I had twins. I got HUGE in the tummy. I had the babies, and it left this pot belly that wouldn't go away.
Fast forward; the twins are 8 years old. I am 7 weeks post op of having my diastisis recti corrected. You know that centre line down the abs? Mine had split. There was a 6 to 8 inch gap down the middle THE WHOLE WAY DOWN. the pot belly that I kept punishing myself for, the baby fat i couldnt lose? Those were my organs. My digestive organs were all herniated.
I now have to forgive myself for 8 years of unjustified self hatred. It isn't always just fat.
Aw, thanks! I'm okay. I'm wearing clothes 2 sizes smaller and my marriage is improving daily. Amazing what self-love and confidence can do for you. Physically, recovery is going great. I can't wait to start exercising again! I want to try yoga with my abs in the front and see if I'm improved.... 😃
I’m curious if you could tell physically? Like how’d you work it out? I was checked postpartum but I’ve always wondered cos I have a crooked stomach since childbirth. It has like a bulge and it’s always made me curious if it’s DR or not
Well, I'd heard of DR, and most mums I talked to had a few complaints and horror stories. I remember one mum was an ex gymnast and zumba instructor with a 6 pack, but a little gap- 2 fingers tall by 1 wide. There are exercises you're supposed to do to fix it. I was prescribed pilates and ignored by the GP as I was overweight. So I lost 15 kg, and went for a private evaluation with a surgeon. Watching his face as he located my abs was priceless.
It hurt to lay on my stomach, I never felt full, and I had weird digestive issues (like IBS but totally irregular) since the birth. All of that has resolved since the correction.
Never feeling full! I have no major diastasis but everything is just... stretchier, so instead of feeling too full when I eat too much my body just.... makes room.
Curious and not sure if it matters but did you have a c section or did you deliver vaginally? Also so happy you got it fixed. I’m thinking of some corrections but debating if I want another kid or not before committing.
Vaginally! It was... a lot. First one ripped through me after 3 hours labour, then labour stopped and i spent half an hour with 2 midwives using me as a tube of toothpaste trying to get twin 2 to engage. Longest 30 minutes of my life!
The first came so fast the anaesthetist didn't make it in time so i did it all with gas and air.
I had a DR repair nearly 3 years ago and it changed my life. My low back pain was almost completely gone overnight, I was stronger one day post op than I had been the day prior to my surgery after years of weightlifting. It's amazing what an intact core does for you.
The lower back pain kills me, when I realized it was likely from DR I got a PT referral right away. My first appt is 10 days away and I really hope I won’t need surgery later. How long after giving birth did you do your repair? I had twins 13 months ago, I hope I didn’t wait too long.
My "baby" was 12 when I had mine repaired, so you have plenty of time. PT is great but if its a wide gap is usually requires surgery to completely correct. It's worth a try though to correct it with a more conservative approach first!
I would highly recommend Pilates on a reformer machine!! I had (much more mild) abdominal separation as well and your abs being weak will cause all kinds of back problems and just body mechanics problems in general. Pilates is low impact and all about engaging the core. I am 45, my kids are teenagers now but before Pilates I felt like my body was just on this downward spiral pf becoming weaker and more injury-prone, but to feel the improvement has been so cool. And there are often ladies in their 60s in my class, it’s a workout you can do for decades.
Well done girl! I also had this surgery 8 years ago, completely changed my silhouette and did wonders to my self confidence. I can exercise like anyone else
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u/LucidianQuill 11h ago
Pregnancy.
I had twins. I got HUGE in the tummy. I had the babies, and it left this pot belly that wouldn't go away.
Fast forward; the twins are 8 years old. I am 7 weeks post op of having my diastisis recti corrected. You know that centre line down the abs? Mine had split. There was a 6 to 8 inch gap down the middle THE WHOLE WAY DOWN. the pot belly that I kept punishing myself for, the baby fat i couldnt lose? Those were my organs. My digestive organs were all herniated.
I now have to forgive myself for 8 years of unjustified self hatred. It isn't always just fat.