I have a spearated abdomen, also called 'Diastasis Recti'

[honeydew]

After giving birth to my third child a year ago, I have a post partum condtion known as 'Diastasis Recti' which means my abdomen has separated due to pressure on it from my uterus. I have had large babies in quick sucession. I have had 1 vaginal birth and 2 sections (1 emergency) I have to have major surgery next year as my body will not heal anymore by itself. My abdomnen needs stitching back together, my umbilical hernia popped back in and I get a free tummy tuck thrown in! I still look 4 months pregnant, have to wear large flowing tops or maternity clothes and am often in pain.It's not easy when you have three children of four and under to care for! My surgeon says he sees cases like mine every other week. Is there anyone else who suffers from this debilitating problem and what have been your experiences?

I wish I had some help for you...

I had my last baby just over a year ago... Was an elective section (although I would say it was more of an emergency as I had an anterior Major Placenta Praevia) anyway....
I have spoken to my doctor about my muscles in my tummy for I too have this great big gap. I only have to stand up to see it. I was told I needed to lose weight (im only a size 14) I could do with losing a stone or so but im no way huge... The middle part of my stomach looks like it 7 months pregnant... I hate this. I was told by my GP also that it will never be the same again as that what babies do??!! I've also seen him sooo many times about SPD (I had this from 11 weeks of pregnancy and still suffer with it now). My GP also just prescribed me with codeine and said there is nothing they can do about that either. I did go and get a second opinion on the SPD and I'm on the waiting list for physio.

Anyway after reading everyones experiences on here I think I will go back to my GP and ask about some physio or surgery on my tummy. I think mine is 5 fingers apart. (thats if im doing it right???
Its not right that we have to suffer with this... Gugubuya I hope you get it sorted... 2 years is such a long time. I thought I was bad with 1 year!!!

Thank you so much Mummyfor3 for your reply, it really answered all my questions I've decided to wait a bit longer before aproaching my GP as I think looking after my boys during the operation recovery period would be pretty much impossible! I have tried lying on my stomach and it was fine! It gave me a bit of backache but I'm used to that.

Not sure if anyone knows the answer to this but would bodyboarding with a DR be a really stupid thing to do?! I normally go surfing quite a bit in the Summer/Autumn but have decided that popping up from lying down to standing on the board would be way too much for my stomach to cope with but I can't bear the thought of just sitting on the beach...

Hi Cazzaben and All,

I have read all of the posts here again on Diastasis Recti and am feeling confused whether my prob is also Diastasis Recti or extremely weak stomach muscles... or perhaps both...-?

When I measure myself for DR, I can fit about 1 and a half fingers in... Whether this is in fact a gap or not that is big enough to cause my protruding belly; I guess I should just think that it is so and follow the exercises for fixing DR first and then focus on strengthening my overall stomach muscles starting with and prioritising the transverse.

Cazzaben, Julie Tupler, author of "Lose Your Mummy Tummy" says DR can still be fixed with the Tupler exercises several years post childbirth... I shall get her book & DVD and follow both that and Helene Byrne's "Exercise After Pregnancy, How to Look & Feel Your Best" and hope for the best...

Hi all and my deepest sympathy..its good to find you as I also have been extremely sad about looking 6 months pregnant since my youngest is a year old now.

I went to my GP today and after an examination of my stomach he has referred me to a physio. I will keep you updated on what happens next.

Just an update... I went to see my GP and he has refered me for surgery. I have an appt on 2nd June with the surgeon. He told me that I have a gap of 6 fingers? I didnt realise it was quite so big or that it can get that big!!! Is he talking right or does he have no idea what he's talking about. I honestly thought he would send me away. Funny too that he looked at my notes and can see that since I've had my son I have been complaining of constant back apin he told me Diastasis Recti can cause back pain as the spine is taking a lot of the pressure my muscles should be. I've also been getting pain just under my breastbone that I can only describe as being like gallstone pain (I've had that removed thank goodness!!)
but does anyone else know if pain is normal??
I just didnt know if all this sounds right or if my GP is palming me off to stop me moaning about my back to him???

Sorry if it doesn't make sense!??!?!

