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Martha in VA
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| Posted: April 27 2009 at 5:02pm | IP Logged
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Do you remember that song:
"Do you ears hang low, do they wobble to and fro,
can you tie them in a not, can you tie them in a bow...."
Well that's pretty much the story of my midsection right now. I feel like my belly swings like a pendulum after my c-section last week. I know I'm only a few days out but I'm feeling like some sort of support or binder would at least help me feel like I'm not falling out all over the place. Could someone please recommend one that's comfortable yet supportive?
Someone actually commented on my "pregnancy" today when I was in Target without the baby.  That's the last time I go anywhere without him!
Thanks for the help!
Martha in VA
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MarilynW
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| Posted: April 27 2009 at 5:32pm | IP Logged
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Martha - i have not got free hands to link right now - but check out my blog - in the postpartum essentials post on my blog I have a link to one in babies r us - I found it really good last time - though it can get hot. if you have trouble email me and i will send you a link later tonight
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: April 27 2009 at 5:43pm | IP Logged
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I had this one by Loving Comfort last time around and it was GREAT!
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Martha in VA
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| Posted: April 27 2009 at 6:30pm | IP Logged
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MarilynW wrote:
| Martha - i have not got free hands to link right now - but check out my blog - in the postpartum essentials post on my blog I have a link to one in babies r us - I found it really good last time - though it can get hot. if you have trouble email me and i will send you a link later tonight |
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Hi Marilyn,
Yes, I did see that in your post. Thanks for reminding me of that.
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: April 28 2009 at 6:15am | IP Logged
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Hi Martha,
I have the same one that Suzanne has and I love it. However, I will caution you to not get into it too early. I was so anxious to be all "tucked in" after my last c/s that I think I used the wrap too soon and I do believe it contributed to my incision infection. Maybe give yourself another week or two? Of course you know your body best, but if you start to have any itching, burning, redness--take it off!
Congrats again on your little one!
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Martha in VA
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| Posted: April 28 2009 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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Molly Smith wrote:
Hi Martha,
I have the same one that Suzanne has and I love it. However, I will caution you to not get into it too early. I was so anxious to be all "tucked in" after my last c/s that I think I used the wrap too soon and I do believe it contributed to my incision infection. Maybe give yourself another week or two? Of course you know your body best, but if you start to have any itching, burning, redness--take it off!
Congrats again on your little one! |
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Thanks for the warning, Molly. I likely would have tried to stuff myself into it too early! 
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: May 05 2009 at 7:49pm | IP Logged
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Does this kind of wrap help later? Is it a help with "mummy tummy" or diastasis (which I can't figure out if I have)?
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Dilla
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| Posted: June 12 2009 at 10:57am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
| Does this kind of wrap help later? Is it a help with "mummy tummy" or diastasis (which I can't figure out if I have)? |
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This site gives some good instructions for determining if you have diastasis recti: http://www.bacinfo.com/popup/tips/diastasis.htm
I am not advocating any exercises mentioned on any website.
Wearing a binder has definitely helped my postpartum diastasis. I highly recommend the BetterBinder: http://www.coreproducts.com/asp_catalog/catalog.asp?pca=474
I found the BetterBinder after 3 years of being postpartum with a diastasis that worried me greatly. For three years postpartum, I had consulted several doctors and tried all the recommended programs and binders I could find, without improvement. I finally found a lady who has years of experience evaluating women's diastases and she told me that mine was the longest she'd ever seen (about 11 inches long, up to 3 inches wide) and wanted to get pictures because she could see my abdominal aorta. :-/
After following her advice, the top and bottom of my diastasis actually closed before I became pregnant a month later. After I became pregnant, I did more research and found the BetterBinder, which I wore every single day during my pregnancy. I digress, but a few observations about wearing my binder during pregnancy: When I took the binder off, I couldn't breathe--I would gasp for air--and became very weak. But whenever I had it on, I could always draw in sufficient air to breathe and felt great. It also eliminated pre-term contractions for me. If I took it off, I would get the pre-term contractions that are "normal" for my pregnancies, but once I put it back on, they disappeared. A caution: When I was in labor, my midwife was wondering why I wasn't having any contractions--we realized that I had to remove the binder first! Within a couple of minutes, I had normal labor contractions.
I had the best pregnancy ever by wearing the BetterBinder and I continue to wear it (though not as faithfully!) post-partum. My diastasis has decreased significantly-- I attribute that to wearing the BetterBinder.
One other thing about postpartum diastasis: be aware that "normal" daily movements can continue to tear your abdominal muscles apart. During that 3 year postpartum time period I described earlier, I would occasionally have searing pains inside (fortunately they would only last about one second) as my "healing" muscles ripped apart again. I was dumbfounded because I had attributed the pains to the exercise programs I had been trying which were designed to heal the diastasis. But what I found, that the "expert lady" who evaluated me helped me to discover, is that I was doing two things throughout the day that were causing my muscles to rip apart and perpetuating the never-ending cycle of "rip-heal, rip-heal."
First, when you get out of bed, you must roll to one side or the other before raising up. Do not raise your body up when lying on your back.
Second, when you are taking a shower, do not face away from the water and lean backwards to rinse your hair under the water. You must turn around and face the water and bend your head forward to rinse your hair.
My second tip is very important--it took me years to figure that out because the searing pain would happen intermittently, often when I was "doing nothing," simply sitting down. It was so perplexing! Moving incorrectly in the shower was the final way I was continuing to rip my muscles. Now that I am aware, I no longer experience that occasional searing "rip" pain.
I hope these tips help people who have a postpartum diastasis due to a c-section or just a regular delivery (like me). I was very scared to be pregnant with such a severe diastasis, so I would like people to know that it is possible to have a successful pregnancy in spite of having a diastasis. I am very grateful to God for guiding me and showing me how to deal with this situation!
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Molly Smith
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| Posted: June 16 2009 at 12:37pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for posting, Dilla. I am only 6 weeks postpartum (after 7th c-section) and this describes me to a T. Your two tips on getting out of bed and showering have made a difference these last few days. I have my 6 week check-up on Thursday, so I plan to talk to my OB about diastasis.
I also did a little research online and found BeFit Mom. Is anyone familiar with this? It advocates core strengthening to heal abdominal separation from the innermost layers. Granted, they are trying to sell a product, but their website was also packed with information that all made sense to me. I'm going to wait for my OB's okay, but do plan to order the DVD (I'm terrible with exercise books).
One interesting thing I wanted to share from the website was their recommendation to not use front packs/slings while you have diastasis, and to instead use a stroller. I don't happen to own a baby stroller, but I may look into borrowing one temporarily while my muscles heal.
Getting my body back together, already started with nutrition and hopefully starting now with strengthening my core before adding other exercises, is my top priority. If we are blessed with another pregnancy, I want to be in much better shape than I was this time.
Like Dilla, I'm not advocating any of the exercise on this website, but wanted to share my findings.
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myheaven1967
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Wow, thank you Dilla! This is exactly the kind of information I was searching for!
Thank you so much!
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Topic: Help! Need c-section belly binder ASAP!
