Do you look pregnant even though you are not? This is a common issue for many women and it is often due to diastasis recti. Diastasis recti, also known as abdominal separation, is a condition that can occur during or after pregnancy and can cause a pregnant-like appearance. But what if you don’t have diastasis recti, yet you still look pregnant? In this blog post, you will learn what other conditions might be causing your post-pregnancy tummy pooch and how to correct it.
We will discuss the different types of abdominal separation, the difference between diastasis recti and non-diastasis recti tummy pooch, and the best exercises to strengthen and tone the abdominal muscles. You will also learn about the importance of proper posture and alignment for a flatter tummy, as well as how to properly engage the core muscles. We will also discuss the role of nutrition in achieving a
So Why Do I Still Look Pregnant?
Yes, it is normal for you to still be carrying a few extra pounds after giving birth. But you should be aware that diastasis recti is one of the main causes of mummy tummy.
Diastasis recti (abdominal separation) is when your ab muscles called the rectus abdominis separate.
Pregnancy causes this abdominal separation, which is completely normal. Your body must adapt to accommodate a baby.
What happens is that your stomach muscles gradually re-emerge after the baby is born. You have a number of options, but my postpartum exercises will support your efforts to recover naturally from diastasis recti.
Certain foods cause bloating, which will make your stomach appear larger. There could be excess sugar in your diet. Or maybe you have developed an intolerance to certain foods. Because the undigested food in your intestine is literally pushing your stomach outwards, all of these will result in swelling and bloating.
I want you to try to cut out the unhealthy foods from your diet. Processed foods, which include foods high in sugar, are the main offenders.
Try to substitute water for any sugary beverages, and eat a lot of fiber-rich foods like whole fruits and vegetables.
When pregnant, you frequently adopt a particular posture that forces your belly outward. This is where you are over-arching your back. Your pelvis is not properly aligned as a result, and your pelvic floor is under increased downward pressure and external pressure on the rectus muscle.
It often horrifies me to see new mothers being shown potentially harmful exercises, such as, “Are the postpartum exercises you are doing engaging the transverse muscle correctly?”
Some exercises will increase intra-abdominal pressure which causes the muscles to push outwards. Ideally, when you engage your transverse muscles correctly, the lower abdomen should go inwards as the muscle contracts.
Breastfeeding helps, especially in the early months after childbirth. Breastfeeding women typically lose pregnancy weight more quickly than non-breastfeeding women because they burn extra calories to produce milk.
I have assisted countless women here in recovering from childbirth. And now I want to help you. You see, unless your doctor specifically advises it, drastic diastasis recti surgery is not necessary.
Your recovery process begins with progressive postpartum exercises designed to repair your ab separation.
Even if it has been a while since you had a child, if you’re ready to regain your body confidence and flatten your stomach, check out my online program PregActive for Mamas.
Why Do I Still Look Pregnant 12 weeks Postpartum?
I’m in good physical shape, and I consistently practice the exercises I know will eventually help my body heal.
I felt bloated two weeks ago in the afternoon after eating a snack. I felt exactly the same as I did when I was first pregnant. Although it served a purpose, this stomach was neither large nor flat.
Early stages of pregnancy and postpartum frequently cause the same feelings regarding your belly. Its that in-between time. However, the distinction is that during pregnancy, you want your belly to expand and grow larger.
I’m writing to let you know that the postpartum period is a journey. Every day is unique, so how your stomach appears in the morning might not reflect how it appears in the afternoon.
When you start exercising, you notice that your face becomes less puffy and your arms and legs return to normal. But your mummy tummy hasnt gone away. You may observe that it is firm and protrudes, just like it did when you were pregnant. Hence, why people may think youre still pregnant.
Most mothers attempt to work out their stomachs by performing risky crunches, planks, and other similar exercises. And guess what? These are the WORST exercises you can perform. In fact, they will possibly only increase the gap.
You must cease performing these exercises until any potential diastasis recti has been resolved. Only safe, medically advised postpartum exercises should be incorporated into your workouts. To be the happiest and healthiest mother you can be, I want you to feel strong, joyful, and confident.
From the moment your baby is born, hormonal changes cause your uterus to contract, shrinking it back to its pre-pregnancy state. As a result, it may take six to eight weeks for your uterus to return to its normal size.
Your body starts to release the extra fluid that accumulated in all of your pregnant cells, which is then expelled through urine, vaginal secretions, and sweat.
And the extra weight you gained to feed the baby begins to disappear (especially if you exercise).
The speed and degree of this transition depends largely on:
2. How much weight you gained during pregnancy.
If you only had one child, gained less than 30 pounds (13 kg) during pregnancy, and exercised frequently, you are more likely to lose weight quickly.
Stretch marks usually become considerably less noticeable six to 12 months after you have your baby. Their pigmentation fades and they typically become lighter than the surrounding skin. The dark color of the linea nigra will gradually fade over a year.
2 – You don’t have your pelvic floor working properly
Therefore, this component is intended to cooperate with the deep core muscle we previously discussed.
The transverse abdominis should contract to lift everything up and in as you draw the pelvic floor in. And once you figure out how to do this properly, you’ll notice that doing it without engaging the pelvic floor doesn’t activate that deep core muscle as well.
In today’s society, clenching the pelvic floor in isolation is taught, which I would refer to as “acute rehab.” During the first 6-8 weeks post birth, it’s necessary.
FAQ
Why does my stomach look like I’m pregnant but I’m not?
Why do I look permanently pregnant?
How can you tell the difference between diastasis recti and belly fat?
One way to tell if you just have excess weight or an actual muscle gap is by tensing your belly muscles. Try lying flat and then lifting your head like when doing a sit-up. If present, the gap or bulge of diastasis recti will be pronounced in the center of your belly.
Why do I still look pregnant 4 months postpartum?