Hi Cazzaben,

Nope the Dr knows what he is talking about, and quite right that he has referred you to the surgeon. Well l a finally have a date for the surgery...mid june. I am excited and also a little nervous...but more excited. I shall keep you all posted of how the surgery went. I have just been trying to take some pictures of my tummy, so l can compare the before and after !! It is not a pretty site..believe me...l now look full 9 mths preggers!!! I have been reading up on the surgery, and they say to get the maximum effect of the abdominoplasty, it is wise to be as close to your ideal weight as possible. Unless l can lose a stone and a half ( which is all on my stomach!!), l am hoping i can see the difference, hey l am not saying that they will transform me into the waistline of Angelina Jolie, but l guess it will be a marked improvement. Please all say a little pray for me.

hi hugetum,

good luck with your surgery, I'm on the waiting list and have still put it off even though I too look 9 months pregnant.

I have to have the full works too- hernia repair, muscle stitching and abdominoplasty.

Are you have your surgery in London? Mine is a Guys, so if yours is in the area, please let me know. My tum is terrible too, sooo uncomfortable at times and I have to wear maternity clothes, I've no choice. I do have an abdomen corset which I wear when I go out to help my confidence although I can only wear it for a few hours.

Are you a slim woman too? I was size 6-8 kind of 23 inch waist before kids at 32, and had 3 children in 3 years at 8 and 1/2 lbs, 10lbs and 9lbs and basically bust my guts!!

please keep my in touch with your progress. I started this thread as I felt so alone with this disfiguring condition which is so little known about.

I'm due my surgery later this year if I can face it!

If you would like some support,then please let me know and I'll mail you my details. You should see my tummmy! I'm a size 12 now but look about 6 months gone. Organising childcare if he biggest nightmare I think, so if you need to chat, let me know.

Hey Honeydew hope u are well , my op is in a couple of days, l can't wait...the only reservation l have is that lhope l wake up from the anaesthetic!!!. No joking aside, JUST GET IT DONE, don't wait around thinking whether you should or not. Ask yourself this, do you want to walk around for the rest of your life looking like this...probably not. I am constantly in a bad mood, snapping away at family members, it's because l am sick to death of dragging this excess weight around and not being able to enjoy wearing nice clothes. Today l took some photo's of my tum...you know the before and after pictures. I showed the photos of my current tum to a group of my very close friends and their mouths had dropped and they were speechless and they said " well yes thats quite a stomach you have there. I have looked at every internet photo concerning abdominoplasty the before pictures and you know what, l have the worst stomach EVER...it is huge!!! l am a size 10/12 waist, very slim all over except the stomach. I would not wish this condition on my worst enemy. Ok l know l will not look like Angelina Jolie after the op, but it will be a damn site improvement to what it is now. Make sure you are done with having your family, otherwise there is no point it will rip open again. I am in Berkshire, l will be in touch after the op. I know the first 10 days are going to be tough..to straighten up. When l had the c- section last year, the surgeons told me they had put 2 stitches inside to hold the muscles together, and that was a sheer killer, it took me a few days to straigen up. I don't drink, but l will probably be reaching for the whisky to dim the pain!!!!!!.

I'm looking for friendship/support with any women out there who suffer with pain with their diastasis recti muscles after birth. My pain began immediately after the birth of my daughter 4 years ago and 3 years down the line discovered an epigastric hernia after various medical errors and being fobbed off my GP. I had surgery 9 months ago and surgeon repaired hernia and also brought together my stomach muscles however I still have pain when I am active. Can be anything from housework to walking too fast. Very debilitating and very hard to cope with 2 small children and work etc. I do pilates type exercises every day as given by a physio but still no improvement to the pain. Has anyone had their recti muscles repaired and taken a long time to recover? I'm wondering if my muscles will ever regain strength. Any advice from anyone else suffering similar would be much appreciated. I feel a complete freak at the hospital now - even the physio says she has not come across this problem for this long before.

I am in the same boat as all of you - big DR, lovely hernia bump on the left side of my stomach. I am going back to work in two weeks and DREADING the raised eyebrows. I work in London so the worst thing is people offering me a seat on the tube

However I am going to have NHS surgery - at the end of next week. Tbh I am not absolutely sure what it involved. Surgeon just said 'yes we can fix that' and I leapt at it, he could have been suggesting anything.

Combination of major surgery, imminent return to work and massive post-surgery childcare issue (I have three under six) is freaking me out right now. But on the other hand I loathe my deformed stomach and feel like a freak so here goes. I just hope it doesn't hurt too much!

Hugetum I also am in Berkshire. Reading - where are you?

