Anyone Experienced Seperation of Abdominal Muscles After Having a Baby?

Updated to add: Though pilates is a great thing, *BEWARE* until after you've closed your diastasis!!! First, you must work the transverse exclusively and gently to close the gap, and then once you've done that, go on and have a great time with pilates. However, doing "The Hundreds" (and other types of exercises) before your diastasis is closed can really exacerbate the problem. At physical therapy, I had to use a splint around my waist to manually hold my rectus abdominus closed *before* I was allowed to even do a mini-crunch (just lifting my head - not my shoulders, just my head!). So... be wary of any fitness programs that aren't specifically tailored to your diastasis. Also, if you are carrying any babies or toddlers in front carriers (like the baby bjorn or a sling or a wrap), get a splint to wear during the times you're carrying (again, until your diastasis is resolved).

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S., your NP is the one who is absolutely *wrong* here - you are not crazy, you are quite astute!

I had the same thing - it is called a diastasis. Many, many women have this, though the gap can be as small as 1 finger (so not terribly noticeable) or as wide as 5 or more fingers. Mine was 4 fingers wide, and I did go to postnatal physical therapy for it - got it down to 2 fingers wide, but I think if I were more devoted to continuing the exercises, I could reduce it even further.

The PDF link that one of the other moms suggested is excellent - it talks about Julie Tupler's book & DVD called "The Mummy Tummy." I definitely recommend the book which is very thorough, discusses how to self-diagnose your diastasis, describes the necessary exercises, shows pictures of the exercises. I have the DVD as well, and if I had to choose, I probably would just get the DVD instead of the book:
http://www.sobebabies.com/shop/index.php?main_page=produc...

Tupler first suggests to work on strenghtening the transverse muscle by doing seated transverse "elevator" exercises as described in the 2nd column here:
http://www.maternalfitness.com/baks_basics.pdf

You can definitely have a diastasis many, many years after giving birth - it will stick around until you do the exercises to fix it! Your NP is clearly not educated on the topic of diastasis, and based on her reaction (refusing to check you?!?!), I would avoid her for future care in general... for me, it is important that my care providers take my concerns seriously and have enough intelligence to recognize when they might not know all the answers and might have to do a little more research. There is nothing wrong with saying "I do not know, but I will do some research and get back to you."

Good luck!

hi S.,

I had the same concerns. I have had 4 abdominal surgeries to date. Afer my first c-section my stomach bounced back; however, after the last one it totally seems like I'm still pregnant (and its been over a year). I'm not really heavy elsewhere just a pouched out belly that feels like I'm always pushing it out even though I'm not. It is very uncomfortable and is now starting to take its toll on my low/mid back. I found the following information to be helfpul in understanding whats happened:

http://www.befitmom.com/abdominal_seperation.html

and for excercises:

http://www.strollerstrides.com/pdf/EP0705%20Fitness.pdf

I'll look forward to seeing other responses to this as well, so thanks for posting.

S.,
I found some info on the net for separation of the abdominal muscles.
Rectus Diastasis: Separation of rectus abdominus muscles which occasionally occurs in older patients and or those with weakening of the abdominal musculature.

Maybe if you put the condition into your search engine you can find more info. After all --- having a baby is a good way to weaken the muscles.

As for the N.P. giving you a look like you were crazy --- maybe it is time to find a new Dr's. office. I am a R.N. and though I no longer work due to a back surgery, I always listened to my patients. The patient knows their body best.

Good Luck - C.

Hi S.! I have this as well, so you are definitely not crazy. It is called an abdominal diastasis. Many doctors are not educated on this subject, I have seen four doctors so far. The good thing was that my OB/GYN did not know much about it, but definitely didn't think it was normal. He suggested a visit to a general surgeon. That doctor acknowledged what I had, but said that general surgeons did not do surgery unless you have some type of hernia, etc that would require it; a diastasis is not a required surgery. So, a trip to my family doctor was next. I explained everything to him (the lower back pain, the bulge, everything.) He suggested a visit to a plastic surgeon, who does the surgery. From my research, I also came across the book by Julie Tupler called "How to Lose your Mummy Tummy." She is the one who recommends not doing regular ab exercises because they can make the problem worse instead of better. Another mamasourcer said she had postnatal physical therapy. No one has ever suggested that to me, so I am going to look into it. Good luck, and know that you aren't alone. There are others with this condition. Find a new OB/GYN, I can't believe they were so rude to you!

My sister had this. She also had to have a C-Section and when they were in there they sewed her back up as far as they could reach. They said that it could heal on its own, but if it didn't, and she wanted to continue running marathons, then she would have to have surgery to stitch them back together. Fortunately for her they did heal on their own and she is running in the Boston marathon this next fall.

That's just what happened to her. I'm surprised your OB would not have given you your options by now. Or even your family doctor. I would be questioning the quality of service you are getting. Good luck.

Yes, it's possible and likely if someone doesn't do exercises to close the gap. Check out www.maternalfitness.com . I'm still struggling with this after three babies. My youngest is only 9 months, but I don't think I ever completely closed the muscles after my second was born 3 years ago.

PILATES, PILATES, PILATES! Pilates is wonderful for toning many body parts, but is EXACTLY what your stomach muscles need. If you do pilates correctly, you spend the entire time basically sucking your belly button into your backbone. This uses your "horizontal" stomach muscles (in contrast to regular sit-ups which use your "vertical" stomach muscles). This is exactly what your stomach needs. I had a vertical open space in my stomach muscles between my first and second pregnancy about 2-3 finger widths wide. With pilates, it is now gone - and my stomach is nearly FLAT! You can take pilates classes, or get a book/DVD. Check your local public library. If you get a DVD, look for one that has different skill levels to choose from so that you can start with beginning and move on. The most important thing in pilates is to keep your stomach sucked in and do the exercises with the correct technique. It doesn't look hard, but if you do it correctly, you will feel and see the difference after a few weeks.

Best wishes!! J.

I have no advice, but I am in the same boat and would love to know what the heck to do!!!! I have had 2 c-sections and after the first one I had waited about a year and a half to start going to a personal trainer. He helped me a ton, we did other ab excercises and he stretched me out before and after each workout. I ended up losing a ton of weight and body fat and got back down to a size 2, but I still had my stomach seperating when I would bend over, try to do sit ups, etc. After my daughter (who is now 2 1/2) I have not resumed regular excercise because of this painful and odd thing going on with my stomach. I cannot even bend over to tie my shoes without the stomach seperating and I have to take a time out and just breathe to get it back to normal. Not one person I have asked about this has been a help. Trainers, docs, nurses, etc. no one has had an explaination. We are going to start trying for baby #3 in January and I am scared because I never worked out after #2 and I feel gross and I feel like it is just going to get worse. I am not fat, my stomach is just terrible, and that is the one part I can't work out! Ah! Ok, well please keep me updated as to what you find out, I would really appreciate it! Take care, and good luck!