Healing my 4 Finger Diastasis Recti Postpartum

In my recent past, one of the most challenging journeys is regaining my strength post pregnancy. The amount of changes my body went through in a relatively short amount of time was extraordinary. There is the physical, visible change that everyone sees, but then there is also the internal healing that takes significantly longer and nobody can see. Having the strength to carry a growing baby is one thing, but then post-birth frustration that comes up when you’re used to being able to do certain movements with your body you all of a sudden can’t-is another level. Plus-I had 4 finger diastasis recti which was it’s own challenge to heal. So check out my post-pregnancy fitness journey below!

1st 10 Weeks: No workouts whatsoever. For a super active person like me, it was extremely annoying when my doctor told me that I could not workout for the first 12 week (3 months) because I had a C-section. But, she knew a postpartum body better than I did-so I listened and didn’t workout-except for some light walks every morning and evening. I started with 10 minute walks and slowly worked them up to 20 and 30 minute walks.

10-12 Weeks: If you know me, you’d know that I couldn’t just sit tight for 12 straight weeks. So when I started feeling more and more like myself, I started doing some light yoga in the mornings. I looked up postpartum yoga to do during “initial wait.” and got started. I found some Pinterest and Youtube workouts with a simple search.

12 Weeks-6 months postpartum: Once I got cleared to workout, I immediately texted my Pilates instructor. This was during the brutal Delta wave-so I was doing private classes online. My instructor assessed  that I had a 4 finger diastasis recti, which needed to be healed. Oh the frustrations of feeling “stuck” inside my body because it just couldn’t move like it used to. It was brutal. I continued with the classes and postnatal workouts I found on Youtube for the next several weeks.

7.5 months postpartum-present: I resumed normal workouts at the end of the summer at around 7.5 months postpartum. I went to the pilates studio after 2 years and it felt amazing to workout normally again. When I started at the studio, I was still at 2 fingers diastasis recti. However, with regular workouts, I was back to my back to my pre pregnancy body at 8.5 months postpartum, and I’m still going.

So that is my fitness journey post baby. I’m still at it, and my body is a work in progress. Yet, with all the changes my body went through, I actually developed a newfound respect with what my body is capable of doing to grow a baby and then get back to me feeling like, well, me. You know what I mean??