Instead of Shaming, Let’s Solve Mommy Tummy

Instead of Shaming, Let’s Solve Mommy Tummy

Having a baby is hard on your body. I don’t think anyone who’s gone through it would dispute that. It takes time to recover physically and emotionally. Then, when you finally start to feel more like yourself again, you sometimes still have the little bulge in your abdomen as a reminder. It has the charming name of mommy tummy, and sometimes it just doesn’t seem to want to go away no matter what you do. In the age of Instagram and celebrity supermoms, we have video evidence that some women are able to get back to their pre-pregnancy bodies very quickly, sometimes within weeks. So why can’t we all do it? After all, the internet is full of tips on the best exercises and diets to eliminate mommy tummy. 

It Has a Better Name

What no one told you is that mommy tummy has a clinical name – diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) – and eliminating it is part of the process of postpartum recovery. Some women recover naturally, but for others, it’s not so easy. It may take more time or even require intervention like physiotherapy. We believe it’s time to stop shaming new moms for not recovering from one of the most arduous jobs our bodies do and get down to the business of helping. 

Let’s Talk About DRA

DRA is one of the best-kept secrets about postpartum and often goes undiagnosed. In North America, we tend not to treat DRA as a healthcare issue, but we should. It can lead to more severe issues in the future if it isn’t corrected. 

DRA occurs when the tissue connecting the two abdominal muscles thins and is weakened as it stretches during pregnancy. When the tissue does not rebound and contract back to its original state after birth, the result is DRA. It is important to address DRA to prevent any potential complications, such as a hernia. 

It’s Not Your Fault!

Calling this potentially serious condition a trivial name like mommy tummy and offering quick fixes that don’t work for most women is counterproductive at best. We are all about educating women about DRA and the other issues your mom, your friends, and even your doctor don’t like talking about. Knowing that DRA is a medical condition and that you can get help to correct it leads to a much better frame of mind than feeling guilty that you didn’t do enough crunches or that you ate carbs for lunch. 

Core Health is Important

DRA is a complex condition that involves the health of your entire core. Resolving it may require physiotherapy to help you learn to activate the right muscles and move in ways that will not aggravate the condition, but rather make it better. There are also more technologically advanced methods of resolving DRA involving electromagnetic stimulation of the ab muscles and the soft tissue connecting them. Electromagnetic stimulation can restore balance to the entire core system, relaxing chronically tight muscles and waking up dormant ones. It also increases blood flow and helps strengthen muscles for overall better core fitness.

At Corelife Wellness, we use Emsculpt, which is famous for its body-sculpting capabilities. It turns out that the process of toning and shaping ab muscles is similar to the process needed to resolve DRA.

We would love to tell every new (and old) mom more and explain how Emsculpt is incorporated into our Venus Ab Rehab program. But let’s begin by spreading the word that the so-called mommy tummy is a condition and not a failing. At least half of all women will experience it postpartum. You are not alone, and help is available. Share this article with a new mom in your life, and let’s get the word out about solving mommy tummy!

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