Seperated abdominal muscles
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Topic: Seperated abdominal muscles
Posted By: Kellz
Subject: Seperated abdominal muscles
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 7:19pm
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Saw my midwife today and she said I have this and need to do certain things to stop it getting worse or I may need to see a physio and wear a brace thing to keep the muscles together.
She said not to jump out of bed, but to roll on my side then sit up carefully, and not to lift things - like Isla. Anyone got or had this? Any tips? What treatment or things did u do to help it or stop it getting worse? TIA! |
Replies:
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 7:22pm
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Yup I had it, ended up at the physio and had a brace band made up for me. It made a HUGE difference (although it was rather hot and sticky in the summer!)
The brace isnt a "brace" its just a really big band of material - it made the weight more bearable for me as well. I had it with both my kids. |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 7:38pm
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My MW said I have this when she was feeling my tummy last week, she asked if it was tender or sore there but it isnt so I guess mine isnt bad..
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 7:41pm
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Nah I havnet been sore or anything either. Just hoping it doenst get worse, cos I got a whole lot of growing to do yet!
Good to know its not really a brace! I was thinking I would be hot too, oh well will just have to see how I go. Dunno how Im gonna not carry Isla- shes nearly 3 and quite capable of walking, but yeah might be some tantys coming our way if I wont pick her up when she wants! |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 7:54pm
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When bubs moves into certain positions it can be a bit sore, but ti isnt sore to poke at or anything.
Im guessing it will fix itself once my tummy goes back to normal.. Think I'll ask her about that on Thursday. ------------- |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 7:57pm
| My midwife said she has known women who have such a large separation that u can fit the width of your hand in the gap. She said it then takes a long time for the muscles to come right after having baby. |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 7:58pm
 ouch!!
If I push down on my tummy, its very squishy down the middle and thats what my MW pointed out, and asked if it was tender. ------------- |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 8:01pm
| I was lying on my back while she was using the doppler, and ske asked me to sit up while she touched my upper belly,..she then got me to feel the obvious dent/gap between the muscles. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 8:31pm
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Yeah I have this, a physio noticed it when I was preggy with first time, I had gone to see him for sciatica but he seemed more interested in my separated tummy muscles. He told me to do the turning sideways and pushing up to get from laying to sitting and told me not to ever do crunches (haha, like I needed an excuse) as they can make the problem far worse.
My mw noticed it 2nd time as well and got the same advice you've had, but honestly how do you not pick your toddler up? I just carried on as normal pretty much and hoped for the best, thankfully mine didn't get any worse and I still have a valid excuse for doing no ab exercises 
Mine you could fit one finger in, but my mw said some separate so badly that you need surgery  She showed me some exercises to do post partum as well to help strengthen the core without putting strain on the abs, was mostly twisting type ones, but would be good for you to either ask your mw or ask to see a physio after you have bubs.
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 04 August 2009 at 11:29pm
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Yeah my MW got me to feel the gap aswell, and now I notice it all the time.
come to think of it, I started to notice a few monhs back that when ever I picked caden up and he pressed into my tummy it would really hurt, now I know why! Im going to be careful when i roll over and get up etc now ------------- |
Posted By: fallen
Date Posted: 05 August 2009 at 9:24am
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I've had that this time round. I've found that magnesium spray helps alot with the pain. Plus reduces leg cramps etc. ------------- |
Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 06 August 2009 at 1:37pm
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I had separated muscles with both. Mine was so bad the physio could fit a fist through the separation
After Bella, with the help of exercises, I got my muscles back in to about a cm separation, but after Ben, I still have a significant separation and haven't had the luxury of time to do much about it. I suffer with terrible back pain because of it. I'd love to get surgery, but its not covered by anything and they don't routinely do it, its classed as a 'cosmetic procedure' (its basically a tummy tuck) which would cost about $10k
My only advice is to try and minimise it now if you can. You can still do small ab exercises called 'tummy tucks' where you draw your belly button in to your back. You do them throughout the day, kind of like how you are supposed to do your pelvic floor exercises - little and often. You need to avoid heavy lifting which is near impossible when you have a toddler, roll out of bed, the band is a tight tubigrip so you could technically buy one yourself from the pharmacy (you're a nurse right?) and you can get a belly belt made of wet suit material that pulls your pelvis/tummy into correct position as your bump gets bigger. All a bit of a PITA especially when its hot and you start sweating! Once bubs has arrived, either try and get on to doing pilate type tummy exercises, do the tummy tucks etc. otherwise they will go back eventually but it takes a LONG time and in my case it just causes me back pain and discomfort... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 06 August 2009 at 4:26pm
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Thanks for that ShellandBella.
Do you know why some people get it? The midwife couldnt really tell me why. I have never had great stomach muscles, but then it never happened when preg with Isla- that I know of anyway, and I got massive with her! I will ask a physio at work it I can get some big tubigrip- we only stock arm width tubigrip on our ward! |
Posted By: angel4
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 12:25pm
| Just bumping this thread up in case anyone has more information. I have found out that mine are separated by about 5cm or so. However my midwife didnt say anything about what i should do at all. Just kinda mentioned it in passing. I suffer from back pain a lot already (even when not pregnant) so dont really want more back pain. |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 08 October 2009 at 3:12pm
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It might be worth getting referred to the physio by your midwife for your back angel4 as I've just been given the tubigrip for my back and so it might help both. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 14 February 2010 at 2:06pm
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So now its 5 weeks after Aidens birth and Im still waiting to see the physio- the mw referred me weeks ago.
Staright after I had Aiden the gap was as wide as my hand, but now its about 2 1/2-3 fingers wide. I havent done anything to make it shrink, and Im too scared to do any excercises encase I do ones that will amke it worse. |