seperated abs from pregnancy???

CuteMommy88

I have heard that when you are pregnant your abs get seperated, so I am just wondering what this means and how can you tell if your abs are seperated. My daughter is almost 16 months old so i am just wondering if my abs could still be seperated, I mean I know my stomach definately doesnt look like it did before I was pregnant, but im not sure if that is because the abs are still seperated or if my stomach is just fat now LOL---If the abs are seperated is there anything I can do besides ab work to make them go back together?

sabrinafaith

your abs go back to almost normal within 2 months usually. almost normal- bc your body will never be the same again, but your abs aren't separated. if there is any reason you think they might be, then you should go to an orthopedist for an x-ray.

GooBeGone

i believe that abs separation comes in2 play if u've had a c-section. i've heard it mention but only for ppl that have had that procedure is at risk.

MindyF68

Hey there here is some info that might help you out.

Here is how to check for diastasis recti (or separation of your main abdominal muscle). First, lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Slowly raise your head and shoulders off the floor, tightening your abdominal muscles. Keeping the muscles tight, put your index and middle fingers on your belly just below your belly button and press in slightly. You should feel a soft gap between hard muscle on either side as you move your fingers side to side (if you still have some baby weight to lose, you may need to press in deeper with your fingers to get to the muscle). If you can move your fingers side to side more than two fingers' width, then you have a separation or diastasis recti.

To help the muscle come back together, try the following exercises:

1. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your hands on your abdomen with your fingertips pointing down toward your pubic bone. Exhale as you slowly lift your head (and shoulders, if you can) while pressing down and in with your fingers - that will urge the rectus back together.

2. Take a long towel and wrap it around your torso with the ends in front. As you perform a crunch, pull the ends of the towel towards each other in front of your belly button, which will also urge the muscle back together.

3. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. As you exhale, slowly extend one leg along the floor, feeling your abdomen contract below your belly button. Inhale as you return to the starting position. Repeat with the other leg.

Recheck the separation every week. If you don't notice any improvement after 4-6 weeks, consider speaking with your caregiver to get a referral to a physical therapist specializing in postpartum issues.

Good luck!

Mindy

entropybaby

My mom has seperated abs...but she's had 5 kids! So now when she does sit-ups, you can see the muscles on either side contracting, but its kind of like a little balloon area in the middle, or a ridge with no muscle. From a daughter's perspective, I think its amazing she looks so great after raising 5 kids, and who cares? Her kids are her life and her remarkably stretch-mark free tummy with the bump is a badge of honor Congrats on being a mom!

hotmooglelove

Diastasis Recti huh? There's one I never learned in my sci-ill classes, thanks for the info!

iamhealingmyself

I had this happen after my second. You can tell when you get into crunch position. Lie on your back with knees bent like you're doing sit ups or crunches. Normally, your central core ab muscle will be one strong band. If' it splits, when you lift your head you will feel two distinct muscles down the center of your body instead of one. Another way is if you lay totally flat, and place your fingers just below your belly button, and press inward towards your spine, if your fingers go down it could be split. If your muscle is still one band, you should not be able to push inward like you're dividing it. Your doctor could confirm on your next visit if you still can't tell.

There is no pain associated with it, but it will be a little harder for you to maintain your core strength and if you're really working your abs, you won't have that one strong muscle. They will never "go back together" but will continue to act as two separate muscles depending on the severity of the split. Mine was pretty deep and is quite obvious in crunch pose. Otherwise it's not a problem and not very obvious but due to other physical problems I'm not actively working my abs so they're not exactly defined. And my "baby" just turned 14 last September.

iamhealingmyself

your abs go back to almost normal within 2 months usually. almost normal- bc your body will never be the same again, but your abs aren't separated. if there is any reason you think they might be, then you should go to an orthopedist for an x-ray.

xrays don't show muscles only bones and your GYN or regular doctor can tell you if your muscles are split.

iamhealingmyself

i believe that abs separation comes in2 play if u've had a c-section. i've heard it mention but only for ppl that have had that procedure is at risk.

I had natural deliveries for all 3 of mine so it's not just a c-section thing but that's another problem because they are cutting through the muscle across the grain (from hip to hip). The splitting happens with the grain of the muscle from your head towards your feet.

Dencrossgirl

Bump

Bri_and_Oli_Mum

I had my son 19 months ago and after my pregnancy with him my AB muscles separated to the width of all 4 of my fingers. I have been doing planks and planks with different leg movements etc and my muscles are now less than 1 finger with apart.