Do you suffer from Diastasis Recti?

Most women, while pregnant, suffer from stretched stomach muscles and weakening abdominal muscles. This separation, called diastasis recti, results in a larger-than-normal distance—about two or more fingers—between the two sides of the abs. This often leaves a visible bulge or "belly gap" where the separation occurs, Herrera says. Overweight individuals, even men, can suffer from diastasis-recti. This is why my first class in my three-week Core Focus Classes focuses on diastasis-recti. 

Here's a little bit of my story... 

Two weeks after I prayed for a Tropical Vacation to escape the drearyness of Vermont's September weather that perfectly matched my mood, I discovered I was pregnant with our bonus baby. Because our other two children were entering their teens and becoming more independent, I had to take a moment to grieve what seemed like a setback. After all, I had prayed for a Tropical Vacation, not another child. But after succumbing to the fact that God's plans were better, I settled in, saw my third pregnancy as a gift, and enjoyed being pregnant. 

About six months in, I suffered from a twisted intestine and had to have surgery, resulting in a twelve-inch incision in my stomach to repair the intestine. My abdominal muscles weren't only stretched because of pregnancy but had to be cut to save my life during a crucial time of my baby's growth. After I gave birth to Aubree, the separation was more significant than usual. I had to engage in specific exercises to close the gap, perform core exercises once again, and gain a strong core.

Our core strength helps create a foundation for everything around it. When our abs are stretched and separated, their strength becomes compromised, leading to problems elsewhere. "A weakened core is one of the reasons why [pregnant women] experience low back pain, incontinence, pelvic pressure or organ prolapse, decreased sexual function, and sciatica [nerve] pain," Herrera says. Strong abdominals are essential for a strong pelvic floor, another muscle that's compromised when you have a baby.

This class is for you if you've had a baby, are overweight, and would like to strengthen your core, for those of you who are pregnant, and for those who are thinking about being pregnant in the future. I hope you will join me for our first class on February 13 from 6-7:30 p.m.

February 13th class

*Isa Herrera, women's health physiotherapist at Renew Physical Therapy in NYC