June 2015 Moms
mariecoss
member
"Tenting"
mariecoss
member
Diastasis Recti aka tenting your stomach looks pointy when u get up I noticed when I was getting up from the tub both sides go down n the middle points...something about splitting in the inside the nurse told me and some women get it..I read some people still look pregnant after when they have it even with all the exercise it just bulges out I had a great tummy before I got pregnant and it was pretty firm I'm afraid after birth anyone else has this ?
Re: "Tenting"
Interesting. I've heard of diastasis recti but I wasn't sure what is was. I think there's some exercises that's supposed to help it get back in shape.
BFP #1: 11 October 2014
EDD: 22 June 2015 -- updated DD: 20 June 2015
I also have this (and had it with my first). Like pp have mentioned there's not much to worry about while you're pregnant, but yes. You should avoid "tenting" and any type of "sit up"-style of exercise/activity. Think "roll to your side and push up" to sit up from lying. As you can indeed make it worse by putting undue stress on the already compromised muscles/ligaments.
If you contact a PT that has experience with DR, they can give you some exercises to help strengthen your core (safely) and after baby comes the can provide you with more exercises (and sometimes a belly belt thing) that can help facilitate recovery.
But yes, some women may require surgery to repair the damage after all is said and done. However most health care providers will advise you to wait until you're done with having babies.
Look. I am patient with "drama" on here on a daily basis that I find incredibly asinine. "Panic" over what to name a baby. What diaper bag or other luxury item to buy. There is a whole thread on curtains, elective ultrasounds, and every totally normal pregnancy symptom under the sun. For all the "I'm pregnant, not disabled" feelings, many people here certainly act like they are. And people also come here for advice when clearly a medical professional is needed. Fine. We should be nice.
Now there is a thread on something that could require physical therapy and/or surgery, and people are saying not to move in ways that I move several times a day. It is something apparently several of us have, and didn't even know was a "thing."
I'm not riled up, and I am breathing. Looks like most ladies here are. But we now know to look into this and ask our doctors, because apparently it is in a different category than minor swelling, hemorrhoids, heartburn, etc. which will not require surgery or PT down the road.
So your post ruffles my feathers. It's great you have experience with this and don't find it to be a big deal. Thanks for sharing that part.
ETA: I see now that you're Canadian. Maybe the laws are different. I will be in the US for a while once LO is about 6 weeks old. In many states in the US, you cannot simply go to a PT like you would another health care professional. It requires a doctor's prescription, including how often, and insurance must approve.
I literally do not see one single post along the lines of "omg how could no one have told me." I see a group of people saying, Hm, I think this fits what's happening to my body, so I need to find out more.
I still find it frustrating that you chose to call out this post, of all the ones to find "amusing." But thanks for clarifying your intentions, and your opinion on how it is *exacerbated (exasperated is perhaps also applicable to this thread, but in a different way ;-) ).
I spoke yesterday with my mother who is a PT. She confirmed the test of checking for the gap if you are "tenting." And said to cup my belly/hold those muscles together when sitting up, to prevent the abs from separating - or otherwise roll onto my side first when sitting up. Info that was shared here, but always good to have trusted medical input.
Glad we now know that tenting is perhaps a common but not necessarily "normal" pregnancy symptom. Thanks for your inputs, all. Will not be responding to this any more - no hard feelings, just a bit frustrated.