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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
I never heard of this until I got pregnant. Is it true that 70% of pregnant women have it after their pregnancy? I would love to know if there is something that makes women more susceptible to having it (other than having multiples).
I'm 14 weeks and have been continuing to do abs workouts during my barre classes according to what the teacher says I can do--my doctor told me to continue what I was doing pre-pregnancy. I started chatting with 2 women recently that worked out intensely during their pregnancy and had to have surgery to fix their diastasis recti while multiple women I know that didn't do a ton of working out didn't have diastasis recti at all. This could be a total coincidence but I'd love to hear from BTDT moms and even though my doctor and barre teachers say I can continue to do things, should I be?
Message edited 10/13/2015 10:47:53 AM.
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Posted 10/13/15 10:28 AM  |
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Hopefulmama
LIF Adult
Member since 4/14 1014 total posts
Name:
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
You never know. I had triplets and had a very mild one - like an inch or two. I did have a tummy tuck to remove loose skin but my plastic surgeon could not believe how well my abdominal wall held up. I will say though i do not think ab exercise will prevent it, in fact they say traditional crunches exacerbate it. I tend to think its luck of the draw!
Btw - "surgery to repair diastasis recti" equals plain old tummy tuck. It's what deviated septum is to nose job :) insurance will not cover it and it is not medically necessary. That said it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Good luck !
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| Posted 10/13/15 10:42 AM |
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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Posted by Hopefulmama
You never know. I had triplets and had a very mild one - like an inch or two. I did have a tummy tuck to remove loose skin but my plastic surgeon could not believe how well my abdominal wall held up. I will say though i do not think ab exercise will prevent it, in fact they say traditional crunches exacerbate it. I tend to think its luck of the draw!
Btw - "surgery to repair diastasis recti" equals plain old tummy tuck. It's what deviated septum is to nose job :) insurance will not cover it and it is not medically necessary. That said it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Good luck !
I probably wasn't clear above but as the people I know that continued to do a lot of exercise had it, I am nervous that my exercising will cause it! I am not finding much on line about crunches causing it but I just am coming to my own conclusion from the limited sample population I have.
Insurance doesn't cover it? The women that had the surgery said they couldn't work out/lift their children until they had the surgery so I would think think that would be medically necessary?
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| Posted 10/13/15 10:46 AM |
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Hopefulmama
LIF Adult
Member since 4/14 1014 total posts
Name:
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Ah, well I know a lot of triplet moms who have some pretty bad DRs and no one has ever gotten theirs covered. Sometimes you get an accompanying hernia and that will be covered but not the DR repair. People tend to be very dramatic about it but it's just the same thing that happens to almost every pregnant woman - your abs separate. I do PB too and they are incredibly knowledgeable about exercise in pregnancy so I wouldn't worry your exercise making it worse. I think it's after the fact, when the muscles are already separated, that crunches may make it worse.
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| Posted 10/13/15 10:53 AM |
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SummerMom
Now a mom of 2!
Member since 6/07 4970 total posts
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
I gave birth 8 weeks ago and I have it. From very early on in my pregnancy, if I was lying down and then used my ab muscles to help me sit up, my stomach actually formed a cone shape. It was so weird. You could fit 2 or 3 fingers between the two sides of my abs. My OBs didn't really know what to say about it, so I did some research on my own. There are definitely ab exercises you are supposed to avoid (and I didn't - I kept doing them until near the end of my 2nd trimester because I didn't know better). I don't want to give you the wrong information so I'll leave it at that.
They say that it's diastasis recti that gives you the "Mummy tummy."I was actually thinking of finding a physical therapist who specializes in this to help me get my abs back into shape. I'll never have a 6-pack, but I worry that my abs are always going to feel flabby now. Ugh. I don't trust the random trainers at my gym at all.
Message edited 10/13/2015 10:57:54 AM.
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| Posted 10/13/15 10:56 AM |
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
First - congrats!!!
Second, I had/have it. Mine wasn't so bad that I couldn't lift my kiddo or anything, I was able to get back into working out and worked with a PT post-pregnancy to do the types of exercises that help rather than hurt it. If you have it, for example, crunches can make it worse. I didn't need the surgery. My stomach isn't flat now, but it isn't too bad either. My core is definitely weak though. I also had abdominal surgery last year (unrelated) that set me back a bit. I know a few people that had it and none of them needed surgery. They all continue to work out moderately, though none of them are serious athletes.
