This is such a long & heartbreaking thread for me to read as the amount of bad advice that has been given to some of you is shocking (I mean by physios, doctors, etc not by the other MN'ers who have been really helpful & honest!

Many factors including diastasis determine your post baby tummy. Any combination of diastasis, hernia, prolapse, weakened core muscles (TVA, mutifidus, pelvic floor & diaphragm), dysfunctional pelvic floor due to individual birth expereince, unbalanced blood sugar causing disporportionate fat storage around the abdomen, excess fat, inappropriate or ineffective exercise prescription, even food intolerance... there are many factors at play.

A diastasis CAN be closed, even many years after your last baby. A generic fitness instructor or personal trainer, even some physios, simply won't have the specialist expertise... take a look here www.pregnancyfitnessinsurrey.com/mummy-tummy-masterclass.html and here nomorexcuses.wordpress.com/- I hope it helps!

Thanks for replying again Hugetum, I think you're right, oh well at least one day I'll look normal again!! Thank you so much for answering all my questions

Hi Kim111,

I am not sure, l think the surgeon would be best to advise you. I would just try to look after it the best you can. I am sure you can resume normal activities. It is like with any surgery..you would not put extra strain on that area. I am sure you will be ok.

Thanks for the reply Hugetum, at the moment I can only really walk and cycle, I don't even dare do weights in case the wrong movement opens up my stomach even more. I guess I was hoping that within a few months of surgery I'd magically be back to my pre-baby body! Do you think that after a year of healing then say a year of stomach strengthening everything would be back to normal or do you think the stomach area would always be a weak point?

Hi Kim11,

I am no expert, but l was advised not to use the treadmill until after 3 months, just listen to your body. As for tennis...that is really strenous, remember the nature of the action...you will be pulling on your oblique muscles on the side of your stomach, it could have a bearing on the muscles that run down your stomach. Try not to put a strain on your stomach...otherwise the stiches will come apart. It can take up to a year for healing to occur...before you contemplate building up strength in your stomach muscles. Apart from lifting up my 15mth son and general housework, anything else which involves involving heavy lifting ...my hubby can do it!!I have noticed that lm cannot run yet...you will feel a strain on your tummy..l just walk on the treadmill.

Hugetum, thank you so much for your reply, it has really put my mind at rest . I'm really glad your surgery went so well and am getting excited about the thought of some normal clothes myself now!! I have one more question though - how long before you can exercise properly? Not sit ups or anything like that but just say playing tennis or something?

Kim111

Hi, l had the full op in June both Hernia and DR. The only time there is a risk of it coming undone is if you became pregnant. I have been advised not to do any stomach exercises for at least a year, esp crunches thats a no no. Gentle walking/treadmill is ok. If you overeat day in day out over a long period of time...then it will affect your stomach....., l think occasional over indulgence happens. I have found that l try and not to eat carbs after 5pm...it has made a vast difference to my stomach..there is no bloatness.

I had revision surgery a fortnight ago, just to remove excess skin (dog ears) and tidy up the scars. I am happy with my look. It will never be perfect...washboard stomach...but hey considering what l looked like before the op...l am eternally grateful.

Yes l too had all my guts hanging out, and in the first week after the op l felt really strange and felt alot of pressure down below both front and back passage. I felt so scared to visit the loo in case something was pushed out. I was soo concerned that l went to see the Dr. She explained that as half of my overstretched stomach has been removed, it is natural for the body to take time to adjust, especially when the same guts had to be squeezed back into a much smaller stomach. I have to say after 3/4 weeks l don't feel the pressure anymore..it has settled down.

The last week or so..l have been hitting the shops...to buy nice clothes which are not maternity!!!!!...it felt really good. I carry a picture around with me of what l looked like before the op....l never feel down in the dumps anymore.

Good luck with the op

I'm thinking of having a DR repair operation hopefully next year if I can afford it and I have a couple of (slightly weird) questions for those of you who have had the full repair ie. muscles stitched together.

1) What happens if you eat a lot in one go eg Christmas dinner? Is it really painful? Can the repair come undone?!

2) After the operation are there any bladder/bowel issues? I had twins and was very surprised to have no bladder/pelvic floor problems but I'm wondering if that's because all my guts are sticking out at the front rather than being pushed down as they would be normally....

I would be really grateful if anyone could help me with these questions either on this thread or by messaging me. Thank you!!

I'm a specialist postnatal personal trainer & have just been blogging on this subject - there's a couple of posts here which might help? Blog Here(No sales pitch - just some free information from someone who has helped put lots of split tummies back together again )

hi there you said you have a tummy tuck thrown in i was just wondering how you got them to do that and what i should say to my doc to get the same because i have just been to the doc and been diagnosed with the same thing but the doc said they will do all the inside surgery but they wont do the snip of the skin which i would really like to get done as i was saving for a tuck but due to my problem cannot have it done now as ill be having simular on nhs and its not a good idea to have it done twice