To worry the gap will never close?

[throwcushions]

(Mainly posting here for traffic)

Feeling really rubbish about diastasis recti. 4 months post partum and DR seems as bad if not worse as when I was 6 weeks post partum even though I've been careful and done all the exercises. Anyone recovered from this? How long did it take?

Anyone? I can't be the only one!

4 years down the road and I still have a 5 finger gap. Nothing short of surgery is going to fix it.

I got a personal trainer and went to the gym to weight train. It's getting there. You need someone who knows their stuff, went with him for a while until I was happy with the exercises to do at home everyday (easy but specifically for DR) and weights whenever I get chance to go to the gym. Mine is open 24 hours so no excuses!
I was expecting to feel embarrassed and humongous but lots of variety of bodies at gyms so don't be put off!!

It's totally common and can be closed. 4 months is barely anything. It can take a long time to close (follow Mumhood on Instagram to see the owner, Joan's journey with it) but with the right exercise you definitely can.

There are exercises which may help and a good physio may be able to advise you. from looking online, it is a common enough problem. The other advice after the exercises and physio are.."If your diastasis is severe, and you don't plan to get pregnant again, surgery may be an option, especially if you've done all you can with physical therapy but are still struggling with a weak core."

Mine didn't really close between pregnancies (4 pregnancies in 4 years).

It did close by the time my youngest was at nursery, don't panic.

Have you looked at the Tupler method?

diastasisrehab.com

Too many generic ab workouts widen the gap, Tupler avoids this.

I'm using an exercise program designed by the physio department at the local hospital and waiting for a referral. Pleased to hear others have managed to close it after multiple pregnancies because I do plan to get pregnant again fingers crossed and wasn't sure if it would be irreversible if I didn't close it in between. Will keep doing the exercises. Just wish it would improve even a little bit as right now they seem a bit of a waste of time!

Figrolls - were the exercises along the line of pelvic tilts, single leg fall out, straightening legs one at a time etc?

Will check out Tupler method too. Thanks for the link. Considering seeing a private physio trainer as the hospital is at crisis point, very busy maternity unit and this must be pretty low on the list of priorities compared to c section recoveries etc

I always recommend Mutu, it helped after my previous pregnancy. Am now 4w postpartum again and the gap is 2.5 fingers so I’m starting Mutu again. They just updated the videos/exercises and looks even better!

I have one.

They don’t close. You need surgery if you want it closed. I would google image that so you know what you’d be letting yourself in for. It’s not for the faint hearted and you would end up with an enormous scar.

JustVent, how big is yours? Did it improve at all postnatally? Mine is 2 or 3 fingers I think. Hard to tell and GP said she didn't know what she was looking for and just referred me but that's what 2 separate fitness instructors have said too.

I think mine is a 1-2 inched I’ve never had it diagnosed, I’ve not bothered it’s so obvious what it is and I know fixing it isn’t a simple thing.

I think I even remembered what it happened. I was doing a front stroke in the pool when I was 8 months pregnant (I have huge babies and huge bumps) and I felt a searing pain over my abdomen in the centre. I think that’s when the damage was done.

My core strength is terrible because of it and I have lower back problems and pain in my back when I sleep (I need a firm mattress!) so I’ve started doing stuff in the gym to strengthen it. It hasn’t joined together - it won’t - but there is definitely a difference in my tone and that can only help.

And no it didn’t improve post natal. My youngest is 6.