Should I Wait to Have More Kids Before Fixing Diastasis Recti and Hernia?

I have a 9 month old and 2 year old, both C-sections. I would like 1 or 2 more children, but am concerned about my combination of diastasis recti and a hernia which make me look like I am 6 months pregnant.

The General surgeon wants to install a patch, and would have the plastic surgeon fix my excess skin (no abdomen fat). But I feel I should wait until I’m done having kids. It's getting worse, bigger. Maybe because I work out a lot. Any suggestions? Do I wait? Not do ab work? What are the dangers?

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by mcmiranda in 48367

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It depends on when you plan on having more children

Although fixing a prominent diastasis recti and hernia will not interfere with future pregnancies, the pregnancy may reverse or compromised the end result. I have seen women who have had more children after an abdominoplasty without an adverse effect on the flattened tummy, but this I believe, is the exception. Exercise and ab work will not make it better, but it should not make it worse either. The dangers on having a hernia this size are minimal. If you chose to have the tummy tuck... more

Wait if possible

Obviously you should follow the advice of the doctors who have seen you however, from your photo it appears that you have a moderate rectus diastasis and an umbilical hernia. I would normally recommend that you finish having children and repair these later. In my practice as a Board Certified general surgeon as well as a Board Certified plastic surgeon, I would plicate the diastasis in 2 layers, avoid any mesh and repair the umbilical hernia at the same time. I would advise that you find... more

Waiting to have a tummy tuck after childbirth

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. During this procedure, we commonly repair the separation in the abdominal muscles known as a diastasis. If you have additional children after a diastasis it is possible that future pregnancies may stretch out this repair. If you don't want to assume this possible risk, your best bet is to wait until you have completed all of your pregnancies and received a single surgery and a single muscle repair. To learn... more