Swimwear for diastasis recti

[Sarah62]

Really need help hiding my big tummy at the swimming pool this summer. My children are desperate to go to the pool but I’m really self conscious about taking them.

Is there any brand of swimwear that would be good to hold in my tummy (diastasis recti with split stomach muscles). I’ve got a nice cover up top thing for walking to the pool but I’m looking for something for when I’m actually swimming as ‘swimming’ with a toddler usually means standing in the splash pad a lot of the time so my body will be out of the water most of the time :(

Should say I’m a size 10/12 and also quite pear shaped :(

Thanks!

Took months and I just had to keep checking I was doing it regularly as it’s really easy to relax. So every time I bent down or picked something up or stood checking my phone etc I just took a moment to check I was pulling my belly button back to my spine so my core was strong. Now I’ve got so used to the feeling that I am doing it most of the time anyway. Absolutely no ab exercises though or anything that strains them apart you are trying to pull the back and in all the time so that however you move you keep your core strong and nothing can bulge through the gap. Even sitting down or standing from sitting. It is possible though, good luck

And I’d had it for several years after my 3rd child before I realised it wasn’t ‘just’ a mum tum and there was a name for it.

Wow, well done!

Another with split stomach muscles! Just want to say thank you for all the helpful comments on this thread. I had my second baby in February last year, just before all the madness kicked off...my 6 week check was done by phone and despite my midwife saying I would need help with repairing the split muscles when I was pregnant (DD basically laid sideways and turned my stomach in to a square!) the GP didn’t want to see me. I need to go back really and be more assertive but at the time I was so scared to leave the house and risk infecting my tiny baby and it just kind of never got resolved. Makes you wonder how many others have done the same...

I might do as a Pp has done and try some personal trainer sessions. Am also sat here sucking my belly button back towards my spine 😆

I’m same as you OP, size 10 but got the mum tum and worry someone will think I’m pregnant. I think it’s more noticeable when the rest of you is slim, it looks more like a pregnancy bump! 😩 my favourite swimsuit was a two piece, bay watch style, it’s bright red and the top zips all the way up, almost like a swimming style gilet?! It seems to hold me in quite well and I don’t feel like a total mum in it lol.

@Sarah62 My trainer was a gymnast in a previous life, but does rehabilitation now as well as general personal training. I booked in to see him as part of my weight loss, but I mentioned my stomach and he asked a few questions and then he said "we can fix that". I was pretty shocked as I thought it was something that I'd just have to live with.

We started slow, he showed me how to do a proper sit up, not needing to go up all the way. We focused on the core and my back, as he said that the back need to be strong to support the front recovery.

It's hard to explain, but most of my exercises focus on "fixing" my position on the floor. If you tie a resistance band onto a chair logout it across the floor and lie on it so it is at the small of your back, pull it tight, then tilt your pelvis so that your back traps the band, that's the position I do most of my exercises in.
I started this with small sit ups, legs bent and position "fixed", keeping the band tight and trapped.

I don't count reps either, as he said that's the quickest way to loose motivation, I use a tabata timer app and focus on good technique instead.

I owe him everything, he has changed my life. I'm more confident, loosing weight and I can suck in my tummy so that under gym tights it looks semi flat!

Yesterday I went to a tabata class and was able to roll onto my back from sitting and back up to a sitting position with my arms above my head. 6 weeks ago, I couldn't play football with my kids because it was so uncomfortable.

If you want to PM me I can try and find a way of showing you my exercises.

Good luck! You've got this!

Lay it out across the floor not logout, stupid autocorrect

That swimming tunic looks great.

I had diastasis recti and got exercises via the midwife.
What helped me was my dh would remind me every night to do my exercises before getting into bed.
I was quite irritated with dh at the time (being tired with a newborn and all) but I'm thankful now as it did the trick.
Walking is good too as it strengthens your abdominal muscles and helps tone pelvic floor muscles.
There are lots of exercises on Google. It really requires some dedicated exercise to fix though.

I second the ruched fronted ones. They disguise a multitude of sins.

I bought one from Boden recently which has ruching across the tummy and really slims that area

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/talamanca-swimsuit-black/sty-s0041-blk?cat=C2_S2

Hi again OP
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so unconfident, and I hope you find a swimsuit which will make you feel more comfortable about it. I agree the ruched front swimsuits could be a good bet.

But I think the anticipation of 'what will happen' is worse than the reality. It's very unlikely anyone will make any comment at all to you.
In practical terms, you should be able to wrap a towel round you until a few seconds before getting into the pool. Once you are in the water no one can see what shape you are. And every time you go, you'll get more comfortable with it. Good luck!

Thanks everyone, it’s reassuring to know it’s not just me, I guess everyone has their own struggles. Good to hear that some have been able to fix this too that gives me hope

I know it's been a month since you posted, but incase this helps, here are some exercises. Definitely worth a referral to physio. You may, depending on your area, be able to self refer.