|
Postpartum Abdominal Shape
The Post-Partum Body
Some women experience trouble bringing their abdomen back to
its original tone and size after childbirth. For most, a combination
of time and abdominal exercises will work. The change in a most
women's bodies is due to the laxity of the abdominal muscle wall. It
is important to remember that your body has simply changed, and
not necessarily for the worse. Some exercises can help your
abdomen return to its original size. If your abdomen still does not
seem to be returning to its original size and shape after you've give
these exercises a try, you may wish to look into an actual physical
reason for this.
The Exercises
If a woman is worried about abdominal stretching for cosmetic
reasons and either doesn't have the financial means or the desire
to have cosmetic surgery there are some exercises she can do to
make her stomach smaller. A combination of deep breathing
exercises, pelvic tilts, and small sit-ups or head lifts can be a big
help. These should be done regularly and started as soon after
childbirth as is comfortable. All of these exercises should be done
slowly and smoothly. This will put the muscle to use most effectively
and decrease the risk of pulling a muscle. Regular abdominal
exercises such as sit-ups and crossover sit-ups, which target the
sides of your abdomen, should not be done until a few weeks after
delivery. A woman must also allow her abdominal muscles to heal
before putting more strain on them. Any weight loss should be
gradual and any exercise should only be done if it makes you feel
better, not worse.
Abdominal Hernia
Women who have given birth to large babies, had multiple births,
or had several children, may have actual tearing of the abdominal
wall. This is called an abdominal hernia. Apart from the cosmetic
reasons for choosing surgery, a woman might choose or actually
need to repair the hernia if she is also experiencing pain,
entrapment, or protrusion of the intestines through the opening the
hernia creates. Usually a woman can feel or see an abdominal
hernia as a lump in their abdomen that gets bigger when she
bears down (like pushing during labor). This lump is often what is
called reducible, meaning by gently applying pressure with the
palm of the hand, the lump will be pushed back inside the
abdomen. It is sometimes accompanied by a dull aching feeling.
Abdominal hernias can become dangerous if any part of a
person's intestines become trapped in the tears of the abdominal
muscle. However, many people live years with abdominal hernias
and experience no complications.
|
