It’s not diastasis recti. Everything I read about why I’m weighing less but my belly still looks pregnant at 8 months postpartum tells me that it’s diastasis recti, but that’s not it. I know this because I’ve paid $280 (per session) to see a women’s health physio who specializes in postpartum health. When I first saw her at 6 weeks postpartum, I had a notable abdominal separation. I knew it, she knew it, and she measured it at about 7cm or so, which is unsurprising given the twin pregnancy. But.
I Put In The Work To Repair My Diastasis Recti. Every Day.
So, like you probably are now, I assumed it was all my diastasis recti and did every single thing that she asked of me. Everything. And not 4 times per week like she said – every day. I was surprised at my determination, and so was my husband. It’d be 11pm, I’d feel wrecked after a long day of taking care of twins and a toddler, and I’d still do those exercises. Honestly, I was the face of commitment.
I Healed My Abdominal Separation
So when I returned to her at my follow-up at 7 months, I was delighted to hear her tell me the words: “you are still postpartum, but you no longer have postpartum diastasis recti”. My abdominal separation measurement was now only 1.5cm, and it has to be 2cm or bigger to be classed as a diastasis. So I was in the clear. You’d think I’d be completely ecstatic, right? On the one hand, I was happy, because I could see that my hard work paid off in repairing the separation. But I couldn’t be fully happy. Because when I looked in the mirror, my body (specifically my tummy) was not the same. I still very much looked pregnant.
My Pregnant Looking Postpartum Belly Didn’t Go Away
So even as I write this, my tummy is still not the same, despite weighing one pound less than my pre-pregnancy weight. My belly is rounder, more pregnant-like at the bottom, more squidgy. Seriously – I was in a swimsuit yesterday, and still looked about 3-4 months pregnant to the point that I cradled my belly and mentally made the decision that if someone were to ask how far along I was or ask if I was pregnant, I’d say yes. Crazy, right? But that’s how self-conscious I feel right now. Still. At 8 months postpartum.
Also, when I eat, my upper abdomen/torso bulges? I feel like my organs have repositioned themselves in a really strange way and I don’t like it. It’s just so far from what my ‘normal’ looks like and as a result, none of my clothes fit properly. Yep, you can till I’m still in the thick of all my feelings about it as I’m typing this out. If you have any advice for me, I’d *love* to hear it. Email me.
What The Research Says
I’ve searched extensively, and there’s limited research on this topic because everyone says it’s diastasis recti (it’s not, for me anyway). Theories and possible explanations include:
- That I’m still breastfeeding. Apparently, when breastfeeding, you still have hormones like relaxin flowing through your system that loosen the connective tissues meaning that things don’t ‘come together’ quite like they would otherwise.
- The fact that I gained over 50 pounds paired with my love of sugar is affecting my belly. This was actually the finding of this study though it also talks about a greater body weight postpartum, which I don’t have. But it can affect body composition. So there could be something there for sure (maybe).
Then I Found The Answer To My Mummy Tummy Pooch
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the answer I wanted. According to a massive review of diastasis management (and a general understanding of the ins and outs of postpartum abdominal separation), very little was actually known about the topic – including what actually heals it for the long term. Yep, no one could prove that certain exercises would heal the gap more than leaving it to heal on its own over time. And it could well be possible that my abdominal separation would have naturally reduced even if I hadn’t put in all that work. The other thing I learnt is that:
It’s Actually Not About The Gap
Apparently, according to experts in postpartum health, we may be doing our bodies a disservice by focusing on closing the gap more so than focusing on our overall health and strength. And you know what, I have to agree. There just has to be more to it than “the gap” because I’ve closed my gap and still have a bulging belly, extra fat, what feels like organ displacement internally – and more. So clearly, closing the gap hasn’t fixed my concerns.
So what’s next? I’m going to start focusing on my overall health and fitness. I’ve just started, and am going to give it a year or so to track my progress. It seems like a long time, but given that these babies are already 8 months old, I know time will just fly by. As always, I’ll post before and after photos. Wish me luck!