My son was nearly nine pounds when born 3 weeks early, so I attribute it to that (completely a guess and not confirmed by any medical professional)
Message edited 10/13/2015 11:16:56 AM.
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| Posted 10/13/15 11:16 AM |
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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Posted by maybeababy2010
First - congrats!!!
Second, I had/have it. Mine wasn't so bad that I couldn't lift my kiddo or anything, I was able to get back into working out and worked with a PT post-pregnancy to do the types of exercises that help rather than hurt it. If you have it, for example, crunches can make it worse. I didn't need the surgery. My stomach isn't flat now, but it isn't too bad either. My core is definitely weak though. I also had abdominal surgery last year (unrelated) that set me back a bit. I know a few people that had it and none of them needed surgery. They all continue to work out moderately, though none of them are serious athletes.
My son was nearly nine pounds when born 3 weeks early, so I attribute it to that (completely a guess and not confirmed by any medical professional)
Thank you! I'm obviously not "out" on Facebook and not sure if I will reveal myself or not. 
Good to know other experiences and geez, you had a big baby--you are a small person! Not that your size necessarily dictates your baby's size. But good to know.
In response to the barre workouts, I actually don't think my teacher has ever worked with someone pregnant before. It's a new Pure Barre studio and the teacher I go to often is new to teaching. She says I can do normal crunches just with a ball behind my back and it just feels like I'm not supposed to be doing that, especially because I'm supposed to be rolling out of bed onto my side and not just sitting straight up! I can't imagine curling and straight back are going to be good for me either long term so I'm going to modify as I feel fit, regardless of what they say I can do.
Side note: Part of the reason I'm curious about how much my abs might set me back is because I'm planning to sign up for a long distance endurance event a few months after having a baby. I can always drop out if I'm not ready but it's something that DH and I want to do together. I guess we will have to play it by ear and see how I do after delivery!
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| Posted 10/14/15 11:37 AM |
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buttercup
St. Jude pray for us...
Member since 1/11 2951 total posts
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
I think your instructor is right about the crunches with a ball, those were some of the modifications that were recommended when I was looking for core exercises during pregnancy.
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| Posted 10/14/15 12:25 PM |
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Posted by racheK
Side note: Part of the reason I'm curious about how much my abs might set me back is because I'm planning to sign up for a long distance endurance event a few months after having a baby. I can always drop out if I'm not ready but it's something that DH and I want to do together. I guess we will have to play it by ear and see how I do after delivery!
First - I think the 70% stat includes mild cases. I could definitely feel the separation in my abs after baby, and running sucked for a while - as did everything else at first. I definitely felt weak, but within a few months it was much better. If it does happen, it's important to rebuild the right way, but cross that bridge when it comes.
How many months after baby is your event? I would say 18 weeks + is probably ideal, 4-5 months is when I felt really fit again. But I was on bed rest for 4 months, so you might get back sooner!
And side note, I'm a trainer and I've worked with a good number of pg women, as well as trained myself while pregnant - in theory modified crunches are ok, but there's no way I'd do them, or let a client do them on my watch after the first trimester.
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| Posted 10/14/15 2:26 PM |
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shyavon81
LIF Infant
Member since 4/11 146 total posts
Name:
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Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Do not bend!!! I'm a BTDT mom and just listen when they say don't bend ;)
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| Posted 10/14/15 10:13 PM |
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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Posted by shyavon81
Do not bend!!! I'm a BTDT mom and just listen when they say don't bend ;)
Don't bend what? Bend over?
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| Posted 10/15/15 9:04 AM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Side note: Part of the reason I'm curious about how much my abs might set me back is because I'm planning to sign up for a long distance endurance event a few months after having a baby. I can always drop out if I'm not ready but it's something that DH and I want to do together. I guess we will have to play it by ear and see how I do after delivery!
How long after birth?
I would honestly take it easy postpartum for at least 3 months. I ran until the day before I had my DS. After delivery, my doctor recommended that I not run for 3 months since my pelvic floor was weak. I followed their advice, but I still developed a grade 2 rectocele which now has limited my running. I start physical therapy for it in December.
