https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 14:10:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2867902 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:54:11 +0000 Mrsbells 2867902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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.</p> <p>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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2867610 Sat, 19 Jan 2019 21:25:55 +0000 Jess1483 2867610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: yes. And pelvic floor disfunction </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2867577 Sat, 19 Jan 2019 17:05:35 +0000 Mrsbells 2867577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: is this program specifically for DR?<br /> @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 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866329 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 21:32:05 +0000 Iced Tea 2866329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JMOM: OMG, that surgeon was such an asshat. Glad you got away from him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866308 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 16:59:56 +0000 JMOM 2866308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866300 Sun, 13 Jan 2019 14:51:54 +0000 maddyz 2866300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had vaginal births and my DR was not bad but very present. It took until my youngest was 2 and I had weened to feel like i was really ready to get back in shape. I started with very targeted deep gentle ab work and it felt like i was doing nothing for weeks, but it really worked. Now i am working out regularly and feeling really good about my body. I thought it would never happen. But it is just taking lots of concentrated work. But, I think i started from an easier place without scare tissue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866262 Sat, 12 Jan 2019 22:17:07 +0000 Kemma 2866262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866229 Sat, 12 Jan 2019 07:38:38 +0000 Amorini 2866229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That article that @cascademom: linked to is basically amazing and adds so much more understanding for me. The part about OBs not adding support is true for me. Basically 6 months and 1 year PP my (male) OB attributed “the shelf” and “the bulge” to my age. He had been greatly supportive during pregnancy to translate the AMA risks to me as an individual because of my healthy lifestyle, he didn’t think much of the hyper concern around AMA applied to me even though I did all the scans and NSTs as an added precaution. Basically he didn’t treat me like a geriatric perimenopausal woman until after I gave birth. He attributed the way I healed to my age and didn’t even check for DR. :bummed: More support would have been welcome.</p> <p>@dc yoga bee: It’s so interesting that you say that because I have just not felt ready until the last six months. I nursed until around 22 months and that was part of it. And the cs healing has just been so weird — I go through periods where that area feels fine and then it starts to suddenly feel on fire again. It strikes a bit of fear into me thinking of going into a class and not even knowing what I could do and potentially hurting myself. Still feel a little guilty that I’ve waited so long but I guess it’s good that I’m getting PT first. Life just got in the way and adding another a series of appts to my schedule just wasn’t possible this past fall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866224 Sat, 12 Jan 2019 06:01:39 +0000 dc yoga bee 2866224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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 :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866216 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:52:52 +0000 cascademom 2866216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine wrote this about her DR experience: <a href="https://www.5280.com/2019/01/what-i-wish-id-known-about-the-fourth-trimester/?fbclid=IwAR39vrUtJLbnAdSObdKf7NYDcpy5EgBrNWggbN6-CECCCCwBIcXGo3CjT2A" rel="nofollow">https://www.5280.com/2019/01/what-i-wish-id-known-about-the-fourth-trimester/?fbclid=IwAR39vrUtJLbnAdSObdKf7NYDcpy5EgBrNWggbN6-CECCCCwBIcXGo3CjT2A</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866213 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 21:59:24 +0000 Amorini 2866213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all of the thoughts, input and experiences. (Keep it coming if you’re still out there!) </p> <p>Turns out my scheduled appt is next week, so I’m seriously nervous that I even showed up to my appt early. :shocked: </p> <p>@Jess1483: Wow, “life changing” sounds pretty awesome. Hoping it has the same effect for me but sounds like there’s a range of experiences!</p> <p>@Ms.Mermaid: Yeah, PT had always been way more helpful than it seems like it’s going to be, so here’s hoping. Thanks for reminding me about wearing shorts! Forgot about that!</p> <p>@JMOM: Thanks so much for adding your experience. I would have never even thought I would be even talk about a TT, but life throws curve balls... I’m also interested in hearing more about your experience. Was it a full or mini? Do you get any pangs from scar tissue or nerve regrowth (I still do from my cs)? Did you feel like getting your core strong beforehand helped your recovery? Did it make you want to get other work done?