breast feeding and not getting too much sleep also takes a toll which doesn't help much in recuperation. This is not a time for strenuous activity!

Every birth story is different and I don't want to alarm you but pay close attention to how you're feeling too, I didn't realize it at the time but I had some pretty major postpartum depression. I only wish someone around me had realized it and that my doctor had paid attention to it because things felt pretty bleak for a while.

When I was breastfeeding my appetite was tremendous and eventhough I'd never had a sweet tooth before in my life I developed one after giving birth. It has caused me a lot of problems and weight gain eventhough I was perfectly healthy and happy during the pregnancy and weighed less after giving birth than I did before I got pregnant. Of course while still breastfeeding you want to maintain a lot of calories and stay well hydrated.

On the exercise front I suggest what all the others say, walking with a stroller everyday, making sure to get out of the house and into the clean fresh air with baby. Try to get your sleep, I found that by cosleeping I was able to breastfeed throughout the night without having to get up every time.

And take it easy on yourself, there is no race to win here. I know you want to get back to pre baby weight but there are a lot of changes in your body right now and hormonally it will take some time to balance things out and recover from surgery. Just because you're cleared for exercise doesn't mean should be stepping into a zumba class anytime soon.

Lots of good advice here -- and Banananutmuffin, you nailed it!

Thanks for all of the advice and support! I am trying to focus more on the eating end of things and do low impact things like walking for exercise. It's hard to not be able to have the level of ability that I used to, but I am trying to put it all in perspective.

Thanks again!