Diastasis recti and future pregnancies

[Anonymous]

After 2 pregnancies, I was told I had diastasis recti and loose skin by a plastic surgeon and recommended a tummy tuck. But I don't think mine is that noticeable over clothes so I'm going to pass on the tummy tuck. If I had a 3rd pregnancy, would it permanently worsen my diastasis recti? Or could things stay the same?

[Anonymous]

See a pelvic floor PT. DR of some degree is very typical after pregnancy and birth. How big is your gap? I closed my DR after both pregnancies with pelvic floor PT and core work. I was about 2-3 fingers wide each time. There are online videos that show you how to self assess this. It takes time and work, but you don’t need surgery in most cases to close it. And you wouldn’t do the surgery until you were done having kids even if you did need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See a pelvic floor PT. DR of some degree is very typical after pregnancy and birth. How big is your gap? I closed my DR after both pregnancies with pelvic floor PT and core work. I was about 2-3 fingers wide each time. There are online videos that show you how to self assess this. It takes time and work, but you don’t need surgery in most cases to close it. And you wouldn’t do the surgery until you were done having kids even if you did need it.

OP here. The doctor said 4 cm. I'm leaning towards being done with kids now in part because I don't want to worsen my DR and loose skin.

[Anonymous]

I went for a consult for a TT for similar reasons a few years ago and I did it and I would urge you to reconsider OP.

I went through with it mostly for aesthetic reasons, as I had also lost about 50 pounds and had had three pregnancies so really had a lot of loose skin.

But the real benefit was the one I didn't even anticipate. The reconstruction of my abdominal wall gave me back core strength that I didn't even realize I had lost. It was like a frog in a pot, between the pregnancies and the births and the recoveries etc I didn't even realize I had lost so much functional strength. I was perpetually frustrated doing core workouts that no matter how hard I worked I could never really execute the harder movements.

Post TT I have less back pain, my whole trunk just feels way more stable. And while it is certainly not the reason to do it, all those core exercises I struggled with are suddenly achievable so I have really concrete proof that my core has been dramatically strengthened.

Honestly this has been such a positive impact on me that I continually tell people I'm kind of shocked that this evaluation/repair isn't somewhat standard for postpartum women.

To answer your actual question every pregnancy will worsen that DR, yes. But no matter how big it is it truly is worth getting it repaired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went for a consult for a TT for similar reasons a few years ago and I did it and I would urge you to reconsider OP.

I went through with it mostly for aesthetic reasons, as I had also lost about 50 pounds and had had three pregnancies so really had a lot of loose skin.

But the real benefit was the one I didn't even anticipate. The reconstruction of my abdominal wall gave me back core strength that I didn't even realize I had lost. It was like a frog in a pot, between the pregnancies and the births and the recoveries etc I didn't even realize I had lost so much functional strength. I was perpetually frustrated doing core workouts that no matter how hard I worked I could never really execute the harder movements.

Post TT I have less back pain, my whole trunk just feels way more stable. And while it is certainly not the reason to do it, all those core exercises I struggled with are suddenly achievable so I have really concrete proof that my core has been dramatically strengthened.

Honestly this has been such a positive impact on me that I continually tell people I'm kind of shocked that this evaluation/repair isn't somewhat standard for postpartum women.

To answer your actual question every pregnancy will worsen that DR, yes. But no matter how big it is it truly is worth getting it repaired.

OP again. I actually went to the consult for a different reason, so I was shocked and dismayed to be told that I needed a tummy tuck with full muscle repair. At the most, I had thought some skin removal was all I needed. Unfortunately, the TT recovery sounds so brutal to me that I would rather avoid having more kids than go through that.

[Anonymous]

Are you on instagram? Check out @getmomstrong - her account is all about healing and getting stronger post partum (which is forever, not just a year).

You can heal your core without a tummy tuck (in most cases, although there's no shame in a TT either), and you can regain core strength without it too (again, in most cases).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went for a consult for a TT for similar reasons a few years ago and I did it and I would urge you to reconsider OP.

I went through with it mostly for aesthetic reasons, as I had also lost about 50 pounds and had had three pregnancies so really had a lot of loose skin.

But the real benefit was the one I didn't even anticipate. The reconstruction of my abdominal wall gave me back core strength that I didn't even realize I had lost. It was like a frog in a pot, between the pregnancies and the births and the recoveries etc I didn't even realize I had lost so much functional strength. I was perpetually frustrated doing core workouts that no matter how hard I worked I could never really execute the harder movements.

Post TT I have less back pain, my whole trunk just feels way more stable. And while it is certainly not the reason to do it, all those core exercises I struggled with are suddenly achievable so I have really concrete proof that my core has been dramatically strengthened.

Honestly this has been such a positive impact on me that I continually tell people I'm kind of shocked that this evaluation/repair isn't somewhat standard for postpartum women.

To answer your actual question every pregnancy will worsen that DR, yes. But no matter how big it is it truly is worth getting it repaired.

OP again. I actually went to the consult for a different reason, so I was shocked and dismayed to be told that I needed a tummy tuck with full muscle repair. At the most, I had thought some skin removal was all I needed. Unfortunately, the TT recovery sounds so brutal to me that I would rather avoid having more kids than go through that.

Yeah I am just saying even without the damage of a subsequent pregnancy I think you would get more out of the repair than you think. The recovery was difficult but IMO manageable. I tried all the ways pp's are talking about to repair my core before and in fact my DR had gotten smaller but the difference between what I could do on my own and what a surgical repair felt like was night and day. Just my experience.

[Anonymous]

My friend got a TT and could barely eat for months and even still - it is so tight for her (which looks yes aesthetically pleasing I suppose) that she can barely keep food down. There’s no shame in a TT, but it’s not something to be so blaze about. Everyone recovers differently and some not fully at all.

[Anonymous]

OP before you decide you need surgery, do pelvic floor PT. You can close a gap of this size and regain core strength with specific exercises. Surgery should always be a last resort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend got a TT and could barely eat for months and even still - it is so tight for her (which looks yes aesthetically pleasing I suppose) that she can barely keep food down. There’s no shame in a TT, but it’s not something to be so blaze about. Everyone recovers differently and some not fully at all.

I'm not trying to be dismissive, I know some people have pretty serious complications. I also know that most people have pretty straightforward recoveries and it basically changed my life in an incredibly positive direction in ways that had absolutely nothing to do with aesthetics and in ways that I believe will help me with premature aging (keeping me more active and strong for a longer time, not aesthetically).

[Anonymous]

I had 3 csections (2 13 months apart) and DR quite bad after my third. I though about a TT but the thought of another abdominal surgery recovery made me reconsider. I didn't want to take the time off from teaching/practicing yoga.

With a lot of consistent core work, ab work, yoga, classical pilates and barre classes I was able to repair the DR and get my 6 pac back. It's taken a couple years but I don't have any regrets.

[Anonymous]

Pelvic floor PT can absolutely help you close a DR gap. Mine was 3 fingers wide and I closed it completely after both pregnancies with PT. My pelvic floor is another story but seriously, try PT first before going to surgery. You may be really surprised how much you can close or eliminate your gap with focused core work from a PT.

[Anonymous]

NO. I had a 4+ finger DR above and below my belly button and crippling back pain. I consulted a plastic surgeon and left in tears. He told me I looked terrible, had no core function, and that it was irrecoverable without surgery. I saw a regular surgeon instead who repaired the belly button hernia and with TVA and hypotensive exercises closed the DR to 1 finger above and 2 fingers below my belly button. I have a strong functional core and no more back pain.

An honest doctor will tell you to avoid surgery if possible.