So I have a tear down the middle of my stomach.
Technical name?
What does it look like?
The one on the left.
image copyright 2010 Julie Tupler, RN
Does it hurt?
Yes. Quite badly at times.
Can you feel your guts through it?
Yep, and it’s just as gross as it sounds.
Can you fix it?
Sure! But I’m learning it’s a whole hell of a lot of work to do just that.
It involves a splint. A tight splint that I have to wear day and night for at least six weeks. A tight splint that I have to wear day and night for at least six weeks in super hot and sweaty Indiana weather.
What does the splint look like?
*deep breath*
Well, before I show you what I look like with the splint on I should show you what it looks like with it off.
Wait wait wait! First, let me show you what I looked like 9 hours before I gave birth. (Perspective. It helps.)
Okay.
9 weeks postpartum (with a giant diastasis, remember? Good.)
and while we’re at it…from the front.
and now with the splint…
Yeah. That’s a lot to hold in huh?
So. There you go.
That’s what I’m dealing with over here.
It kind of sucks.
But look what I got out of it!!
Two of ’em! BONUS!
Now move along and have comfort in the fact that not all of us are in bikinis eight weeks postpartum.
making unbreakable - formerly moosh in indy. 
I kinda wish I had that affliction to account for my belly almost 6 years later. hehe
Sorry you’re going through this – yes, the end results are fabulous, but darn if that doesn’t stink for you!
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@pgoodness,
Um, also, you’re gorgeous no matter what! (clicked say it too fast!)
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^That^ and vThatv And nothing to add. 🙂
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@Della, You guys are the best.
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Ok, I totally have this too! My doctor even told me I did but never said there was anything that can be done about it. And I’m half-way through baking this baby so I can’t really wear one of those wrap-up doo-hickies at the moment. But you can bet your behind I’ll be asking for one as soon as this puppy pops out.
Yippee! So happy to know there is something I can do about it. Cause the pain and the being able to poke your guts? Not fun. Not fun at all.
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@Ordinary Sarah, You can actually buy one and wear it while pregnant, although I’m not sure how. I never read the whole manual.
http://www.maternalfitness.com/
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Oh babe I SO hope this works.
But at least does the splint ease the pain? I hope?
HUGS! (But not too tight, don’t want to hurt the tum)
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@samantha jo campen, It does feel much better on. As long as I don’t sit, or you know, breathe.
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Ouch!!!
Also… I had never heard of this. Oh my goodness.
Just keep looking at those 2 gorgeous beauties.
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Having just saw you, all I have to say is this: you are beautiful. Plus you totally kicked my butt at Just Dance.
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Ouuuuuuuuch.
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Owies. But you have no stretch marks!!
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I’m still working on mine after my second, four years post partum (Can I still say POST PARTUM?) Thing is, while it’s a huge struggle for me, nobody else REALLY sees it. Mostly they see my two amazing kiddos who get along great. And me, smiling.
You? You are lovely. As you are.
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@Mrs. Flinger, FUPA. You taught me that and I shall never ever forget the origins of my lesson.
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Holy crap. That makes a 19th century corset made with whale-bone look comfy. You deserve some homemade jam. And salsa.
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I’m so sorry! That sounds, looks, must be completely horrible.
Another reason to hope for cooler Indiana temps!
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Ugh. As a fellow Hoosier, what a way to sweat. They need to offer these splints with prints of your two dahlings on ’em. Like a temp tattoo to help remember the reason for the contraption.
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On the plus side, no stretch marks!! Lucky duck. I look like a freaking tiger.
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@Lynn @ Walking With Scissors, My BFF said earlier that stretch marks hurt nothing but your pride in an attempt to make me feel better. Do you at least rawr when you change shirts? Please say you do.
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Just so you know, my stomach did the exact same thing with Skjel. I was over 250 pounds with him at my finest.
The splint helped. And eventually physical therapy. Now I’m just at peace with my little buddha belly.
It’s my last reminder of my boy. Best reminder ever.
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Oh, that totally blows. The things we do for babies, and all they give us is their OMGSWEETBBQSAUCECUTENESS.
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oh my. OUCH. So sorry, lady 😦 With all the crap our bodies go through after giving birth, you really shouldn’t have to deal with your GUTS falling out too. ick. Hope it heals quickly!!!!
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ouchie. I’m glad there’s something to help fix it, because having your guts accessible to toddler kicks in a few years doesn’t seem safe. Hang in there!
