Hello..........anybody out there????  Well, I guess I'm the first one here.  See, staying up WAY past your bedtime isn't always a bad thing.  I'm not really sure what to say, other than I'm so grateful to you Amy for putting yourself out there to help other women like yourself.  I don't think I would have had the courage to photograph my non pregnant belly for everyone to see.  But, I'm soooooooooooo glad you did.  You started a dialogue that so many of us needed to hear.  You made us believe that there was hope. That it was possible to heal. You've sorta become the spokeswoman for D.R. Thank you for being so candid and honest and sharing your progress with us. I'm so glad that we're in this together.  All of us.    That's all for now.  Hope to make some new friends soon!

Hi there!  Thanks so much for popping over.  I can hardly believe where this conversation has lead from the day I wrote that first post on being newly pregnant and looking like I was almost due. http://www.raisingarrows.net/2010/02/im-pregnant-and-huge-a-diastasis-recti-story.html

I never expected to become the "spokeswoman", but I'm thankful now because I am realizing just how many women deal with this and think it is hopeless (I was one of them!)

So, what troubles are you facing with the program?  I'm having a tough time getting all the exercises in.  However, I talked to Julie yesterday and she said to do them whenever, wherever...the shower, while walking, while nursing baby, etc.  She also said the contractions are the important ones, so if I can't get the headlifts in, at least get the contractions in.  That helped me a lot!

Thanks so much for starting this forum! What a great idea!

I'm *just* now getting started on Week One. We were on vacation last week, and I figured it'd be better for me to start afterwards when I could focus on it better. 

I watched the video yesterday, so I'm strapping on the splint and taking off TODAY!

I am grateful to already have a place to get encouragement and be cheered on! ;-)

 - Mama Chocolate

Hi Mama Chocolate,

I was talking with Amy about how character flaws can affect your progress in this journey.  Hopefully, you're a lot more diligent than me, and that won't be an issue for you.  Its so good to know that Julie seemed to be understanding.  From the videos I've seen of her, she's come across as not being a push over.  I suppose her name is on the line, so she'd want to make sure that her clients are putting in the effort.  The problem with me has been fitting it in as well.  I've gotten as use to wearing the splints as one can get.  So Mama Chocolate, don't let that stop you!  It does get better.  When I first started, I liked that it wasn't that time consuming, and even though it really only takes a few minutes at a time (for this stage, anyway) I just can't seem to find the time or the motivation.  I have a wedding to go to in Aug. so I'm hoping that if I stick with it I'll look better in the dress i've yet to find.   If only this wasn't such a long process.  Maybe God wants me to learn to be more diligent and not quit.  I'm thinking of Gal. 6:9 "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart".  I have this highlighted in my bible and I find that I have to remind myself of this verse often.  

Hi Amy,

First I wanted to say thank-you so much for your DR blog posts (I felt quite alone before reading them) followed by setting up this forum for us all to share our DR journeys with each other.  You have comforted and inspired me, and I have started the Julie Tupler Diastasis Rehab program today.

The appearance of my DR is quite similar to yours in the side-on profile shots (although when I measure it is only 3 fingers), but I have only had 1 baby, who is now 2.  I suspect that I had DR well before my pregnancy, and just didn't know it (tummy was never flat even though I was slim everywhere else, my back always had an extremely pronounced arch towards the front).  Also, my first pregnancy, in a very slim, fit and strong body (I was a runner and rockclimber, and extremely slim and fit when I fell pregnant), showed very early, and only ever grew straight out from my belly (I now suspect more like "fell out").  I experienced severe pelvic pain from 5 months onwards, which at least made me wear a kind of support splint that went under the belly, so that the pain didn't entirely prevent me from walking.  My pregnant belly was so hugely sticking out the front, that experienced midwives assumed from my appearance that I was carrying twins, before my EDD.

Anyway, onto the DR rehab program.  I have committed myself to sticking with it for 6wks, but it is very tough, right from the start.  I am just not physically able to do all the things the program asks in week 1.  I know that just means that my transverse is weak, and that by doing all that I can it will get stronger and improve my ability to perform the 4 steps over time.  But it still feels quite disheartening.  Time to accept that emotion is there and to do the actions anyway, to the best of my ability.  I hope that by sharing I can encourage others who may feel the same, and that it will also give me some added motivation to stick with it. 

Wishing you all the best as we share this challenging process towards better health.

Hi Nicole,

It's interesting that you said you had really bad pelvic pain.  I did too.  It was so bad that one day, I couldn't get out of bed without my husbands help.  And even with that it was VERY painful.  I also had really bad sciatica pain.  At the time I was seeing an incredibly rude dr. that told me "That's what you get for having so many kids".  ( I was pregnant with #4)  I thought for a long time that it probably was somehow related to having so many babies.  That was until I finally switched to a midwife.  When I complained to her about the pain (I was now expected #6)  she imediately said it had to do with my DR .  My uterus wasn't being held in the way it should have.  I wonder if this is a common symptom of pregnant women with DR. 

Well, I know its hard right to complete the exercises, but  I think you'll start to see improvement in your strength pretty quickly.  I was so amazed with Amy's progressed and found that I've made pretty quick progress myself.  So just stick with it.  Do the best you can.  I'm not sure if Julie would say this, but I think it's better to do fewer exercises than trying do do all of them with bad form.  maybe you could just do half of them.  I think if you did a week or two like that you'll be strong enough to continue with the program.  What do you think Amy?

Well,  I better get going.  sorry for being so long winded!

God Bless!!

Hi ladies!  I just got a new laptop and I would need 3 days nonstop to get it all set up like my old one was, and we all know I don't have that kind of time!

I did learn just recently that it is the connective tissue and NOT the size of the DR that is of most concern and will be what hurts you the most.  So, Nicole, it is quite possible it is your connective tissue that is shot and if that is the case, it will be harder to close that for someone who has a small DR and good connective tissue too.

I am still struggling to get the exercises in.  Doing them as I type!

Umm......I don't get it.  would you mind explaining that again, please?  I must be really brain dead today.  I'll blame my hubby for that.  We were talking till 6am!!! 

Hope you find more time to fiddle around with that laptop!

Blessings,

Jill

BTW,  I love the "tacky yard art" comment!  That's really funny.

Thanks for doing this, Amy!

Ok, I have my new splint and DVD and... well... am I the only one that doesn't understand how to do these 'exercises'?  I can't feel a thing while doing the "elevator" or the "contractions" and I can't seem to belly breathe?  Goodness, I feel ridiculous, but it's true.  I've spent a lot of money to try to fix this.  

Anyone else have this problem?  How did you fix it?

Jillian,

Julie told me the other day that someone with a DR of 3 or 4, but w/ really weak connective tissue will have a harder time closing that gap than someone w/ the same size gap, but stronger connective tissue.  The connective tissue is really important and must heal well before the gap closes.  So, if your gap is really deep, then your connective tissue is shot and you are going to need to work really hard to close it and it may take longer.