QuestionMy daughter had a baby 7 weeks ago at a birthing center where she spent many hours in a jacuzzi. She was in hard labor for 14 hours and in the last couple of hours the midwife told her her vagina was swollen from being in the water too long. She spent the next hours in a bed and on a birthing chair. She delivered the head while in the birthing chair and the total baby in bed several hours later. My question is that 7 weeks later she has a soccer size shape to her stomach that makes her look likes shes still pregnant and it is very hard. She has not rounded out like most other women after delivery. She has not seen a gynocologist because the midwife says shes' fine. I don't think this is natural. Do you have any ideas?
AnswerA hard, round abdomen at 7 weeks postpartum is not normal. Have you daughter see an OBGYN for a complete medical evaluation.
If all potential medical problems are ruled out, then your daughter should start specialized postpartum exercises. To flatten her abs, she need to start by strengthening her deepest abdominal muscle, the Transverse Abdominis, then when adequate strength has been re-established, train the muscle to function properly as a stabilizer.
You daughter should not perform ANY abdominal exercises that lift/roll the upper body off the floor or against the force of gravity. So no crunches, oblique pulses, roll-ups or roll-backs, most Pilates mat work and yoga moves like "boat pose."
Two safe TvA exercises for both prenatal and postpartum can be found at the bottom of page:
http://www.befitmom.com/strength_training.html
She should also test to see if she has abdominal separation (diastasis recti). Details can be found on page: http://www.befitmom.com/abdominal_separation.html
For info on how to safely rehab the abdominal wall after pregnancy go to: http://www.befitmom.com/abdominal_reconditioning.html
