What is mommy tummy? Do we all have it? Can we ever get rid of it? Hear from the experts.
If you’re a mom, there’s about an 80% chance you are familiar with the term "Mommy Tummy" in one way or another.
And if you are an avid exerciser, your tummy might be a constant reminder of how hard you’re (not) training because “why wont this damn tummy go away”??!!!
Well it’s because that tummy is a lot more about physiology and less about lack of exercise and discipline and too many bon-bons.
Mommy Tummy is most often caused by a medical condition called Diastasis Recti where you outer most abdominal muscles separate to make room for baby and don’t “snap” back once baby is born.
Diastasis occurs in about 80% of first pregnancies and is currently the most under reported cause of this unsightly tummy that moms suffer from worldwide.
And because of the lack of awareness and limited information available, moms go on a quest to flatten their tummies no matter what! Crunches, sit ups, v-sits, bicycles and on and on and on. The sad part? The results are limited because what they didn’t know was now that their muscles are separated; their organs are exposed so every time they “crunch”, they push their organs out.
Nice.
Then what about planks? Sure but ONLY if you have been assessed and have created a strong foundation first. Just think about it; if your abdominals are separated and your organs are exposed and you go into a front loaded position, do you think there might be a problem here? Go on and try it and look down. Your organs are now hanging out.
Wonderful.
The solution? Take the time to get assessed by a trained professional who knows how to assess and then how to treat it because if you have a diastasis and you get pregnant again, guess what? It gets bigger and so does your tummy.
Nuff said.
Samantha Montpetit-Huynh, Owner and Founder of Core Expectations, Samantha specializes in pre & postnatal 
exercise training for busy moms with little time. Over the years she has helped numerous women maintain strength and energy during their pregnancies and supported them through challenging postpartum periods.
