11 Months Post Partum What is Wrong with my Stomach? (photo)

I had a baby last december, gained 23 pounds, all belly. I am a very physically fit person, before baby had a six pack. My stomach still has a weird shape to it. I have lost all my pregnancy weight and then some. Is this split abs?? I try to check for that and only one finger goes in, not two..so if it is a diastasis, I'm thinking it can't be that bad...I don't have much loose skin there, what to do about this?

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diastasis recti muscle separation after pregnancy

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by stacym

Doctor Answers (6)
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You Do Have Split Abs, But It's Fairly Minor

Looking at your photos, you're still in great shape since having a child! You still have fantastic muscle definition. You can certainly tell that you were very fit prior to having a child. However, because you mentioned that you used to have a six-pack, you probably feel that your current state (as you are in your photos) isn't satisfactory. Unfortunately, it appears that while you don't have much fat, you may have some amount of rectus diastasis ("split abs" as you stated). This is... more

Jerome Edelstein, MD

13 reviews

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

11 Months Post Partum What is Wrong with my Stomach?

WOW! What a great post partum abdomen you have. You are so lucky. I would not recommend a thing.

Post-partum abdomen

Give yourself more time. Walking/running is best exercise, as well as crunches. The key is to give yourself at least a year to recover.You will probably still have some loose skin, and surgery can help if you can't get back, but give yourself time.

What is wrong with tummy?

Great you have become so fit after your child! If I saw a picture of you before children it would help! My best guess is that you have lost some skin elasticity an have a component of rectus diastasis. Good Luck

What is Wrong with my Stomach?

It appears that during your pregnancy you have lost some muscle tone, and may have had some separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, which formerly contributed to your six-pack. This is a very common occurrence after pregnancy. This can be improved with surgery, and that is best done after you have completed your family. No harm will come to the pregnancy if you have a correction, but another pregnancy would likely compromise the outcome leaving you once again with a decision you are... more

Post partum stomach

Thank you for your question and for providing the photos. While it is impossible to make a precise diagnosis without an actual exam, it does look like you have some muscle laxity. You are clearly in great shape and have lost all of the pregnancy related weight. However, there are changes that occur to the abdominal wall musculature which are impossible to correct with diet and exercise alone. This creates the lower belly bulge that you are seeing. During the pregnancy, the rectus muscles... more