Seperated abdominal muscles

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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...

Edited by ShellandBella

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.

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.