Comments on: Diastasis Recti Test & Exercises | What Works and What To Avoid

By: wendy powell

wendy powell — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Hi Melissa, all these factors may be contributing. First step, go see your doctor ASAP & have him/her check for a hernia. If there is a hernia present, MuTu System techniques will improve, but cannot fix a hole in the abdominal wall… digestive issue & diastasis… we can help with! Either way – you need to start restoring & healing your core – that’s what MuTu does.
Please do start working towards healing yourself – there shouldn’t be pain I can help x

By: wendy powell

wendy powell — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:27:00 +0000

Stop doing sit ups right away! – they will only make your stomach stick out! You need to isolate the transverse abdominis muscle & work it to lie flat & stabalise you, not work the outermost rectus muscle to pooch out…(which is what crunches do). Its never too late to start working your abs the right way

By: Melissa Horton

Melissa Horton — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Hi there! I stumbled upon your site. I have a SEVERE diastasis after having three huge babies in 3 years time, all by cesarean. I still look about 6 months pregnant right now. I’m desperate to fix my stomach, but some exercises cause me great pain–and I often wonder if I also have some kind of hernia. I’m experiencing digestive problems too. I NEED to get this fixed!

By: karen

karen — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:18:00 +0000

Oh gosh this is the first time I’ve heard that situps are bad! My doctor never mentioned that! I’ve only got a 1.5 fingerwidth gap… but i’ve been doing situps/crunches/ab isolations for months now. I’m 6 months postpartum and have been working out my abs 3x per week for 30 minutes since my 6 week postpartum checkup. The doc actually said situps would help. Should I stop now or is whatever damage already done?

By: wendy powell

wendy powell — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0000

What you can do now is not encourage the gap wider – always roll to your side when coming up from your back (don’t come straight up) & learn to engage & use your transverse muscle now – so you have ‘muscle memory for afterwards! Don’t panic – your baby needs the room right now, but you’re right – it’s the lack of strength in your core which is causing the lack of stability at the front & hence the back pain & protruding belly. MuTu will put you back together afterwards my Lovely… & meanwhile… good luck

By: wendy powell

wendy powell — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:26:00 +0000

Yes it is! The MuTu System programme works for mums however long ago you had your babies! The gap may not close entirely, but it doesn’t need to (see this post http://mutusystem.com/can-the-mutu-system-program-heal-a-diastasis.html ) – you can get a toned, flatter tummy if you follow the online porgramme!

By: Amanda Kevins

Amanda Kevins — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:53:00 +0000

hey there.. for some stupid reason im just NOW realizing i have a diastasis.. the thing is, i gave birth three years ago and hit peak midsection measurements [aside from pregnancy] a year ago.. im determined to help this.. but is it still possible to repair the diastasis, even slightly? thank you so much!!

By: Vicki

Vicki — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:51:00 +0000

Hello,
I have a question: After my 2nd baby I noticed my ab muscles separated. I was working out up till the 36th week with both my pregnancies and now I have a cone shaped tummy if I lean backwards even just a bit. I am desperate to get my tummy back in shape, but I am currently expecting the 3rd baby. /I can feel slight lower back pains and “as if” my tummy was portruding much more, i was told this is because of the muscle separation/. Is there anyhting I can do while expecting or I have to wait until I give birth and then start exercising?
Thanks a lot!

By: Wendy Powell

Wendy Powell — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:05:00 +0000

Hi Jody, the mesh procedure for the hernia & a surgical repair of the diastasis (sewing the 2 halves of the rectus muscle together along the vertical midline) are 2 separate procedures. The 2 are sometimes performed at the same time, but this should be discussed with your surgeon.
Diastasis & umbilical hernia do exacerbate each other, & so having one condition repaired will certainly help in terms of the look of your tummy, but the hernia repair alone will not strengthen your abdominal muscles, or ‘fix’ them together unless your surgeon does this as well.
Often the hernia operation is regarded as ‘medical’ whilst the diastasis repair is regarded as ‘cosmetic’ (don’t shoot the messenger – that’s just how many medical carers / insurance companies see it), so you would need to discuss with your surgeon / insurance.
Remember that no surgical procedure will STRENGTHEN the muscle – we have to do that! Also, no exercise can repair an actual hole in your abdominal wall (which is what a hernia is).
I hope that helps.

By: Gemma0417

Gemma0417 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:55:00 +0000

Hi I’m hoping you can help, I have to have a umbilical hernia repaired in two weeks possibly with mesh. If I have the hernia repair with mesh (a new way where they put mesh over the hernia once pushed in and they won’t actually tighten the rectus over the hernia) will this technique still close the muscles where the mesh was placed? Thanks for any help. Jody