Following on from the muffin thread, how do you close up your abdominal separation ready to start sit ups?!!!

[Flllightattendant]

I love sit ups, they are one exercise I can understand how to do, but my abs are still separated now ds is 7 months old.

Does anyone know a way to close them up quick? I can't understand books or leaflets, I just need a simple talk-through if anyone has a minute.

You don't know how grateful I will be!!

...I was told not to start sit ups till they are closed iyswim?

I don't think you can close them quickly and I know you can do far more damage if doing things like sit ups whilst they are still open and bulging!

Oh dear...well not bulging exactly, it is almost flat but I do have a bulging navel which is what I want to work on.

I had a 7cm separation after DS3 was born. I have been given exercises to do by physio and gap has now closed to around 3cm. However, DS3 is now 15 weeks old, so it's by no means a quick solution! Physio says I mustn't do sit ups yet because everything will just get pushed out through the gap and I won't achieve anything.

I have two different types of exercise to do:

1. sitting on a chair with straight back, tighten pelvic floor muscles and, whilst holding them, start slowly to tighten stomach muscles, below belly button only (imagine you're doing up a belt) and hold for slow count of ten. 2 sets of 10 a day.

1. On all fours, relax stomach so it all hangs out (lovely sight!), then, as you breathe out, pull stomach muscles in, again below belly button only, and hold for slow count of 10. 2 sets of 10 a day.

Boring, but it does seem to be working - I had a hernia until a few weeks ago, but that's disappeared now....

yuk monkeybear

doesn't the sight of your stomach hanging down make you lose the will to live?

Monkeybear, that is well brilliant

Thanks so much! Yes I think I have a slight hernia. It's only a few cm separation but it bothers me a lot, as you can push the bellybutton in and then it just comes out again!
That sounds like really good progress, and easier than I thought - boring is manageable as long as I know what I'm doing. you made it really clear, thanks a lot

Morningpaper, is that said with an air of empathy? If not, go away!!!!