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Anyone who is a mom knows that getting your flat stomach back after childbirth is not easy, despite Hollywood's false sense of a speedy return to glamour and bikinis. But what if it won't come back?
Most women are lucky. Their stomachs gradually flatten over time and with a little work, they can eventually eradicate most of that pouch that seemed like it would never go away. Some of us are not so lucky. Our stomachs seem perpetually frozen in the 4-6 months pregnant zone. No matter how thin you are, how little you eat, or how much you exercise, it doesn't change. Too many women shrug it off as a fact of life--just something that happens to your body afer having a baby. Unfortunately, it can adversely affect your life, not just your wardrobe. That pouch at your front can come with pain in your back and even a hernia that requires surgery to repair, especially if you go through another pregnancy, which can further weaken your core muscles. Handling an infant or busy toddler while living with back pain can be difficult, both physically and emotionally.
This condition has a name and it has a medical diagnosis. And yes, you can get your flat stomach back. Diastasis recti, or abdominal separation, is a condition common among women who have given birth. During pregnancy or delivery the rectus abdomini muscle, better known as your "six pack," is separated into two halves along the linea nigra, or midline of your abdomen. Click here for Wikipedia's definition of "diastasis recti."
You can check for an abdominal diastasis yourself by doing a simple test. It can also be diagnosed by ultrasound. So once you figure out that you have a diastasis, how do you fix it? There are a couple of options available:
For those who have an unlimited checkbook and don't have the time or energy to invest, there is surgery. However, that has been proven medically unnecessary in most cases of diastasis that do not involve a hernia.
If you have limited funds and think you have the self-discipline required to work out at home, there are DVDs and books available that will lead you through the right exercises with excellent explanations of proper technique. Both Befitmom.com and DiastasisRehab.com are extremely knowledgeable and offer inexpensive home workout programs.
If you don't feel that you can maintain a home exercise program and you live in Orange County, California, then you do have another option. Irvine's Womanology, a unique business model combining physical therapy with Pilates, massage, and other integrative therapies, focuses on the well-being and health of women. "Integrate and Heal" is Womanology's mission statement and they work with women on a variety of issues from pelvic floor weakness to urinary incontinence. Diastasis closure and core strengthening are included in their long list of specialties. One-on-one sessions with their certified and knowledgeable instructors can give you the structure and support you need to regain control of your health, your life, and your stomach.
So, if you find that you do have an abdominal diastasis, don't despair. There are experts who can help you. A little hard work and focus can put you back in that bikini and feeling like a supermom before you know it.
For more info: See Denver Fitness Examiner's "The sad truth behind a post-baby belly" and Nashville Pilates Examiner's "Pilates for Injuries."
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