Baby is the size of cauliflower!
This past week, I had another OB appointment. I’ve mentioned before that I do not go to the OB every month until later on in pregnancy, so this was about 6 weeks between appointments.
We had some rather weighty topics to discuss – literally. For the first time, my diastasis recti (split in my stomach muscles – read more here) actually hurts and is causing me some real trouble. My doctor said she had no idea how I had managed all these years and that it is going to be a long 3 months as I battle my belly. Pretty much the only thing I can do is keep my belly bound as much as possible. She has actually seen a woman with a uterus flipped completely backward due to no stomach muscles! Yikes!
Next month, we will be scheduling my c-section and my consult with a local plastic surgeon who can tell us more about my condition, recovery time, and other details that will be important to our decision on how to proceed from here. My diastasis is simply too large to heal with anything but surgery. But, if yours is a smaller gap, I highly recommend The Tummy Team as an alternative to surgery.
This past weekend, I flew to Arizona and rode home with my husband as he had completed 4 months of active duty. Yes, you read that right, and no, I hadn’t mentioned it before. He left shortly after we found out I was pregnant, and so I have been managing the morning sickness and the household without him here. At some point, I’ll write more about what we did to keep the household running while he was away, but that’s a post all its own! The trip back had to broken up into 3 days because I could not stand to be in the vehicle for very long (and pregnant women are supposed to get out of the vehicle and walk around every couple of hours anyway). But, all in all, it was a great trip, and it was so wonderful to have Ty back with us!
The itching has been MUCH better since I started the Floradix. I’m still having a little trouble keeping my magnesium under control, so I’ve been awakened several times with awful leg cramps. Gotta make sure I’m using my magnesium lotion consistently and more of it than usual!
Ty and the kids have been great to help out since my mobility is greatly reduced this pregnancy. I keep telling myself it is only a few months of my life. I am looking forward to dropping the weight and getting back in shape once baby is here, but it will definitely be a slow and steady race.
Kate says
I’d love to hear how you managed the 4 months with him away. I’m an active duty military wife and face months apart regularly (which is no big deal after 9 years). I’ve never heard from another woman with a larger family, so I would find it very interesting.
This is my 7th pregnancy in 8 years and I too am having abdominal issues. Will you consider more pregnancies after this one? We are facing that choice now.
Praying for the rest of your pregnancy and c-section (I’m scheduling mine for roughly 2 weeks before yours as well).
Danita says
Are you sure your DR can only be healed by surgery? I had a DR of 8, yes 8!, finger widths and very thin connective tissue. I haven’t been as consistent as I’d hoped to be, but I have healed to having no more than a 3 finger gap now. That still leaves a lot of work to be done, but all without surgery! I hope the Tummy Team can help you again!
Amy says
Unfortunately, yes. The DR only got worse after my last baby, and it was already 10+. I did gain core strength (which is what I’ll be working on prior to surgery), but I never got the muscles to come any closer. I haven’t had any success approximating the muscles and getting them to close since baby #5 when I brought them from an 8 to a 5. The split is a full 10+ from top to bottom and the fascia is nearly non-existent. Basically, my goal right now (well, after baby, that is) is to get as strong as I can and give myself the best chance of making the surgery (when I do finally have it) a solid success with a fairly easy recovery.
Charlotte Moore says
Oh my goodness! I can’t imagine having your husband gone so long. I know it must have been hard. Thank goodness he is back now.
That really sounds painful to read about your stomach muscles. OUCH!!! I sure hope you can have it fixed after your delivery.
rebecca says
Wow! some of your posts made me wonder a bit if Ty was away… (reading between the lines maybe) so I am SUPER happy to hear he is back 🙂 Yay!
I have not had any diastasis, but rather I have been struggling with my legs…serious varicose veins and tiredness and cramping. This being the 8th pregnancy it has been painful for the first time- the veins are very pronounced and swell during the day a fair bit. (only 11 weeks left though!)
Some things that we put up with during pregnancies can become very difficult after several pregnancies don;t they??
I refused compression stockings the last couple times (ew really?? in summer?!) but for the first time I am willing to do anything to help them out!!
I can;t imagine the tummy discomfort, but I am always amazed and encouraged to hear other mothers toughing it out through painful body issues to keep having their precious babies.