Hello Everyone yes she's back it's Hugetum ...well not big tum anymore. I had the surgery last friday and l have just returned home. Well what can l say...it was remarkable but l was walking straight upright the day after the surgery. I thought l would be stooped for the first few days. The pain has been moderate...unless l have a high pain threshhold. I hated the after effects of the drugs...they made me really nauseated...that was about the worse of it. Ok the down side of it is now that l am at home...it is daunting with the child care..l am not meant to lift my 11 month old...but when u are alone that is impossible. I am wearing a binder which is meant to be my best friend for the next six weeks. I still have not had a full shower yet because l just had the second drain taken out today...so l have not dared look in the mirror. All l can say is that the bump has gone and l am happy so far with my figure. I have noticed that most of my stomach is still pretty numb but they say the feeling will eventually return...could take months. Right now l did enjoyed having the endless sleepless naps in the hospital..l got to the point l was persuading the surgeons to let me stay on a bit longer. However l was told that l was more likely to catch an infection at the hospitalif l stayed there. I just want peace and quiet and just everyone to leave me alone..l am feeling discomfort. Oh by the way it took me 6 days to get my bowels in order... the relief was heaven!!!! I am feeling really tired will keep u updated. All l can say is that anyone contemplating surgery...do so..it is well worth it

Hi hugetum (not any more)

I'm so glad you've made it through the surgery and think it was worth it.

btw did it feel a little weird to go through all that surgery and not then be presented with a newborn baby at the end??? I've never ever been in hospital apart from for my 3 c-sections and I'm quite excited about the idea of post-op recovery in hosp WITHOUT trying to breastfeed a newborn at the same time!

Anyway it's great that it went well and you're pleased with the results - and that it didn't hurt as much as you thought it might. (Good news for those of us who are also about to go for it!)

Can I just ask - do you know why you had a tummy tuck as well as the DR and hernia repaired? The surgeon I saw (who took about 2 secs to explain what he would be doing and I just nodded dazedly) simply said he would repair the H and the DR and didn't mention tummy tucks so I'm assuming I don't need one/am not getting one but I don't know quite know what the reasoning is.

My op is next Friday.

hi Hugetum,

you are sooo brave and giving me the strength to go through with it. You sound exactly like me- size 10-12, huge huge diastasis and in constant discomfort.

Where did you have it done? I've had my date through today -3rd August at Guys by a very good plastic surgeon. is my D Day and the only ting I fear is not waking up from the anaesthetic.

How do you feel? Having had one emergency and one planned section and one natural birth, I know what C- Section s are like. How does it compare?

Congratualtions on not being hugetum anymore- this is really helping me face the op. I have had three DC in 3 years and if I was ever pregnant again, I cut my right arm off because I've suffered so much with this condition. It sounds like you were in and out sooner than you thought? How is the childcare going? Thanks so much for getting back on the thread and keep us all posted.

patriciawentworthheroine- good luck with you op. You should have the tummy tuck really if you ahve the DR and hernia. That's what they offered me, so it should be the same for you as well. Let us all know how things progress

to hugetum, patricia and anyone else who has had or is contemplating surgery fairly soon in and around the London/South East area.

If, when we have all had our surgery and recovered enough by say September when the kids go back to school, perhaps we could all meet up for a drink/coffee somewhere fairly convenient to all of us.

I have never met anyone else who's suffered this dreadful condition and I would love the opportunity to to discuss and share our experiences; how we have all coped with the Diastasis Recti/hernia while looking after babies and children, the disfigurement,pain, operation, etc.

I've got a 5 year old, 3 and 2 year old and it has been a nightmare trying to cope with this condition for the last 18 months while looking after them and running a home. (and 4 cats!). People always talk about the challenges of raising babies/young children, but with this condition as well, it has made the struggle doubly hard and I have no one to relate to, except those on this thread who've suffered like myself.

I met a lady today who asked me if I was pregnant. How many people have asked me that?! It's soooo bloody annoying! Well, I'm more determined than ever now to go through with the op, it's just the overwhelming fear I have to control.

Please let me know if any of you would like to meet later in the year for ongoing support, sharing experiences etc.

Perhaps central London would be a good place to meet.

Hi everyone

I love the idea of all meeting up - imagine us in a busy cafe comparing our tummies!

Although I live in London, I will be back at work in London soon, so a central London meet-up would be a goer.

Not looking forward to my colleagues all thinking I'm already pg AGAIN.

I read someone on another messageboard somewhere who says when it happens to her, she looks the questioner straight in the eye and says 'No it's just fat left over from the last one' and the questioner backs away, totally embarrassed. It might almost be worth trying despite the cost to one's own self-esteem.

btw have changed my sign-off from patriciawentworthheroine, which was a bit of a mouthful. (It's now Dorinda Brown who is, in case you are wondering, a heroine of a Patricia Wentworth novel.)