</p> <p>@IRunForFun: Sounds like you’ve done some good work. Did you have concerns that you had an out-of-proportion tummy and now your good with your progress? Everyone’s baseline is so different and the mirror is no friend to me right now so I feel like my case is moderate-severe (and possibly three fingers wide if I self-checked correctly). I’ll know more at my appt!</p> <p>@dc yoga bee: Someone described DR as feeling “unzipped” and that’s totally how I feel. Just feel so little structure down there. Stay well and soon we can trade notes on healing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866174 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 15:02:51 +0000 Jess1483 2866174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dc yoga bee: @SLR: I used a program called “abs, core, and pelvic floor.” I think it was $30ish, but well worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866165 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 14:38:25 +0000 SLR 2866165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: Is the program that you completed RYC? I started that one but really need to get back to it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866159 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 14:18:32 +0000 dc yoga bee 2866159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: what’s the program??</p> <p>I have DR from my first, and am 32 weeks pregnant. I’ll be starting PT after my six week checkup. I hope you have some good results. I wish I could do something now while pregnant as it feels like I can stick my hand into my stomach! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866145 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:37:44 +0000 JMOM 2866145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866140 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:05:27 +0000 bhbee 2866140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JMOM: just curious, what was the recovery like on your tuck? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866132 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 11:15:33 +0000 IRunForFun 2866132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866128 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 11:07:26 +0000 JMOM 2866128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a pretty significant DR after my 2nd child. I will start off by saying that I have had a tummy tuck so my experiences may not be the info you are looking for. I did a round of PT which I felt did not help much. I also did 3-4 months of Tupler Technique exercises which I felt were more effective than PT. It didn't close my diastasis but I could tell a difference in my muscles, they were stronger and my waist measurements got smaller. I personally felt that PT was a great place for me to start because I learned a lot about how the muscles worked, etc. I ended up doing the tummy tuck because after months of exercises, the diastasis didn't change so I felt that was the next logical step, but it's not for everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866067 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:21:46 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2866067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> <p>Wear comfortable athletic clothes like shorts and a t shirt - they may need to access your hips or back and leggings are unhelpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866066 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:18:52 +0000 Jess1483 2866066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only did a program I found online, but it was totally life-changing. It fixed some incontinence, took inches off my belly, and even fixed some pain with sex problems I’d been having. My mom actually just had surgery a couple years ago to fix similar problems 30 years after her youngest was born. The exercises all seemed totally lame and silly, and I didn’t think anything was changing, and then (TMI) old blood starting coming out and all these other changes took place. I’m actually about to start the exercises again because, now that I’m 23 weeks pregnant, I can tell some of the issues are coming back. Good luck with PT! Hope this story helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/diastasis-recti-physical-therapy-stories#post-2866062 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:04:58 +0000 Amorini 2866062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tomorrow is my evaluation for DR with a physical therapist. LO is 2+ y.o. so I’ve waited a long time. I also had a cs and have a “shelf” which is made all the worse by the DR belly. This after having a very cute belly my whole life. Please no guilt or “hey, you had a baby!” because it’s not super helpful right now.</p> <p>Anyway I’m nervous and would love to hear other bees with stories about how much of their tummy they got back after PT. I just don’t know what my expectation is but I’m worried I’ll need a tummy tuck even after PT to look normal. I currently have petite shoulders, no boobs and this embarrassing bulging tummy so it would be a positive outcome to have natural curves. Hoping PT can get me there.</p> <p>I also have a host of other hip and pelvic floor issues that I’ll be working on...they were kind of troublesome before being pregnant, but became so much worse. I also understand that DR and hip/pelvic instability can be exacerbated by cs and that would add up for me.</p> <p>Anyway some hard-won but good DR or body recovery stories would help. Thanks bees! </p>