Has anyone else's stomach muscles separated much more than usual following pregnancy ?

[Looby34]

Hi. I gave birth early hours Sunday morning. My son was 8 pounds 14 and I was 13 days overdue so had a huge bump. Did not help myself by carrying dd (2.4 yrs) right through my pregnancy and heaving myself up out of bed rather than rolling over.

I am told that my stomach muscles have separated far more than usual. In the physio class at hospital all the other women had roughly a 2 finger gap between their stomach muscles. I have a 5 finger gap and look like I have not yet delivered.

I have been given the usual exercises and told to go back in 3 weeks time for further physio exercises. If there is insufficient improvement in 3-6 months I need to be referred for surgery (not a tummy tuck I hasten to add !! That wold be great )

I would really appeciate hearing from anyone else who has experienced this or professionals who can tell me more about it. Have tried searching the web but all the info seems focussed at the medical profesion and is full of jargon...

Am bracing myself for comments from strangers about when my baby is due .

Thanks psychobabble. Was yours as bad as mine ? If so, I have hope !

Looby I had this after ds2 8 months ago. I looked awful and even when I lost weight I still had a really big belly, and also bad backache.

I have recently started pilates and after 4 sessions the results are absolutely dramatic. My boobs now stick out further than my stomach!! I would reccomend it to anyone.

Kezza - this is great advice. I shall look for a class in my area. I will check with the physio about when it is safe to start... I don't think my boobs will ever stick out further than my belly tho .

I am feeling more positive already, thanks..

I'd just like to second the pilates thing - it really does make a dramatic difference. My instructor says you shouldn't do any for at least 12 weeks though. My stomach muscles took an age to settle and it was only when I started this sort of exercise that there was any change. Definitely don't do any sit ups - I was told this has no benefit whatsoever. Good luck!

Mine have. Baby is now almost 3. I can't see them ever going back tbh.

I do know someone who had surgery for htis.

The problem is, if they don't go back together a reasonable amount, you can get some serious back problems.

sit ups and crunches are v bad for this. I am doing pilates, but looking at my mum and my sister don't hold out much hope. at least you had a physio point this out to you. Everyone asks me if I am pregnant all the time

I had this. It was called diastatis or something...

Anyway, turned out to be not such a big deal in the long run. My stomach did take a LONG time to go back down to normal though, but now two years later it's flatter than it was before I had even the first dc.. (only have two, but the separation happened with dc2).

THe exercises I was given to do were very subtle. YOu could do them watching tv. Literally pulling your stomach muscles in and holding them as your exhale (i think exhale....... if that's wrong... check that!)

PS, yes don't mind silly comments. I know my dc2 came a month early, but when he was about 3 wks old I went out to the shop and someone said to me, oh poor you, not long now ey!?!? I felt like the mean one when I said "actually, I had him 3 wks ago, I just still have a really huge tummy..."

OH yes, and breastfeed. I'm not a lactivist but in our shoes, it does help. I'm convinced of it, because I was prepared for the worst and my tummy is not an embarrassment to me. Although, I know if somebody had said this to me 2 yrs ago I would have thought, I don't want to wait TWO YEARS!

Cosima, you CAN have this repaired surgically.

Just go and tell them you're having back problems.

Don't panic. I was told my stomach was really distended and hadn't gone back as it should. After gradual gentle exercises, working up to gentle crunches etc and then a normal exercise programme from 2 months after the birth, it all went back. the muscles did anyway, there's no getting rid of the flobbly skin! But please don't worry so soon, with me it looked as if I was still pregnant and it just took time and all went back in!

My two children were 9lb6 and 9lb2 (by c section) and after the second I still looked pregnant for about 3 months afterwards. It really freaked me out. I still have a separation (about 2 fingers). I don't think it ever goes back. I think you need to give yourself time and when you can try pilates. I have been meaning to for some time and am going to look up classes. By the way I still have my line? 19 months after. Does anyone else still have theirs. Congrats. on your new baby and try not to worry.

Really - give pilates a try, I started about 6 weeks ago, DS is 2.6, it might just work for you too!

Am I too late to try as my son is nearly 3?

When I look down my tummy is like a m shape, so you can see how it isn't as it was used to be.

NAB I think you should give it a go, I'm amazed by the difference it's made to me. Pilates strengthens the core muscles, the natural girdle around your middle. I've noticed that I have more defined shape than I did - my waistline is starting to re appear! (no mean feat when you're an apple shape )

Okay. What do I need to do?

I did Pilates years ago when I was 18. (Half my life ago where's the time gone?)

I am really grateful for all your best wishes and advice. Thankd goodness the physio came round the ward asking if we wanted to go to her session, which runs every day.

Lots of nurses/midwives saw me before the physio and I asked them all about my tum and not feeling like I could stand up straight - most of them said it was wind !!! A Dr who saw me after the physio said it was quite rare to see it this bad so that is probably why none of the midwives picked up on it....

Someone at my mil's church said her daughter had the op and it was like a tummy tuck. Obviously I have heard this third hand so not sure whether this was said in jest...? If any of you know someone who has had the op, is this true ??

cosima - I hope you investigate this and something happens for you. I am expecting the same comments initially (to which I will respond sarcastically if I am with with my newborn !) but I can imagine it must get you down if there is no end to it

NAB- you could either find a class local to you, or perhaps start out with a DVD. I have to say though, I did my DVD once, and then it sat on the shelf gathering dust. Going to a class is good, especially if you can grab a friend to go along too - it helps with motivation.

Looby34, I hope you find something that works for you..

I too know someone who has just had surgery, after getting fobbed off time and again by HCPs, she eventually found a surgeon she trusts and had the op a few months back. It is even more MAJOR abdominal surgery than a CS, her bikini cut is much extended so that they could reach up and fix the muscles without leaving a nasty visible scar.

I would suggest that, if exercise makes no significant improvement, you INSIST in getting it dealt with sooner rather than later. But it's early days yet so hopefully exercise will help, once your body has recovered from childbirth. Do NOT be doing anything now!!