preggers take action!!!

okay all you preggers out there. whether you've been pregnant, are pregnant, or plan on being pregnant-- there is something you should know. well, there's a lot.

here's my shpeel:

from the front and from the back, i look good. in fact, trimmer than pre-pregs, i'd say. turn me to the side, game over/covers blown. you may say-- "that girl most def just gave birth. OR "she must be 3 months pregs" i may be slightly exaggerating but only slightly.

here's the (not so) skinny on what happens while pregs:

for starters, your normal "6-pack muscles" (rectus abdominis) split straight down the middle and spread to the side to make room for your ever-expanding uterus and baby. they become stretched out and lax (especially when you release the relaxin hormone). The same thing happens with your transverse abdominal muscles. and this is an even bigger issue because it's these muscles that hold your stomach in and taut. they call the transverse muscles the "internal girdle" because they literally hold everything together. well guess whose NOT wearing their girdle?! me and all the other new moms.

anyway, when these muscles become stretched and lax your stomach becomes distended and you have what's called abdominal laxity (or post-pregs-pooch) which leaves you looking SUUUUB PAR.

and even worse, if you've had a c-section, you have an even weaker nueromuscular connection causing even more of a protruding belly. neat.

okay, so bottom line: in order to get everything back in tip-top shape you MUST work your transverse muscles, while being careful not to work your 6-pack muscles and obliques so much because this could make the protrusion worse. you want that separation to close before working those guys.

so the month of august is dedicated to the transverse! thats right, these are the pilates "pull your belly button to your spine" kind of exercises.... which i used to think were a joke, but now there's no times for jokes. down to business because i WILL NOT stand for loose, stretched-out abs that leave me looking slightly pregs.
http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=805

on a side note: did you ever have a protruding belly as a child? because i did. a rather large one, which leaves me to believe i'm more susceptible to it now. my theory is that little kids have underdeveloped ab muscles so their stomach's stick out more. so, back to my childhood look i go. not for long. i'm so over this look.

ps! this just gets worse with each kid. the reason: mom's don't get their abs back to where they need to be before baby #2. so then, they are beginning the whole process at an even worse abdominal state. by the time they're on 3 or 4 there's no hope. so the rich get a tummy tuck. but to the smart, frugal, and dedicated: WORK YOUR ABS, LADY'S!!! there's hope for us yet.