Message edited 10/17/2015 6:34:28 AM.
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| Posted 10/17/15 6:33 AM |
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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Posted by PitterPatter11
Side note: Part of the reason I'm curious about how much my abs might set me back is because I'm planning to sign up for a long distance endurance event a few months after having a baby. I can always drop out if I'm not ready but it's something that DH and I want to do together. I guess we will have to play it by ear and see how I do after delivery!
How long after birth?
I would honestly take it easy postpartum for at least 3 months. I ran until the day before I had my DS. After delivery, my doctor recommended that I not run for 3 months since my pelvic floor was weak. I followed their advice, but I still developed a grade 2 rectocele which now has limited my running. I start physical therapy for it in December.
It would be 4 1/2 months after birth. My athlete friends say I'll be fine and my doctor thinks so as well, but it depends on how my birth goes. I think I'll play it by ear!
ETA: My doctor thinks a lot of it has to do with the size of the baby (not in my control) and how much I lean over on my abs (in my control). I lean forward resting on my elbows while cycling so I'm going to stop doing that pretty soon, the weight of the baby apparently will add to splitting.
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| Posted 10/19/15 10:44 AM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Posted by racheK
It would be 4 1/2 months after birth. My athlete friends say I'll be fine and my doctor thinks so as well, but it depends on how my birth goes. I think I'll play it by ear!
ETA: My doctor thinks a lot of it has to do with the size of the baby (not in my control) and how much I lean over on my abs (in my control). I lean forward resting on my elbows while cycling so I'm going to stop doing that pretty soon, the weight of the baby apparently will add to splitting.
I'm not actually talking about an ab issue - I'm talking about prolapse, which affects 70% of women post delivery to some extent. Pre-baby I would run 45 miles a week (easily) with no issue. I can run a 20 minute 5K. While I was pregnant, I would run 20-30 miles a week - even at 39 weeks pregnant.
My advice would be to take it easy post delivery. At 4 months post partum, your pelvic floor will still be weak - I don't care how many kegels you do. Any exercise that is high impact can cause unneeded stress to your pelvic floor. The issue itself is caused during delivery. I had what appeared to be an easy delivery of a 8lb 4 oz baby. My issue did not present itself until 9 months post partum when I started to run more frequently. Mine is apparently not a big issue, but it has definitely affected me.
Message edited 10/19/2015 12:11:54 PM.
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| Posted 10/19/15 12:11 PM |
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racheK
Hudson's Momma
Member since 10/10 2853 total posts
Name:
Rachel
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Re: Can we talk Diastasis Recti (probably BTDT moms)?
Posted by PitterPatter11
Posted by racheK
It would be 4 1/2 months after birth. My athlete friends say I'll be fine and my doctor thinks so as well, but it depends on how my birth goes. I think I'll play it by ear!
ETA: My doctor thinks a lot of it has to do with the size of the baby (not in my control) and how much I lean over on my abs (in my control). I lean forward resting on my elbows while cycling so I'm going to stop doing that pretty soon, the weight of the baby apparently will add to splitting.
I'm not actually talking about an ab issue - I'm talking about prolapse, which affects 70% of women post delivery to some extent. Pre-baby I would run 45 miles a week (easily) with no issue. I can run a 20 minute 5K. While I was pregnant, I would run 20-30 miles a week - even at 39 weeks pregnant.
My advice would be to take it easy post delivery. At 4 months post partum, your pelvic floor will still be weak - I don't care how many kegels you do. Any exercise that is high impact can cause unneeded stress to your pelvic floor. The issue itself is caused during delivery. I had what appeared to be an easy delivery of a 8lb 4 oz baby. My issue did not present itself until 9 months post partum when I started to run more frequently. Mine is apparently not a big issue, but it has definitely affected me.
Got it! I will definitely have to see how it goes. A lot of my friends/coach had no issues and were able to race again within 6 months but obviously each pregnancy and recovery is different. I already paid for my event so it's a sunk cost anyways (signed up before I knew I was pregnant) so will just have to play it by ear. I know it's possible I can do it but also possible I can't--either way, I won't be too upset if I have to pass.
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| Posted 10/19/15 2:27 PM |
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