Always gives me the inspiration to keep my head up and know that I too will make it!
oh- and when I remember to take my magnesium (inspired by a post by you) I do think the leg cramping has been better… I sure don’t need the cramping on top of the vein discomfort! lol. Last night I jumped out of bed a few times for serious cramp bouts and kept my husband awake for a bit- oops 😛
Amy says
((HUGS)) I’ve never dealt with varicose veins, but I am sure they are super painful!
rebecca says
I am sure your tummy is a tougher battle than my legs- hugs back- you are a tough gal 😉
Audrey says
Praise the Lord for your faithfulness in bringing children into the world. Eternal worshippers for the king of kings! I can already hear your “well done, good and faithful servant”. One day we will all have new perfect bodies that will never wear out and we will have all our precious saved children around us- this is all we get to bring with us. It will be glorious. It is worth it. I am expecting my 7th baby and I know the pain of cesarean and diastasis and bad veins. God bless you. You are an encouraging example to many.
Georgia says
Hang in there! Sending prayer and hugs 🙂
Susan Geddes says
dearest Amy, is your OB gently suggesting considering your family complete? I just wondered, because I think I heard that you should be “done” when you have the diastasis surgery. That’s never been my ideal (we have less children than we would have wanted, because of other health issues) and I know it isn’t yours, and I’m hesitant to speak of it here. Sometimes these things are not disobedience – you are the last person who could be accused of trying to usurp God’s will in this area – but simply a different way of revealing His will, and his gracious care of a precious daughter. It may also not be the time. Only you and Ty know, and I’ll be praying about it. Your blog is a real blessing to me and I know many others xx
Amy says
Thank you, Susan.
Jillian DiCosimo says
Hi Amy, sorry I’ve been a stranger! Also sorry to hear about your diastasis. I have a question for you. Can you describe the pain you feel? Is it a feeling of being bruised? I’ve lately started having that feeling and can’t figure out why. I’m wondering if it can be related to my diastasis. I never knew that they can cause pain. Hope you get the answers you need at your consult. And please keep us posted with that. Keep chugging along!
Amy says
Mine is a burning and pulling – just like a pulled muscle. (And I’m glad to see you here! 😉 )
Stephanie says
I’m wondering if your pain is mainly in the area closest to the sternum? I also have a large diastasis that has not closed with physical therapy. i have slacked, because, honestly, it is so much work to keep up with to keep trying to close this gap. At any rate, I have had persistent pain in the upper area of my diastasis, close to the sternum, for years, but no one has ever been able to tell me why. All I’ve kept hearing is that diastasis recti does not cause pain.
Amy says
My pain while pregnant has been all along the sides where my muscles actually are now. I am constantly straining them. I also have a back ache if I’m up too long. So, no, nothing really near my sternum, but it could be.
STEPHANIE says
Yes. while pregnant with my last child I had that pain as well, and the back pain. Have you heard of these products? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PBH7A6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and http://www.srchealth.com/. They are both very expensive but helped greatly to cope with my postpartum pain at different stages.: Amy, as I understand all too well how hard it can be to experience constant pain while still needing to tend to your children and be there for your husband. My diastasis also contributed to a worsening of very painful pelvic pain issues, from which I have not yet recovered. For me, is has been a lonely journey to travel through as well, because I have not read of or met anyone experiencing what I am going through. And it is not a subject most are comfortable talking about. I will be praying for you.
Amy says
Hi Stephanie! I use something similar to the first link. I’ve bookmarked them to return to after baby is born. Thank you!
Stephanie "Steff" says
Hey Amy, I am often a lurker here on your blog. I am also pregnant (baby #4) and 28 weeks, so we are close together! I am so sorry for what your going through with the DR! It seems that you have done everything possible to avoid surgery, but sometimes its needed! Thank God we have surgeons who are able to help when that is the only way. I pray for you and your precious unborn baby, as well as your entire family, that the rest of this pregnancy would be less difficult than imagined and that your birth and subsequent surgery go perfectly well. God bless.
Amy says
Thank you, Steff!
Josi says
I’m reading this post after your current post regarding dating. Now that I see that Ty was gone for four months I see why “dating” and “exhaustion” are words that were on the tip of your tongue! Ha! Your drive back from AZ was one looooooooong version of your driveway date! I love time in the car with my hubs 🙂
Amy says
Yes, it was!
Christina says
I highly recommend also reading Diastasis Recti by Katy Bowman.