Diastasis Rectii

thegoodpotato

Well, after my midwife appt, it is official.  My abs have separated, and there is a huge gap... When I lie on my back and do a 'crunch', I get a 'cone' where the abs have separated.  

My midwife seemed to think it happens in every pregnancy, but I don't recall it happening last time. I feel so sad for my poor, wrecked body.  It's taken a lot of damage these past few years.  

jackson290721

Yikes! I'm sorry, that sounds painful  

thegoodpotato

Audrey1787:

My MW told me when I went in for my first appointment things I could do to prevent it. She scolded me for sitting straight up and said I needed to get used to rolling to my side and using my arms and not my abs to get up. It doesn't happen in every pregnancy but it happens frequently. My sister and SIL both dealt with it. My MW said it can cause problems with your back but I haven't heard that from other people. Do you think you have back pain from it?

No, I haven't had any back pain, but I've heard that it comes after the baby gets here. I know it can be helped later on with specific exercises, but I don't think it ever fully reconnects without surgery.  

I'm so sad over this.  

[Deleted User]

The same thing happens when I sit up...the cone. Uhoh.

Roguefeenix

I have this and mine comes with major abdominal pain! It burns and hurts right where it is split. I'm hoping it gets better after birth. My sister had this and hers did, but she had a c section and she wore a belly gurdle/belt thing right after to help with her abs

jeska511

Is it an exact cone shape or no? And this is while pregnant?? Im asking because the middle of my belly makes a funny shape when i do that but its not exactly a cone....

iriscarmendiaz

Asbromle:

The same thing happens when I sit up...the cone. Uhoh.

Same here. now i am.worried

thegoodpotato

jeska511:

Is it an exact cone shape or no? And this is while pregnant?? Im asking because the middle of my belly makes a funny shape when i do that but its not exactly a cone....

No, it's not exactly a cone, it's a weird lump in the very centre of your belly when you flex.

Whatever you do, DO NOT do crunches after having the baby. That makes it worse. Wait for the 6 week clearance, and ask your care provider or special exercises to get the gap to close. The smaller you have that gap, then you can start doing crunch/sit up type exercises. 

We had a lengthy discussion about it, because I've been really determined to get my body back in shape after this baby.  Hopefully I can get close despite this little 'setback'. 

jeska511

Dang. Mine is light a lump that comes up and goes down to my belly button. So would that mean the abs there have seperated?? Ill ask at my next dr app next week. I never heard of this or been asked about it before so I had no idea.

thegoodpotato

jeska511:

Dang. Mine is light a lump that comes up and goes down to my belly button. So would that mean the abs there have seperated?? Ill ask at my next dr app next week. I never heard of this or been asked about it before so I had no idea.

Yeah, that sounds like it. It is a funny lump that rises up when you sit up.

It was never mentioned to me before, and I only heard about it to ask because a friend mentioned it to me while I was visiting her a few weeks ago. Otherwise I would have been blissfully unaware, and probably would have exacerbated it in the weeks after birth by doing crunches. :S

kathleen02

I have that too. People with smaller builds are prone to this happening. Anyway, I plan on getting a "girdle" or those corset type things post birth. My midwife recommended that. I also heard that certain physical therapists can help with this too. Take it easy and don't lift anymore than you have to.