Abs after childbirth?

mrspatchon
mrspatchon Posts: 6
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all!

New here, and I'm getting ready to start my weight loss journey. I was wondering what I should know about exercising and toning my abs after childbirth. I'm 20 months post partum, and my stomach muscles were demolished. My son was huge. I have read so much conflicting info on the Internet about what someone should and shouldn't do after giving birth because of the muscle separation. Any Momma's out there with any advic or words of wisdom?

TIA. xoxo

Replies

  • qtiekiki
    qtiekiki Posts: 1,490 Member
    Do you know if you have diastasis recti?

    Go to this link and do the test to find out: http://mutusystem.com/diastasis-recti-test-what-works-and-what-to-avoid.html

    If you have it, then you should be able to google for some exercises.

    I don't know if I ever had it, but I also didn't work out until last September when my youngest was 18 months.

    ETA: Diastasis recti just means the division of the rectus muscles. Everyone's muscles separate, but it's a concern for moms when the muscles didn't go back. So my first question isn't exactly correct.

    So if you don't have a large gap, you can just exercise regularly.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    <
    i gave birth to 6 babies.
    Cardio made me really soft and never gave me the results i wanted. What made a big difference is strenght training.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I know nothing of that condition. However you don't have to do specific ab targeting moves to tighten your ab muscles. I rarely do any. I lift heavy including squats and deadlifts. This compound moves work the abs pretty efficiently.
  • mocha1975
    mocha1975 Posts: 44
    I know nothing of that condition. However you don't have to do specific ab targeting moves to tighten your ab muscles. I rarely do any. I lift heavy including squats and deadlifts. This compound moves work the abs pretty efficiently.

    ^^^^this!!!.....I have 3 children. 2 normal births and 1 horrific emergency C-section. It can be done!! I would check that you havn't suffered from muscle separation as any ab exercises can have a negative impact :)
  • levi0823
    levi0823 Posts: 12
    This is the one thing I haven't tried yet....

    ETA: Heavy lifting I mean.
  • nellie_88
    nellie_88 Posts: 256 Member

    Cardio made me really soft and never gave me the results i wanted. What made a big difference is strenght training.

    Strength training makes a big difference! I have 2 kiddos and i've been doing a lot of strength mixed with 2-3 30 minutes sessions of cardio a week.
  • betsygw
    betsygw Posts: 43 Member
    I would love to know the answer to this!!!! I had two c-sections (one emergency) and multiple abdominal surgeries and my stomach is a MESS!!!! I have that terrible flap that hangs over my bikini scar. I have several scars throughout my abdomen. Around each of my scars (mostly the bikini scar) I have loose skin and flaps of fat pockets......I do strength training, pilates, cardio, and ab crunch faithfully, and my stomach still looks terrible! Any advice is welcome! I know....tmi:)
  • _Christine_
    _Christine_ Posts: 1,385 Member
    I had twins, went full term, 54" waist at delivery. I'll be checking out the website now. ;)

    (Oh and 2 c-sections.) :(
  • missym357
    missym357 Posts: 210 Member
    My first child was 9lbs3oz and separated my ab muscles. I then had abdominal surgery when he was 3 months old that required the same cut as a c-section cut. I had a relatively flat stomach though, but a cavernous valley between my rectus abdominal muscles- not to mention a herniated umbilicus. I had a tummy tuck to repair the muscle and herniation when my kids were 10 and 7. At the place I was at, it was the only option. There were no exercises that would have brought those muscles back together.

    Do you know if your muscles are separated or not? I would figure out if they are and what degree of separation you have and work on strengthening your transverse abdominus muscles. My understanding is that crunches can make the separation worse, so be careful.
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