Trainer for abdominal separation

[Anonymous]

So, I am 2 years postpartum after baby #2 and still look totally pregnant due to separation of my abdominal muscles. Can anyone recommend a trainer who is familiar with this condition? I think I need a coach to get me back on track physically.

It's not really a weight thing (I am a size 6), but a tone thing. Most trainers seem to know about strengthening the core, but many of those exercises (e.g. crunches) actually make the separation worse. I've tried just brushing off the comments, but after a few miscarriages it is starting to get a bit emotional for me to regularly be asked when the baby is due. Any suggestions welcome!

[Anonymous]

If you're talking about abdmoninal separation of the muscles (i.e. a hernia), I would recommend seeing a doctor to get it repaired. My sister had a very painful and very large hernia after 4 c/s and had it surgically fixed. The surgery recovery was similar to the recovery from a c/s but she isn't dealing with daily pain anymore.

[Anonymous]

OP here. It's not painful, it's not a hernia. It's diastasis recti--literally, the two sides of my abdomen don't knit together in the middle anymore (under the navel), so they bulge out like I am still 6 mos pregnant.

[Anonymous]

I have the same thing after one baby (I'm also a size 6) My doctors basically told me surgery is my only option to fully repair it. I have done exercise to make it smaller, but it hasn't gone away.

I'm just saving up for the tummy tuck after I have #2 and I'm done.

[Anonymous]

I saw the physical therapists at Body Dynamics in Arlington for this condition. They helped me improve things, but told me that 1.5 years postpartum, the muscles would never knit together again. I'm at 39 weeks with #2 and will exercise more aggressively post-birth this time, but also dream of plastic surgery.

An ab support belt designed for post-partum use would probably be a help, even at this late date. It's especially handy during exercise.

[Anonymous]

19:20 again. Rereading your post, I think that Body Dynamics really would be a good idea. One of the things they counseled me on was how to hold things in while doing ab exercises, so that I wouldn't make things worse.

You might also want to do a search on the beauty/fashion/fitness forum, where this has been addressed in the past.

[Anonymous]

Is there a particular surgery to correct the abdominal separation, or is it a tummy tuck ( not talking about hernia, just separation).

[Anonymous]

I also have this so would love a good recommendation.

[Anonymous]

The surgery to correct is a tummy tuck. No advice for you. I was also told a tummy tuck was the only thing that would work and got one. I am very happy but it's a painful procedure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw the physical therapists at Body Dynamics in Arlington for this condition. They helped me improve things, but told me that 1.5 years postpartum, the muscles would never knit together again. I'm at 39 weeks with #2 and will exercise more aggressively post-birth this time, but also dream of plastic surgery.

An ab support belt designed for post-partum use would probably be a help, even at this late date. It's especially handy during exercise.

Did they say that if you exercised in the right way more agressively soon after birth that it would fix it in a way that it couldn't be fixed by exercise later?

[Anonymous]

NP but 3 yrs post partum here: have diastasis recti AND abdominal hernia AND I'm 40 lbs overweight. Advice from anyone btdt? Lose weight first is my inclination but hard to tone without strengthening core but hard to do that w/ the abdominal issues. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for all the replies. I recently read an article in Redbook that was about tummy tucks. Here is the link:

http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/post-pregnancy-tummy-tuck?click=main_sr

The print version of the article had more pictures, including recovery shots of real women. They scared me.

Aside from the high cost, the recovery seems horrible--tubes draining from your abdomen, women unable to sit up straight for days (had to stay in a bent position), pain, etc. The whole thing scared me out of it, plus I am not into elective surgery. I've known of too many cases of life-threatening blood clots or anesthesia reactions which seems like too big a risk for me, personally, to take to be fair to my young kids and husband. So, it sounds like I can try exercise but that I may need to turn my attention to more flattering clothing style and make my peace with wearing shapewear sometimes.

[Anonymous]

new poster. I've had a full tummy tuck when my youngest was 3 and I was sure I wasn't having any more kids. the recovery is brutal (about 3 weeks of very limited mobility), but 5 years later, i have a flat tummy, although the surgery did not get rid of stretch marks. ( i also work out at least 45 minutes 4 times per week and am normal weight) and my only regret is that i potentially could have gotten other 'work' done at the same time. i have a faint scar that goes from hip to hip, but it is much better than the "deflated balloon" look that used to be there.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, your only option is surgery.

For core work, you are right, crunches can make it worse. You need to be doing planks, planks, planks, and more planks. If planks do not correct it, then you have to deal with it or go under the knife.

Planks can be started a week post-partum for a vaginal birth. THis is the BEST time to try to correct this problem. If you are a year out or more, this is permanant.

[Anonymous]

I could fit my fist between my rectus ambdominus muscles at least 1 year out. I noticed recently that I can now only fit 1 or 2 fingers. I think it's because of pilates, since that's the only consistent workout I had between then and now.