Diastasis Recti and coughing - ouch! « Back to Group Discussions

[MeredithA]

I am pretty sure i have "diastasis recti" where my abs are separated. For a while now I've been able to feel the separation down the center of my belly, especially when sitting up (like, doing a crunch). It hasn't caused me any pain up until now. The past week I have had a terrible cough and the past couple nights I've woken up in the middle of the night with coughing fits. Now, every time I start coughing, my abs hurt SO BAD. I have tried hot tea & honey to stop the coughs. When that didn't work I tried icy smoothies (didn't work either). I've been drinking tons of water. Sucking on hard candy (I don't want to take the medicated cough drops). Any other suggestions on how I can kick this cough? I was in tears earlier because of the pain while coughing and NyQuil is oh so very tempting right now...but I've made it through 36+ weeks of pregnancy with no medicine so I'd really like to treat this naturally. 

[Just1More]

I was having a lot of trouble at night but have been cured by a humidifier.
Edited by Just1More - 4/13/12 at 7:22pm

[BubbleMa]

Elderberry syrup is great for coughs.  Nature's Way Sambucus is available at Walgreen's and CVS.  I'm sure you could find some at Whole Foods too.

There's some debate about whether or not it's safe while pregnant, but here's a good thread about it:  http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1122951/elderberry-extract-sambucol-while-pregnant

[Astraia]

Manduka honey is somehow better for coughs. I don't even know what it IS, but i read an article comparing OTC cough syrup to the manduka honey and they had similar results in the study.

What kind of cough is it? When my son and I both had a horrible tickly throat, dry, cough until you think you're going to puke thing and  we took homeopathic ipecac and it cleared it right up. Humidifier is also really good for that. In a pinch, keeping a bowl of water and a cloth beside the bed helps too- whenever I woke up with the couch (before the humidifier) I'd wring out the cloth and clap it over my mouth- just breathing that moist air seemed to help a lot. Or open your windows, if that's possible? Too hot/ dry/ recycled air gives me issues sometimes too, and opening the bedroom window a crack often helps (although my husband whines because he's cold!)

Wet cough- need to clear out the congestion first. I always do fenugreek seeds mixed in with hot water, lemon, and honey whenever I need to clear out chest congestion. Peppermint oil is good for that too, you can put a few drops of the essential oil in a hot bath or steam yourself. Rosemary, orange, eucalpytus are good too. 

[forestmushroom]

I think sambucol or sambucus (elderberry syrup) during pregnancy is fine, esp. at this point.  I mean, grape syrup is fine, right ? As long as it is made from ripe berries... I am a big fan of elderberry syrup for colds/viral illness.

Meredith, do you have a pregnancy support band? That might help...  I had pretty bad diastasis recti with my 3rd, and it seems to have healed (well, goodness knows what it will be like after this baby is born!) but it is sore...

I hope you can get rest and kick the cough!  Could it be allergies?  It might be safe to take an allergy med like claratin...

[casmer]

Have you heard of Julie Tupler?  I see her name come up quite a bit, in regard to diastasis.  I think she sells a support band of sorts to help bring the muscles back together.  I guess you use it post-partum?  I have her book Maternal Fitness and while I don't really do any of the exercises (just too lazy-ha!), I did learn what not to do in pg and how to get up appropriately, etc...not that the books helps you now.  I just say that I'm sure her other programs are just as helpful!

I took some Sambucol a while back.  I've taken it anytime I'm exposed to someone with some kind of crud.  Before I was pg, I picked up a friend's gi bug and while he was sick for a couple of days, mine was over within 8-12 hours.  Purely anecdotal, but I'm a believer :)  I plan on getting the kids version when baby girl is old enough.

[MeredithA]

Thank you for the suggestions!

I think it certainly could be allergies. I was just fine when the pollen count was super high here a few weeks ago but now i am stuffy and coughing all. the. time. Although it seems much worse at night. My cough is pretty dry and it is the kind of cough you just can't stop and you end up gasping for breath when the fit is over. Sometimes after ive been coughing for a while it gets a wheezy sound at the end of the coughs.

I sent Hubby out last night at midnight to buy a humidifier, cough drops, and more honey. The humidifier was great. I only woke up coughing 4-5 times instead of being up basically all night.

I'm about to google Julie Tupler and her support bands. I ordered a belly wrap for after the birth too.

I have never tried elderberry syrup but it sounds like its worth a shot!