Hi DorindaBrown and Honeydew

The recovery was or has been fine, except for the other evening, l sneezed suddenly and caught it suddenly clutching my stomach,it hurt but l thought nothing of it. The next day l woke up and had the most excruciating pain ever in my life ( worst than contractions!!!). I was due to go to have my dressingins changed that day and l told them but they just said l may have caught the sneeze just under my ribs...especially as l was sitting on the floor. It is much better now. Anyway had the dressing removed and just wearing the binder 24/7. Saw my tummy for the first time, at first l thought l had two belly buttons, but the nurse said that at some point in a few months l will just have minor surgery under local anaesthetic just to put a "dart in the skin..near the ribs to close up any loose skin. She said it was a bit like sewing, when you have to put a dart in to tighten a garment. I am not too worried, it still looks good. I don't want to delude anyone, but please don't be alarmed if you find some parts of your stomach numb, especially below the bikini lie, its perfectly normal and can take months to heal.
As far as l know when you have DR repaired, it means they tighten the muscles and remove the excess skin. My procedure was called abdominal reconstruction, apparantly abdominoplasty is not available on the NHS,l think my op involved a bit more than the usual abdominoplasty. If and when we do meet up, maybe we can bring our "before " pictures of our tums. You will probably be shocked when you see mine, thats why l am more than content with what l have now, because prior to the op it was a shocking sight. Good luck with your op of friday Dorinda and don't worry have faith in god that you return safely to your family. I was in hospital for days and made most of the rest and would have done everything in my power to stay a bit longer!!! I live in windsor, l have had my mum over for nearly 3 weeks, she has been doing all the cooking and has been much help. She is old so l don't expect her to do the cleaning. However she is going back this week. I cannot drive for at least 6 weeks. The school runs are a problem, but l have some good friends who have been helping me, the rest my hubby manages.

I meant to say 6 days in hosp

Dorindabrown

I have been thinking about you, l hope the operation went well.

Just a few thoughts l thought l would share, l think it is quite important to share information on what effect majory surgery can have on your general and emotional well being. If anyone experiences what l am feeling please don't despair, you are not ALONE and that these symptons are quite normal. I did jump the gun abit too fast...the actual recovery of the actual op is going well, BUT the feeling of nausea never left me when l left the hospital. I developed a cough...which irritated the stomach (pulling on the muscles), with production of gallons and gallons og "congestion". The dr prescribed me a cough medicine, to relieve the pain on the stomach. I continuously kept getting feeling of nausea and on a few occasions vomiting. I hardly ate anything, cracker the most, returned back to the dr, because l was getting hot and cold sweats and just broke down. Turns out l had a secondary infection..chest infection..quite common after surgery. I am on antibiotics...when l can keep them down, but the nausea feeling still lingers. Then there is the dark side...has anyone who has had the op..had any sort of "feeling really down" maybe cos l felt so ill. All the thoughts of whether the op was worth it...esp how sick l was feeling. My hubby has been supportive, l think it's because l am not eating much and all the tablets taken on an empty stomach does have an effect.

It is no walk in the park this surgery, but it is worth it. When you have flu like symptoms and feel absolutely crap..u can't help but cry. I know i will come through this...just a matter of time. The wound is healing nicely..and in time the surgeons will remedy the minor imperfections known as "dog ears", performed under a local anaesthetic to tie up any imperfections in the skin. I am quite happy popping my pain killers but someone please take away this feeling of nausea, it really makes you feel absolutely crap ( plse excuse my language)

Hi hugetum (and others)

Sorry you're feeling bad, hugetum. You're right - operations are no joke. Your experience sounds similar to mine - came out of my operation on Friday with agonizing pain. It was meant to be day surgery but they kept me in overnight. I was sent home on Friday but ended up going back into hospital (via A&E) the same night as I felt so terrible. I was there for two nights before I finally came home.

Like you I've been throwing up loads - reaction to the general anaesthetic I guess. They gave me an anti-emetic drug in the hosp which helped. I also had agonizing cramps in my tummy, which are now gone thanks to a stronger painkiller - stronger than codeine and paracetamol, that is, which is what I tried to manage with when I left hosp.

I feel okay now, physically - well a little tired and uncomfortable but that's it. But for me, the big downer has been the lack of actual change in my appearance.

