Diastesis Recti & Hernia

Hello:

I never had a formal diagnosis, but after my son was born, I could fit 4 fingers between my muscles where my belly button is. I had a C-section, so I had to wait a little while to work on it, but I have a DVD (see info below from amazon.com) that I used and has helped me close it up some. After 3 months of doing only one little exercise, called "The 100", the gap was down to 2 fingers. I then stopped for a while, but have started up again, I figure another 3-4 months and I could have it completely closed.

(complicated description) The 100 is an ab exercise where you lay on your back, then extend your legs straight up. Then, keeping your legs straight you lower them as much as is comfortable (which after a baby won't be far from vertical). While holding that leg position, you 'crunch' up to lift your head off the ground. Goal is to keep your head and shoulders off the floor and the legs in their outstretched position and the small of your back flat on the floor. Now, while in this position, your hands are stretched towards your hips and you start to pump them up and down, keeping the arms straight. You do 100 arm pumps, breathing in short bursts-5 inhale bursts followed by 5 exhale bursts. I find it helpful to count to 50 twice, rather than to 100, because as the effort required increases, it is harder to keep count above 50... If you want a picture of this, send me your e-mail address and I can get you a picture of what it is supposed to look like.

As for the hernia, that may require surgery, but if you can get other things fixed, the hernia operation might be less involved. (I had an umbilical hernia in high school that was repaird through my belly button, 'course, I still wasn't allowed to lift anything over 20 lbs for 6 months after the operation.)

The Method Pilates - Precision Toning and Sculpting by Method (DVD - May 10, 2001)
Buy new: $19.98 $17.9955 Used & new from $2.91
Usually ships in 9 to 14 days

Good luck,
B.

Hello there,

Sorry you are having trouble! I found this incredible workout program that only takes 15 minutes every other day or every day and it works wonders!! It focuses on your core so totally helps with back and stomach issues. I lost a total of 23 inches in 60 days. Its called T-Tapp, you can see bits of it and find more info at www.ttapp.com.

Good luck,S.

My son turned 3 in May and we just started to try and get pregnant. I nursed my son until he was 18 months old, then he weaned himself, until you stop nursing you really won't lose at least the last 5-8 lbs. I decided since I was running and healthy that I would wait to do anything until after I have the next baby, then have it fixed. My doctor didn't have a problem with that, so that's my plan. It bugs me sometimes, especially when I'm blotted because it gets so big I look like I'm in my second trimester, but I just try to wear flattering clothes. Good luck.

I actually went to my doctor and he said that if losing the weight as soon as possible was a priority for me, get a physical trainer that specializes in this sort of thing. Your doctor should be able to point you in the right direction. The other thing is have you been able to be intimate with your significant other? This burns lots of calories if it's done right. :) Let me know......

Hi! I am so sorry for you because I know how you feel. I have gone to several doctors for the same issue, and have decided to have a tummy tuck. They will stitch my abdominal muscles back together and remove extra stretched out skin. This is my last resort, I have tried everything! It is quite expensive, 4-6,000 depending on what you need done, but well woth being able to sit up straight again!

Wait until you know for certain that you and your husband no longer want children. I had both a hernia and diastasis, too. Had surgical repair last year. My daughter was 3, my son was turning 9. You need a ton of folks to help you through the recovery period (I still have pain, btw) and, as long as there are no other health issues, just wait to get it done. Get used to folks saying "When is the next one due," possibly rubbing your tummy as they say it. Have a good sense of humor and healthy self-esteem and let go of the vanity. It's no big deal, though it took me years to get over it. Had I known other moms who had endured it, I would have adapted easier and not been depressed. I had to listen to my grandmother for years suggest that I work to lose weight, and no matter how much I explained it wasn't fat (she couldn't hear very well btw, plus she is overweight, but that's another e-mail), she couldn't understand it. I applaud your reaching out and I thank God for Mamasource! After being depressed about going from a size 6 to a size 14, I then started realizing that I wasn't the one with the real problem. I then started feeling sorry for people when I had to answer I'm not pregnant. I was ok, but they were so embarrassed! I used to want to make up an imaginary date just so they wouldn't feel so bad, but then, that'd be lying, right? Now, the hernia was repaired; I also had emergency hysterectomy, but diastasis was not repaired at same time. Apparently, there would be a different type of cut and it's actually a more painful and longer recovery period. So, the surgeon recommended repairing diastasis this year...are you kidding me? I'll buy a good girdle, a pair of Spanx and a push-up bra if I really need a boost to my ego. There's even something called Lipo in a box! I love the 21st century! If I need another boost to my ego when I hit my own mid-life crisis, I might schedule another procedure. Until then, body sculpting with other tools is the way to go! Especially when your family is young.

I was also diagnosed with this after my son's birth, who is now 18 months old. I went to physical therapy for about three months, which closed the gap from a three-finger width to one. Since then I have lost ten pounds, which puts me below my prepregnancy weight. Between that and inconsistent stomach exercises, the gap is almost closed. However, I still have a slight "pooch," which I think is unavoidable with a diastasis. Plus, my tummy has loose skin from carrying two babies! I never had the hernia issue though. Short of surgery, there's probably no way to completely heal it. There are lots of books, videos, and websites out there than can give you more info. I ordered a book called Lose Your Mummy Tummy, which is pretty good. Best of luck!

do you have any pain, if you try to do sit-ups? i had to have an emergency c with my first and then mandatory w/ my 2nd, so my post-partum pain would've been different. there are a ton of different sit-ups that you can try and just general core training that really helped me get my mid-section back. i was able to get back to pre-pregnancy weight but my shape is still (and i think, forever) different. i'm sure the fact that i'm pregnant, now, doesn't help :) let me know if that's the kind of solution you're looking for and i could share some exercises w/ you. hope you find your answer!

I got a hernia with child no.1. And at first I didn't know what it was. SO, with child no.4 knowing this was our last child we talked about repairing it. So, when I got my tubes tied they repaired my hernia. I also breastfeed and according to my anathesiologist I only had to pump and dump the first feeding after I woke up. I was able to feed him the rest of the day. That was my big worry ... the whole pumping enough for a 24hr period. And that wasn't the case and a good thing because I had not pumped enough. I don't think weight has anything to do with it. I had my tubes tide and hernia repaired at 3mnths post pregnancy. It is outpatient surgery and I was sore for 3 or 4 days. But, glad I did it.

I also have been diagnosed with this. I noticed after the birth of my first child that I could put two fingers into the ridge between my abs up to my second knuckle. The doctor said it would just get worse as I had more babies, so I hurried up and had my son 22 months later. After I had my whopping 10 lb son, I could fit 4 fingers into the ridge. My son will be 14 months old tomorrow. I am now down to about 2 finger widths, sometimes it is only 1, but then I'll do something stupid and make it worse. I found that works best for me to not look pregnant is to 1) be careful when you lift things. My son has been over 20 lbs since he was 6 months old, so I am just careful to bend at the knees and suck in my stomach as I lift. 2) Sit up straight at all times, and suck in your gut. 3) When you walk put your shoulders back and suck it in. 4) Don't eat/drink a lot in one sitting.

You can try some ab workouts, but the problem is finding ones that won't make thing worse. I am not really good and knowing what I should be "feeling" to know I am doing the exercises properly, so I just don't do them. My children keep me active, I am sure to eat many small meals/snacks, and walk a lot. I gained well over 40 lbs with my son (I stopped keeping track when I reached 41 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight at 7 months pregnant). I am now just below my pre-pregnancy weight. I plan to one day have the surgery, but I have issues with becoming infertile to do so - my doctor's requirement - since I am only 28.

Good luck!