Diastasis Recti, I’m Taking You On!

Diastasis Recti would be a good band name wouldn’t it? Try saying it 3 times in a row really fast. Diastasis Recti, Diastasis Recti, Diastasis Recti. Phew! I discovered I had this condition at my well woman exam a couple of months ago, along with an umbilical hernia.

My birth doula, who I still keep in contact with regularly, told me about the Tupler Technique for closing a Diastasis Recti. Julie Tupler has made it her life’s work to educate people about Diastasis and how to close one. Apparently it is very common. If you are having trouble getting rid of your “mummy tummy” or you are someone who has done crunches and ab exercises for years but can’t get rid of your pooch, you might have a diastasis. Basically the outer abdominal muscles separate and don’t come back together causing your stomach and organs to be held together by the connective tissue instead of the muscles. It’s important to check your tummy for a diastasis, so you don’t inadvertently do things to make it worse.

I weigh less than before I got pregnant. I lost the baby weight very quickly since I exclusively breastfeed and eat healthy foods. I also tend to snack more and eat the leftover food from my daughter’s meals. It helps when you don’t have time to sit down for a meal! Anyway, my point is that even though I’m thinner and can make my tummy look flat through my clothes, it is definitely a mummy tummy. My skin was stretched so far and I have no muscle tone, so it looks like a deflated, wrinkled balloon. If I’m not deliberately holding my tummy in, there’s a pooch. Luckily my husband doesn’t mind and says he loves it because that is where I carried our baby. Awe, isn’t he sweet! Yes, I know I’m a lucky gal. My tummy used to be my best feature before I was pregnant. Not one roll and it only pooched if I just ate a big meal.

I have come to accept it, being that I know it’s important for me to model a positive self image for Clara. However, when I discovered that I have a diastasis and learned that it can affect my health in so many ways, I decided to be proactive. The good part is that I’ll probably get my pretty tummy back! I’ve received my splint, video, and guidebook in the mail and I plan to start the program this weekend. I’m looking forward to the healing process and I’ll be keeping you updated.