Thing 1) the surgeon said that I had misunderstood the initial consultation and they would not operate on the DR. In fact, he said that he never does and indeed NO ONE does. It's impossible to operate on, according to him. I was - well, I would say gutted but perhaps not on this occasion. So that means I am STUCK with the diastasis recti forever, unless I choose to go private.

Thing 2) they operated on the hernia and said it was a success but frankly my stomach looks exactly the same as before, ie hideous. I realise I have to wait a while for the swelling to go down, it's only been a week, but I am not very hopeful. I did not expect the stomach of Pamela Anderson, but I did expect to see a change and I just can't.

I will post back if it starts to look better, but right now, my advice to people awaiting ops is that i hope you DO get the DR operation if it was promised to you, and make sure you get something better than paracetamol and codeine for the pain.

hope you feel better soon hugetum.

Forgot to say - due to the non-existent DR element of my op, I am back to thinking about the Julie Tupler book and anything else that may work on my separated tummy muscles.

Does anyone have a positive 'yes it worked' recommendation for the Tupler book - or anything else for that matter?

Hi Dorindabrown,

I am so glad you are ok but really disappoined why they had not performed the DR, really confused. I would go back to your dr and try again. I was on stronger pain killers than what you are on, which were causing me severe nausea, went back to the dr yesterday who advised me to come off the painkillers and try paracetomal, l feel a little better today. Will spk soon.

Hi Dorindabrown

I've been watching this thread for a bit as I also have/had DR and a hernia. Just wanted to say that I'm so gutted for you to have gone through major surgery to not get your DR repaired, that is just SO bad

I have a kind of "yes it worked" story for you though. I started doing exercises recommended to me by a physio 10 months ago and my DR has reduced from 6 fingers to 1 in that time. I still have a protruding stomach though (I'm thinking that the exercises I did closed the diastasis but didn't strengthen the rest of my stomach much so will go back to the physio and get some new exercises sometime). Having said that my stomach protrudes a lot less now and infact I have lost 11cm off my waist since last September, this doesn't sound that much but if you put a tape measure round your waist then let it out 11cm it's quite a difference. It also means that if I wear a slightly baggy top I don't look pregnant at all! I'm still wearing trousers that are bigger than the rest of me (so they're always slipping down ) but not maternity trousers anymore!

Also there is someone on MN who has had success with the Julie Tupler technique called kitstwins, check out this link www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=childbirth&threadid=754497-HELP-WRONG-Pilates-Exercises-Worsened -My-Abdominal-Separation#15411326

I definitely think (well know) that exercises can at least improve a DR. If you or anyone else would like to know the exercises I did please contact me and I'll send them to you

Sorry didn't do the link properly...
-My-Abdominal-Separation#15411326

Hi everyone!
I've been watching this thread recently and would like to say well done to Hugetum (not anymore) for going through with the op. You've really given me some hope.
I have 4 boys aged 15, 3, 2 and 8 months. My first birth was an emergency c-section followed by 3 natural births all 16 months apart, hence my diastasis recti. I was referred to a consultant at my local hospital in April and after discussions told that I would be eligible for abdominal surgery. Although I would not say I am overly overweight( I am 5'3" and 10 stone 8) I have been told to lose a stone in time for my next appointment in October whereupon I will be given a date for surgery. From initial talks I understand my op will be the one that involves a vertical incision and some sort of mesh used to pull my ab muscles back in place.
Some of you have mentioned the Tupler technique being really good and I have been wondering if it would be worth me doing some of these exercises before the op to help lose weight? Hugetum, did you do any sort of physical activity before you had your op, have to lose weight etc?...
THANKS

HI Soneliz

I was 10st 6lb and tried to do the atkins diet in 3wks!, but then l changed my mind because it was drastic and l was having major surgery and did not want to hinder my recovery. you have plenty of time to lose wait, so sensible eating and exercise is the key. Don't go for these fad diets coz you will put the weight back on. I am 5ft 1and a half and l just had all the weight on my tummy. After the op l was 10st and l am now evenly proportioned. When l am fully recovered, l will try to lose another stone so that i am my ideal pre pregnancy weight. I feel so much better since l came off the pain killers which were causing me nausea. The only problem l am experiencing is that the surgeons squeezed everything that was hanging out back into my new stomach (all the intestines),there is alot of presssure down below and sometimes l feel something will pop out down below!!! but l will do my pelvic floor exercises. Good look with the surgery it is worth it, p.s did you say you had hernia as well?? and why will you be having a vertical cut????

Notsohugetum