Doctor thought I was pregnant again

[DinoEggz]

I gained 2st during pregnancy, all on my tummy which was enormous. After giving birth I was devastated by how stretched and loose my previously flat tummy was. Three days after giving birth the midwife came out for a checkup and even she said omg that won’t go back to normal.

I’ve cried over it for 18 months. I’ve had low self esteem and refused to wear any makeup or any clothes except leggings and baggy tshirt. I’m now back to my pre-pregnancy weight and decided I need to pull myself together. My tummy still isn’t flat but I’m continuing to lose more weight and exercise.

I bought a new maxi dress that skimmed over my tummy, did my hair and makeup and felt nice for once. Went out for the day to go shopping and attend a hospital appointment. The doctor said “oh you’re pregnant, I can’t give you this medication”. She thought I was several months pregnant because I have stick thin arms and legs with a huge tummy. When I said I wasn’t pregnant she requested a urine test before she’d prescribe the medication, because she was so sure I must be pregnant.

I cried all the way home. I thought I looked nice but when I had a good look in the mirror I did look pregnant. Today I’m back in my baggy tshirt and leggings with no makeup on. I just feel utterly destroyed.

Even if you did look pregnant, it doesn't mean you didn't look lovely or that you shouldn't feel good about your progress (physically and mentally).

also the doctor was rude, there was no need to presume. If pregnancy would have been a big problem, he should ask/test every woman regardless of sh ape in case of unknown early pregnancy.

The doctor presumed because it was so obvious that my tummy was disproportionately huge. She was so sure I was pregnant, she thought I must be wrong when I said no I’m not. Sorry but I can’t see how it’s lovely to have a big tummy and look pregnant when you’re not.

Do you have diastisis recti? I've had big babies, 10 and 11lbs plus two 'average' 8 and 9lb ones. My stomach muscles are split and I look pregnant too. It might be worth seeing if this is what you have. You can get physio and in extreme cases surgery.

Yes I do have diastasis recti. My GP said I have approx 1-2cm gap but that’s just to be expected after pregnancy and it isn’t bad enough to warrant a physio referral, I just have to live with it like most women do. I also had a CS which hasn’t helped with the shape of my tummy. But the main problem is the grotesque stretching that makes my tummy hang down like an apron. I’ve lost weight but it’s just made the apron saggier.

I just don’t know what to do. My stomach is wrinkled and horrible, there’s no way for me to look normal again. The more weight I lose the worse it looks. I can’t stop crying 😭

I have severe diastasis recti, around ten fingers in width, and I totally get where you're coming from.

I've seen two physiotherapists in regard to it and the second was so astonished at the state of my stomach that she stated surgery was required.

I've also seen two consultants in my local health trust who both stated that there was absolutely "nothing they could do" about it. The second actually told me I should do sit ups and crunches which is an absolute no no with diastasis recti!

There is of course a tummy tuck which would fix the stomach muscles but is classed as cosmetic surgery so unavailable on the NHS (for me anyway). Is there any way you could possibly look into that at all OP?

I had a 10cm diastasis recti and mines closed to 2cm now. I hired a personal trainer who had worked with diastasis before. It was expensive and hard work but losing weight won’t make it better, you have to build muscle first else you end up with saggier skin. I used to train 3x a week (one2one at first then in the circuit but he used to alter my circuit so they were safe for me to do) I still have slight sagging and Im no way skinny (11 1/2st) but I’ve lost the pregnancy look so happy with where I am