Sit ups and c-section

jlsmith4439
jlsmith4439 Posts: 53 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
This be mostly a question for the ladies on here . I had a c -section 3 years ago and of course haven’t build up any muscle since then because I’m lazy . So now I started on sit ups and I’m in agony .
25 reps I was sore for 4 days..
Tried again I managed to do 5 before my lower half started to be in agony .

Not sure if this is a gp matter of basically me having no muscles . Anyone had similar experiences ? Does it get better ones I build up my muscles ?

Replies

  • ExistingFish
    ExistingFish Posts: 1,259 Member
    I had a c-section 5 years ago (and two more pregnancies, both vaginal deliveries) since. I honestly haven't done a sit up but I've done lots of planks and other core exercises and my abs have definitely been sore. Maybe try some different things besides sit ups? I haven't done a single one. I've done planks, side planks, bird dogs, planks with cable rows and planks with pull downs, cable wood chops, planks with feet on a ball....the list goes on. None have given me specific c-section area pain.

    https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/want-a-stronger-core-skip-the-sit-ups
  • julie_broadhead
    julie_broadhead Posts: 347 Member
    I wouldn’t recommend sit ups either. I’d start with something geared towards diastasis recti (separation of the abdominals) just to introduce some gentle movement and get you core working again. Here is one that I like:
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EXm5UcVXuEU
    There is another post pregnancy video by the ladies at The Bump Room that you can do after this one.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KzbvjewY-iE
    After you can do that video without any pain, progress to planks, dead bugs, and toe taps.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VVMJDt_DwTs
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=klQ2RSalzRU
    Best wishes to you!
  • jlsmith4439
    jlsmith4439 Posts: 53 Member
    Wow I think it’s time to re-educate myself with basic stuff . Thank you everyone for all the help and tips !
    I’m gonna try those now and toss the sit up idea 😂 ( clearly that’s not the way to go )
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I haven't had a c section and I don't do sit ups!
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    Situps and crunches.are bad for your lower back and are absolutely unnecessary if you feel the need to do isolated exercises to strengthen your core.

    I prefer compound lifts or exercises for this purpose (things like squats,deadlights and rowing) but, if you must, exercises like hanging leg raises would be much better.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    edited July 2018
    I had a long incision from my belly button down to my pelvic bone. So the opposite direction than a C-section. My abs show even at a higher body fat % like in my profile pic (17-19%) as a nearly 49 year old male.

    The lower abs never returned exactly where they were pre surgeries. Pretty similar to what most c-section females experience

    For what it's worth, I don't do any ab exercises but maybe 3-4 times a year and just do squats & deadlifts.
  • VUA21
    VUA21 Posts: 2,072 Member
    I had a C-section as well, and am about to have lower abdominal surgery soon (tummy-tuck due to losing ~180lbs and the skin only partially shrinking back). I don't do situps. I do different abdominal exercises (figure 8's, plank crawls, russian twists, etc) that work out my abs but don't bother my old scar.

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