Still Can't Do Abs 6 months PP

[antixboxwife]

Hi guys,

I had my second C section in Oct (17 months after 1st C section). I've always been fit and healthy, regular gym goer etc. After my first baby I had no problem doing ab exercises a couple of months after my section. This time around after one set of any ab exercise I get a massive cramp on my right side, have to stand up, stretch it out for a good 5 min before it goes away.

I know it hasn't been too long since I've had my baby but I never experienced anything like this the first time around. Any tips? Should I see a dr, or is this just the way things are now lol.

Thanks!!

Don't rush it. Every surgery is different because this time round you might have a built up of scar tissue and whenever you do abs, you are tearing or pushing it.
I had two surgeries (one abdominal and one leg) three weeks apart last year and it took me a lot more to get back to the gym. I was so fed up I want to a physio who taught me to forget all the crazy abs I was doing before, and start from the beginning as if I was a 96 year old.
Just lie on you back, with your legs bended, the start position for crunches and just lift a foot, then the other, while keeping head and shoulder on floor. Then do the cat and move up to the superman while on your four.

You really need to start from the extremely basic. Surgery causes a spike in inflammation. Add to it scar tissue which will probably get caught when the uterus retracted so you need to go slowly. Rushing anything will mean you will actually take a lot longer to heal.

Look up for senior abs on the net or adapted abs after accident. It is not easy to go basic when you come from athlete to nil, but it will come back. Personally it took me 10 months. Yet I sometimes still feel it.

I’m a qualified post natal Pilates instructor.
What ab exercises are you doing?
You do need to be very careful. Have you been checked for abdominal separation? If you have this and are doing crunches/planks/sit ups you will make it worse. I’d recommend seeing a physio.