bulging belly on skinny body

[mamafever]

haha, that title sounded kind of funny...., but anyway I am a slender, pretty in shape mama, but kind of embarrased about my belly. It just seemed to never go back into shape. It still looks like I am pregnant!!! ahh! (I for sure am not!) The doctor said that I just have split abs from pregnancy. Is that what it really is? Is there anyway to fix this? I am always gassy and bloated too if that has anything to do with anything. I eliminated dairy, take a probiotic, do not eat meat with grains and try not to eat fruit with other foods to limit the gassiness. huummm... any ideas?

[SundayCrepes]

The nurse who came to my house after I had my baby said to do what I'll call alternating situps. You lie on your back with your knees bent and drawn up toward your abdomen. Then you bring your right elbow to your left knee then your left elbow to your right knee. Do a bunch of these. Supposedly this helps with the abdominal muscle separation. (If I remember correctly from 4.5 years ago.)

[Zevy]

No, you don't want to do that sort of exercise. That can make a diastasis worse. Most ab exercises do other than static holds and planks.

Ab separation is a diastasis. There is a book: Losing your mommy tummy, that outlines exercises.

Depending on how severe yours is, you can try exercises (and time) to correct it. Mine is very severe and surgery is the only option.

[dex_millie]

I just wrote about this..I didn't see the topic until now. I thin with a 4/5 pregnant tummy it is really obvious. I hold it in to look 4 months pregnant. I am getting the r u pregnant comments now I can be gassy and bloated too. You are describing me I am so tired of it.

I don't think I have the separate abs. I asked the dr. last time I was there but she did a quick check. Guess I should find out how to check myself.

I started researching and so far this is what I am comming up with
Right now I am going to do interval training it is where you do a walk( about 90 sec), intense run(30 sec), back to walking(90sec). I think it is suppose to be a 1:3 ratio type of thing. I want to do this 3/4 times a week for 20 minutes at a time. Then stretching.

Then the other days do some weights, abs, those other types of exersice.

It seems like a lot but I guess that is what is needed to jump start us. I tend to get bored or find other things to do, so I myself need motivation. Hope you find a way...

[earthhugmama]

I found another helpful mdc thread related to this here.

My last pregnancy was with twins and I think I noticed some abdominal separation postpartum. I'm going to check out this book from the library to get a feel for what the book, exercises, and diastasis are all about.

[columbusmomma]

I just checked out that link and think I might have diastasis. Interesting!
I can look the same way. I do notice a big difference if I eat foods I'm sensitive too, like cabbage,brocolli,beans. I've started using Beano and have noticed a big difference and decrease in bloating. I"m also taking probiotics now. This is helping too, and drinking increased water and clear fluids.

[RollerCoasterMama]

Thread hopping...I saw you gave up dairy...are you eating soy products? Several years ago the healthier I tried to eat, the more sick I got...until I figured out that all of the "health" food I was eating was full of soy. This was after I'd gone through testing and gotten diagnosed with IBS. I cut it out of my diet and immediately had relief. I've had the allergy tests and I'm not officially allergic, but it's definitely not something I can digest very well.

Just a thought that might help the bloaty-gassy part of the problem. It's everywhere so can sneak up on you if you're sensitive to it.

[beanma]

anybody know if hula hooping helps? i've been meaning to do more of it with my girls. i don't think i have diastisis, just carry my extra right in the belly.

[sapphire_chan]

http://www.befitmom.com/abdominal_seperation.html

Has how to check for diastasis. Basically, lay down and do enough of a crunch to get your shoulders (not just your head) off the ground while feeling for separation.

[chrissy]

I have this problem too. I'm so afraid that I'm going to make things worse that I don't do any stomach exercises. That seems silly. I really need to do something b/c I am always embarrassed about my belly.

[kittywitty]

I have this problem when not pg. I do not have a diastasis, though, even though it seems to be a big problem for a lot of people. I have found that belly dancing and running both helped a lot. The No More Trouble Zones Jillian Michaels DVD also really helped...before I found out I was pg!

