Tummy Rehab Update

For the past three weeks, I have been following the Tupler technique. It started out as being rather difficult. My transverse abdomious hasn't been worked out in who knows how long and the c-section scar tissue was being moved a stretched in a very uncomfortable way. The physical therapist told me that this was all normal and to slow down on the exercising and splinting. So now my exercises are spread out more evenly throughout the day and the splint come off whenever the kids are in bed. I did notice this weekend, that it was difficult to hold Beniah with my stomach 'properly engaged' without the splint. So, I now know to splint, splint, splint when he is awake and wanting to be held.

Now for the three week mark results...
I am now able to fit into my bridesmaids dress from my sister-in-law's wedding.

The really exciting part is that I can zip it up all the way and be able to breathe!

I also lost one inch from my waistline. And to answer any skeptics question, I have not lost weight during this time (although, I'm not sure if I should be proud of that fact!).

I am really excited to see what the next three weeks hold.

Tummy Rehab - Week 1

Ever since I had Beniah, I have been getting questions asking me when I am due. At first, I was really bothered and even offended by it until I took an honest look at my belly and admitted that yes I still look pregnant. Well to be fair, I look like I have an average pregnant belly. Anybody who has seen the way I carry my babies and compares it to my belly now says, "Wow you are so tiny!"

Three weeks before Elijah was born.

Day one of the Tummy Rehab

 Big difference, but there is still a pooch!

Vanity aside, there are also other problems that I have been experiencing mostly low back pain. Some days it is intense.  I was brushing this off as side effects of having huge babies and carrying so far out, until I read a pamphlet that I picked up at a local pregnancy boutique.  It was information on a medical condition called Diastasis Recti. Basically, it is when your transverse abdomen muscles (your girdle muscles) are weakened (surprise, surprise with how big I carried) and are no longer able to hold your insides in (and everybody say, "Eww!").

I am now starting physical therapy to correct this and have decided to submit my thoughts and struggles or victories of this correction process to all of you who are still reading this.
I guess first things first. Here is my waist measurement (which is a visual indicator as to whether or not this is working for me).

Go ahead ladies, measure your waist and compare our measurements. It should boost your self esteem by a few notches.

I also got measured to see how much of a diastasis I have. The upper portion of my abdomen has a 5.5 finger wide spread, the middle portion (over the belly button) is at 6 fingers wide, and the bottom portion is 5.5 fingers wide. Unfortunately for me, it should take approximately a year to completely close my diastasis.

And now we will see over the next few weeks how much the Tupler Technique works for my tummy.

Here is another link for any of you who are curious about Diastasis.