How to Heal Diastasis Recti with Caroline Johnson

Mummy tummy.

Pooch.

Baby belly.

It's exactly the thing that you don't want to happen after having a baby.   It's not because you're vain.  The transformation that your body goes through during pregnancy changes so much about you--physically, mentally, and emotionally.   Our physical bodies have many reminders, including scars, stretch marks, and extra stored fat that wasn't there before.   We get it and we're not mad about it.  

However, abdominal separation is more than just your belly looking like it's still a few months pregnant when you're not (although none of us would choose that).  It can be painful and cause other complications because your connective tissue and muscle that support your back and keep your internal organs in place, is  separated. 

In this week's episode, I talk with Caroline Johnson, of Belly Rebuild, about diastasis recti.  Diastasis recti is the separation of your transverse abdominal muscles (see below).  The picture on the left is what a separation looks like.  The picture on the right is what "normal" abdominal muscles look like. 

In Part 1 of the interview, Caroline and I talk about what diastasis is, why it happens, and what you can do to fix it.   Caroline shares the exercises that you should and should not do to fix a separation and you might be surprised to find many of your "ab strengthening" exercises on the do not list. 

In Part 2, Caroline and I talk about her journey as a wife, mother, and leader (business owner).  She shares how she created her business out of a personal experience with diastasis recti and how she's grown it with the support of her husband and other moms, all while raising 3 kids of her own! 

Part 1: What is Diastasis Recti?

Part 2:  Caroline's Insights into Building a Career and a Family