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Oh I am so sorry and ouch ouch ouch.. But oh my goodness look what you got out of it some pretty babies! Big hug! Hope you heal soon!
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I’ve had a diastasis for 12 years…never heard of a splint for one. Although I’ve literally longed for one to not only act pull it all in, but also to take the pressure off of my back. I’m going to look into this! Thanks! xoxox
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@Christine, Apparently you can heal one no matter how long ago it happened. There’s also a whole list of things you should/shouldn’t do to make it worse.
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@Casey, I called, spoke with her, bought the program. I’m super excited, Casey. THANK you for finding this and sharing.
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I have this, too. In fact, my last OB was with a medical student one day and they took 10 extra minutes poking at me because I guess I have it bad, if they come in degrees. Yet, they said nothing at all about any way to fix it, just that it should go back together after birth. Um,no. It’s been 3 years since my last baby and it’s still prominent. Mine doesn’t hurt, though, so at least there’s that.
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@C @ Kid Things, Rumor is you can heal one no matter when it happened…worth looking into. http://www.maternalfitness.com/
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You totally win!
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severe to moderate is my diagnosis. fun.
http://chosenchaos.blogspot.com/2011/07/p90bbbaaahhh.html
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This happened to me too! But my OB said that it would fix itself. After my section my bowels flared up and came up through the hole. Extremely painful!!! And we ended up having like every nurse in our room because none of them had seen it before, just what I wanted to hear!
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@emilyjoyce, Don’t you LOVE being the medical mystery patient?
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After I had my 2nd son, my stomach muscles separated. It was not as bad as what you have, but boy did it hurt. I wore a back brace I had which was heavy duty elastic, very similar to what yours is, for 24 hours and it did wonders. So, I can kind of get an inkling of how it is for you – so sorry! I hope that your recovery goes well.
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Oh, gee, ouchies!!!
Hope that heals fully for you.
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I have that too! So if you, like, gained a gazillion pounds (technical qty), we’d be effin twins, baby! It sucks being 40, empty wombed, and looking 6 months pregnant. Go me. But mine is from when they saved my life from pancreatic cancer, so it’s def the better alternative. Also? My doc never told me a splint could help. She suggested – shock – another surgery. (Insert conspiracy theory). Then again, maybe it doesn’t come in 2x.
As for your my dear mother of 2 princess blessings? You’re a hot ass no matts what.
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First of all, YOWZA! Second of all, that’s sort of what I look like 3 1/2 years postpartum and as far as I know, all my organs are contained. I hope you get some relief soon, honey. I don’t like the thought of you in pain. Get those pretty little girls to give you lots of kisses.
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Wow. That’s like that whole “Alien” thing where the creature from Outer Space chews through and pops out.
*shiver*
I hope that splint helps you smoosh everything all back together like it’s supposed to be and I know it was mentioned in an earlier comment – but where are the stretch marks? Air brush?
And did I say you look lovely? I should have. I meant to. I got too busy being funny.
xoxoxox
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@lceel, No air brush, just good genes. And guts falling out.
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Ouch.
I’m glad there is a way too fix it and that you won’t be hurting any more when it’s done.
I was really hoping that your splint was going to look a little more like a girdle or maybe like something out of a burlesque show. That could look sexy!!
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it’s like my bellybutton, but your whole gut. You still look rockin’ sexy.
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Oh ouchy mama.And LOL at Emily’s comment. My bellybutton, too!
Steph
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I have this too and I’ve never heard that there was a splint or a way to “correct” it…I’m curious if I’m too far post-partem (my baby will be 2 in September – sniff.sniff) of if this can be done anytime. Thanks SO much for putting this out there – looks like I’ve got some research to do! My belly and my back thank you! 😉
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@Meredith, You can fix them anytime (or so is the rumor) it’s a lot of work but worth looking into! http://www.maternalfitness.com/
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ouchie! I feel so badly for you! the things we endure for these kids… 😉
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Man I wish someone had suggested a splint to me! 3.5 years later and I still get grossed out trying to do a sit up. Ya, that’s my excuse! *g* Hope ya mend all up in a hurry.
