Warning: weird picture---diastasis recti, anyone else?

baileymama3

So I have this lovely bulge when I sit up or get up. Dr says it's my muscles separating and internal organs coming through and nothing I can really do. No one else I know has had it this extreme... My friend (who is a dr.) said I will just have a tougher time getting a flat stomach and one of her friends actually had to have surgery to correct, Anyone else either have this or had it in a previous pregnancy?? It looks really scary to me...

Bluebird2318

In the timeline of recovery link that someone posted awhile back, it sounded like many people self-recover after a number of weeks post-partum, but I don't know anything beyond that!

WifeofaComposer

I have it, too. It looks gross, but it's mostly painless.

mlm646

I have it too and my stomach went back to basically flat after my first.

MamaFantastic

i posted a pic of my belly in a HDBD post from a few weeks ago...  it was the same look.  my abs are split about 5-6 inches from what i can estimate based on the width of the "guts bulge" that erupts out of my belly.  totally feel ya, sister!

baileymama3

@MamaFantastic--Ok, that is a little reassuring. Does it hurt you at all???Just not sure why some get it and some don't! I have had this since 18 weeks and I hadn't gained any weight at that point!

BuggasMom

I have this too. And my abs went back flat after birth ( with working out and strengthing my muscles ) I wouldn't stress it.

MamaFantastic

it doesn't hurt at all - it just looks really gross!  i try to not use my abs much at all right now, and i'm told i will need to be careful after delivery to protect the area while it hopefully closes back up.  i've heard surgery is a last resort option, preceded by physical therapy as a less invasive alternative.

Nxy

I was just looking into this last night! Thanks for posting. Mine only really bulges when I try and sit up from laying down on my back. Now I just roll to my side and push up with my arms.

hcam0707

I have this too. My OB told me exactly what you stated, "your muscles are separating to make more room." She said it is nothing to be concerned about. My belly button will even go into a weird peak if I try to contract my abdomen.

thomas930

There are some exercises that you can do to help correct it once baby is born. But stay far away from crunches, they will make it worse. 

sking72

Wow I was wondering what it was cuz I knew it wasn't the baby!

Airynn Chica

bethy84 said:

I got it every time and even ended up with a hernia after the last, which they won't fix until I am for sure done having kids. Don't do sit ups.

Why do they want to wait to fix the hernia? I have a hernia as well but they are going to stitch it closed (not with a mesh since I still want more kids). I am having a c-section so they will do it then.

I'm asking since your advice is from an American doctor.

Airynn Chica

It looks crazy weird and a bit cool.

I have two friends that their stomachs wouldn't mend themselves. It took some time before the doctors stated that it wouldn't fix itself. They told me the insurance company would pay to have it surgically connected, but only once, so you needed to wait until you were done having kids.

baileymama3

I am just concerned about it getting much worse as I get bigger. But thanks everyone-- I feel better that others are dealing/have dealt with this. Hoping it stays the same and isn't too bad post partum.

NicoleAnne416

I was told side crunches to correct it after baby and right away after my first. No idea what they say to do now then if people say no crunches because that's what I was told in the hospital.

Onelovelyginger

I'm so glad someone posted this. My dumb first time mom self thought it was baby. But mines not nearly that noticeable. You can only see it when I am standing and lean back and even then it's just a lump.

baileymama3

Onelovelyginger , that's what my husband said--- and I was like, "ummm maybe??"!!!! Oh FTM's......every day is something new

thomas930

NicoleAnne416 said:

I was told side crunches to correct it after baby and right away after my first. No idea what they say to do now then if people say no crunches because that's what I was told in the hospital.

From what I've read the best thing to do is lay flat on your back, with knees bent and feet on the floor and pull your belly button to your spine and hold it there (can't remember for how long) and release...and do a few reps of that. Over time it closes the gap and once you've closed the gap most of the way then you can do crunches.

Bees Everywhere

I went for physical therapy a few months after birth (for hip problems as well as this) and there are a bunch of specific exercises you can do to try to bring them back together.  I had a large gap and it mostly shut after physical therapy but as soon as I got pregnant it opened back up. I'm getting a tummy tuck when I'm done having kids and I'll have it sewn back together. 

baileymama3

thomas930Bees Everywherebethy84 --- did you have any issues during actual delivery pushing and sitting- while contracting abs?? I didn't even think of this- my MIL did. I have been super careful about overextending them recently and had NO idea how much I was using them.... (I am so mentally trained to "use my core").

 

thanks ladies!