Hellobee Boards

I did two rounds of pelvic floor PT as well as PT for my knee and for an ankle injury. All of it has been immensely helpful in a lot of ways. Mine jump started me into getting back into an exercise routine and encouraged me to take care of myself which was really helpful. I think you will be glad you did it even if it doesn’t give you the outcome you are hoping for.

Wear comfortable athletic clothes like shorts and a t shirt - they may need to access your hips or back and leggings are unhelpful.

I had mine evaluated at 17 months PP, and it was pretty mild. From what I understand from talking to the PT is that, sometimes the exercises don't repair the DR, but they strengthen all the other muscles to help hold everything in, if that makes sense? But she warned me it wasn't going to just close back up. I've been doing an "ab rehab" class with this particular PT and I don't notice the gap as much, but I can feel it if I check around. It has been worth it though because my whole core and pelvic floor feels stronger.

@bhbee: The first week was hard, thank goodness for the meds! You will need someone to stay with you, can't drive for at least 2 weeks - maybe more. No lifting for 4-6 weeks. Bent over for a week or two, had to sleep upright in bed for at least a week, the drains were annoying. But I tried to keep moving/walking around the house as much as possible which I think helped. Unfortunately I started having gall bladder attacks a couple weeks after surgery (had gall bladder surgery 5 weeks after TT surgery) so I was kind of mess for longer than I expected. I do have some residual things, like carbonation in soda causes bloating and if I get the stomach flu, I get severe diaphragm spasms after vomiting, but I can't say whether it was the TT or the gall bladder surgery that causes these things.

@Jess1483: Is the program that you completed RYC? I started that one but really need to get back to it!

@cascademom: I remember getting the green light to exercise at 6 werks, and was also told by my midwife I had DR. I went to a barre class and felt like my stomach was ripped up. I had so much abdominal pain for a good week after. I couldn’t really begin to work out until almost a year postpartum if I’m being honest

Check out “Restore Your Core” on FB, it’s the FB page for an exercise programme but Lauren (the instructor/ creator) posts lots of good resources so you don’t necessarily need to buy the programme. You could also check pregnancyexercise.co.nz on IG, lots of good resources and advice for healing DR!

@Amorini: I had a full one. I actually have vertical and horizontal scars, which I didn't expect but the DR and the umbilical hernia were bigger than expected. I'm 4+ years out so I don't remember everything but I know there was scar sensitivity for a while, I didn't wear anything tight on my stomach for several months afterward. I don't know if the exercises pre surgery helped or not. I don't think TT made me want to do more plastic surgery. Maybe if I had started off with something easy - but this was a major surgery with significant recovery. I liked that article that Cascademom posted, woman don't realize how hard or long recovery can be after birth and then they do exercises that make DR worse. I went to a surgeon for a surgery consult about fixing my umbilical hernia and he told me to do a crunch on the table and I refused - my PT and obgyn both told me to NEVER do a crunch/sit ups. He scoffed and said I was babying it and I should just do a bunch of crunches. I never went back to him.

@Jess1483: is this program specifically for DR?
@Amorini: thanks for this post, i have had 3 csections and after the 2nd one I noticed the"hole"in my belly never went away. Now after my 3rd its wise worse. I didnt even know there was a medical term for it

@Jess1483: thanks I found the program online for $37. I havent bought it yet because I found a bunch of good videos on instagram for closing the gap in abdominal wall and plan to try those first.

I find it really sad that I am on my 3rd csection and only just finding out about diastasis recti. After my 2nd birth a midwife specifically told me to do leglifts and other exercises that actially worsen DR. This should be something that doctors evaluate for at the 6 week appointment and offer referrals for!