Pre-pregnancy abdominal muscle training helps with postpartum weight loss

After giving birth, if the abdominal muscles of new mothers do not recover well and the belly problem is still obvious, they may develop "rectus abdominis separation". Plastic surgeons remind that many postpartum women will try to do sit-ups and other exercises to improve their figure and avoid rectus abdominis separation, but if the method is not appropriate, it may make the situation worse. For some mothers who cannot recover on their own after childbirth, surgery is one of the options to help restore their normal body shape. Doctors also recommend that if women do not want to have "rectus abdominis separation" after giving birth, they should do so.Fake belly", you should do more abdominal muscle training before pregnancy or in your daily life to strengthen your abdominal muscles.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Chen Xiaolong explains that the rectus abdominis are two major muscles located in the center of the abdomen. During pregnancy, as the abdomen gradually expands, the abdominal fascia is stretched and becomes loose, preventing the rectus abdominis from returning to their original position, leading to the condition known as diastasis recti. So, how can a woman know if she has this condition? Dr. Chen explains that lying flat on her back can help her place her fingers above her belly button and apply gentle pressure. If she can feel a noticeable gap between the two rectus abdominis muscles, one that can fit more than two fingers' width, she may have diastasis recti.

He added that if a pregnant woman is pregnant with a giant baby, multiple births, or has excessive amniotic fluid, the risk of rectus abdominis separation will increase. According to foreign literature, about 10% of pregnant women will experience this condition. In order to quickly lose weight, some postpartum mothers will frequently do abdominal exercises such as sit-ups, thinking that it will help tighten the abdomen. However, if the movements are not correct, it may cause the rectus abdominis to be further stretched. Dr. Chen once received a case where a woman actively lose weight, constantly exercising and controlling their diet to eat low-calorie foods, resulting in weaker abdominal muscles and even intestinal gas problems, which eventually required surgical treatment.

Regarding treatment, Dr. Chen explains that mild cases of diastasis recti can usually be improved through physical therapy and specific exercises. However, moderate to severe cases may require abdominoplasty. This procedure is performed subcutaneously and requires general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon repairs the fascia layer above the rectus abdominis muscles, aiming to reattach the separated muscles. Excess lower abdominal skin and stretch marks are also removed, effectively improving the appearance of the abdomen.

The postoperative wound recovery period is about 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, the patient needs to wear a special plastic waist belt and avoid lifting heavy objects or using the core abdominal muscles to avoid affecting the healing process. After completing all regular follow-up visits, normal exercise can be gradually resumed. Through proper prevention and treatment, postpartum mothers can still regain their health andConfident figure.