Diastasis Recti

I have been working hard over the last year exercising to get my body back in shape.  I don't have any particular weight goal in mind, I just want to fit in my old clothes and to feel good.  I've pretty much stuck with 2 days of pilates and 3 days of cardio/weight training. 

At first when I started working out and even when I was just standing or walking for more than 10 min, my abs would really start to hurt.  I mentioned it to my pilates instructor who assured me that with time my abs would come back together and I wouldn't feel the discomfort anymore.

She was right, I spent a lot of time working on my lower abs and I started to feel some strength come back.  I still got tired abs after too much walking or standing, but I could go for a couple hours before having any problems.  In May I started a new workout program with the 30 day shred 4-5 days a week and pilates 1 day a week.  Two months after starting I fit into most of my old clothes and I've dropped about 7 lbs.

However, 15 months after having Cooper and 12 months after starting exercise again, I have this protruding mound above my belly button that I have really become concerned and frustrated with.  So I turned to my trusty old friend, Google.

I have Diastasis Recti or abdominal separation.    Basically my abs have separated down the middle and I am at risk for chronic lower back pain, altered posture due to weak ab muscles, stress incontinence, and abdominal hernia (yikes).

The worst part is that Pilates and traditional ab work (which I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A YEAR!) actually make the problem worse and can even 'fix' the abs into a permanent separation which can only be fixed by surgery. 

The good news is that it's probably not too late, as long as I make changes now.  There are only two DVD's on the market (that I have found) that go through specific exercises to repair the separation and prevent further separation.  I will be  stopping my workout (since pushups and much of the 30 day shred exercises are on the no-no list) until I can begin to repair my abs.  I'm really disappointed and frustrated by this.