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@Neeroc, Craziest thing? If you have a diastasis you’re actually not supposed to do sit ups AT ALL. Like, ever. It makes it worse apparently. (which if you’re anything like me, YAY!) details here, I’m no doctor. http://www.maternalfitness.com/
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Just think, at least now you don’t have to wear Spanx! 🙂
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I have the SAME thing (YDD was 10lb 4oz and I am only 5’2!) so i have been reading up on what I can do after. I think i am going to try the Tupler technique:
http://www.diastasisrehab.com/
Good luck!!!
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@Dana j, That’s what I’m doing! We’re tupler buddies!
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That sounds pretty crappy. I hope the splint works quickly for you! Or at least effectively?
You guys make such cute babies. I can’t get over how much they look alike!
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The sister pictures kill me. ❤
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Oh goodness that sounds painful and uncomfortable. And I feel for you…this Indiana summer has been so horribly humid.Hang in there and yes, it does help so much to have such cute products to show off. 😉
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@Mandy @ This Girl’s Life, SO HORRIBLE RIGHT? So much sweat.
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Just saying, you look better 9 weeks post-partum than I did, and I didn’t have a big tear through my gut muscles. And seriously, what is with you women who don’t get stretch marks?! I look like a bomb went off in my belly button. However, I’m due with my second in 5 weeks and now I’m freaked out that I’ll have that problem this time and will have even more of a flabby pouch than last time!
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@Larita, You would know if you had a bad one, my stomach was ON FIRE through the last several months of my pregnancy.
As far as the stretch marks, it’s my one saving grace after my crappy pregnancies. 🙂
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shut up me too.
asher was 10 pounds 10 ounces and then I went and got pregnant again (thank the good Lord) and now my hand disappears when I push in. AWESOME. Here’s something: a doc said that the only complete fix is surgery (that’s the bad part) and then she said TUMMY TUCK. This means? A free tummy tuck? I’m still not sure I believe it.
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@Heather of the EO, Do you know Jen? @quatromama? She just had a tummy tuck for this very reason. But you have to be done having babies to get one. Otherwise you’ll just screw it all up if you get pregnant again. Lame right?
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*PFFFFFT* I loathe those headlines of some famous woman “showing off her post baby body”. Diastasis Recti…never heard of it, but I think that I have it though. Does anyone ever have people ask when their baby is due when they are not pregnant? Happens to me. GAH!
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@Jesica V., Three weeks ago. Almost hulk smashed her.
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where did you get your splint from? I am going to for sure need one after I have baby #3
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@Michelle S, It’s called the Tupler Technique…available here! http://www.maternalfitness.com/ (not sponsored!)
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Wow. So sorry. I noticed you putting it on, but had no idea what its purpose was.
And thanks for posting pics of your belly. It’s a small thing, but it’s tough to be honest about the state of one’s body, 9 weeks postpartum. That’s about what I look like, 18 months post partum.
AND, I am so so so so glad that you are happy, (to combine comments for two different posts.). How awesome that you are enjoying life. You seemed to really be happy and at peace at the IndyGeekGirls get-together. It was great to hang out with you and glad to see and hear that things are going well despite your roadblocks! Hope it continues and that your hormones cooperate! 🙂
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I wore this kind of belt right after i delivered and it helped tremendesly with getting my stomach back to almost flat. Actually in Russia, doctors advice you to wear this belt to help abdominal muscles to get back where they were before, it’s almost mandatory post-partum thing that all women do. You could buy them anywhere. I did it on the advice of my mother; I resisted at first thinking that it should occur naturally, but it really did not with my first, took 2 years, dieting and exercising to get there. With my second one, the belt was what did the majority of the work. It feels weird, with the fat being squashed out on top and at the bottom of the belt (gross i know :), but it gets much better over time! Hang in there, it’s worth it!
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OK. Just bought the belt online after seeing it here first. It’s hella cheaper than a tummy tuck in any case. I didn’t buy the whole system– seems like you can get a lot of the information you need online about the exercises. Tell me if you think I’m wrong there.
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Added to list of my fears of ever having a baby . . .
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More importantly, I hope you’re feeling better ASAP!!
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ok, this is totally wrong, but when I looked at the wrap I thought “whoa, that’s like… better than a pair of spanx! I want one!”
Yeah. I’m twisted, I know.
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Um… I didn’t look like her pre-pregnancy. I am counting my lucky stars that I have gained a mere five pounds in the last 21 weeks as it is.
Also, I must sheepishly admit… that device looks painful, but it must be fun to wear some of your cuter pre-Vivi dresses with the help of that splint, yes?
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