Did you have a c-section at all? My myomectomy scar does make my stomach protrude some from that, and that's fairly common.

[not_telling]

Is a diastasis something they check for at your postpartum visit? When I went for my 6 weeks PP visit the midwife checked my abdominal muscles I think for a separation and was astounded to find that there was none. She said she'd never had anyone whose abs came back together so quickly. I had been doing various exercises prescribed by my PT because I had some pelvic trauma from the birth. Does this sound like I don't have diastasis?

I ask because I am also a bulging belly on skinny body. Well, if there's not much food in my stomach then I'm more of a jelly belly, but if I eat a big meal I really do look preggo. All I'm doing now, after a slothful winter, is making sure to walk almost every day for about 30 minutes while pushing DS in stroller - briskly enought that my heart rate is up. I had been doing some exercises for transverse abs, but I've dropped the ball on that. Maybe I'll go do some now. I'm hoping that I don't have to change my diet to lose the last 8-10 lbs of pregnancy weight and lose the mummy tummy.

[Plarka]

I've never heard of this but now am wondering if I have it! I tried to feel around like that website said but not sure, I feel a slight indentation about an inch above my bellybutton but that's it, is that a diastasis?

I'm worried now, I do my Winsor Pilates Abs dvd every night and now I'm hearing pilates is bad if you have this! How do I find out for sure if i have it? Would a regular doctor be able to tell?

I always thought eveyone's tummy sagged out when they didn't hold it in...no?

[bcblondie]

I have diastatis and I found this incredibly helpful.
http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=805
Every other site I went to did the "pull your navel towards your back" thing, but never really progressed after that. This one has an actual workout.

[kitteh]

At my 6 week postpartum checkup I was told I had some seperation, but not given any advice about how to fix it. I just assumed that regular core-building exercises would do the trick. Before pregnancy I had a six-pack (from my childhood days as a gymnast) so I was kind of surprised that my abs didn't just bounce right back!

So I just tried the "test" and I can feel a bit of a gap when I lift my head off the floor, but I have to really push down hard to feel it. When I do, though, I can just barely fit one finger in. So I guess I still have a mild separation?

I suppose I'll start doing those Tupler exercises and see if that helps.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by kitteh

At my 6 week postpartum checkup I was told I had some seperation, but not given any advice about how to fix it. I just assumed that regular core-building exercises would do the trick. Before pregnancy I had a six-pack (from my childhood days as a gymnast) so I was kind of surprised that my abs didn't just bounce right back!

So I just tried the "test" and I can feel a bit of a gap when I lift my head off the floor, but I have to really push down hard to feel it. When I do, though, I can just barely fit one finger in. So I guess I still have a mild separation?

I suppose I'll start doing those Tupler exercises and see if that helps.

Try it again and get your shoulders up too. If you have a gap, it'll still be there when your shoulders come up, otherwise it'll go away. And feel above and below your belly button.

[kitteh]

K, I just tried that, and this time with my shoulders off the ground I can only feel the gap below my belly button if I push down REALLY hard, but above my belly button I can still feel a distinct separation, and can fit one finger in between the two sides.

The thing is, I've been doing some regular ab work and I feel like it's been helping. I've noticed increased definition in my stomach. But obviously it hasn't really been doing the trick if I still feel separation, huh? Also I still feel bulgy in the belly sometimes, especially after meals.

[bcblondie]

It really depends what "ab work" you're doing. If you do the wrong ones you could actually set your abs where they are / strengthen them in place. And you could have a 6 pack but your belly could still look rounded.

[not_telling]

I just read that it's normal to have a gap that's 1-2 fingerwidths. If that's what you have (I think that's what I have) it's apparently not a diastasis and not a concern.

[bcblondie]

Yea that's true. But the tighter and stronger your core muscles are, the flatter your tummy will look. Which seems to be the OP's main concern.