Happy Sunday! I took some time off because things got a little crazy for me. I had an Instagram post not too long ago about this bulge in my upper left abdomen. I had went into my primary care provider where I was told it was just diastasis recti. So I went on about my day just thinking about how this is normal for postpartum women. Now let me pause for a second and explain. Diastasis Recti is a separation of the abdominal muscles when you are pregnant. I never thought I could of had it because I never got big since I only made it to 25 weeks. From the very beginning my gut was telling me it was NOT in fact diastasis recti.
After a couple of weeks telling everyone I had diastasis recti, I finally decided to ask others who would know. I posted on one of my Facebook postpartum support groups a picture of my stomach. I asked if it was normal looking for diastasis recti. EVERY SINGLE Woman on there told me to get a second opinion. I decided to call my OB in Minot, ND since he was the one who had done my surgery. I always fall victim to google. So I was freaking out thinking that I had a tumor or that my organs weren’t placed back correctly. I was only seeing the worst. I never thought it was a hernia because there was no pain, no hardness, just a bulge of skin and an odd shaped belly.
At the appointment with the OB, I discussed all of my concerns. I was checked for diastasis recti and was told that I was correct about it not being that after all. He told me that it does not go up that high in the abdomen. Which makes sense to me. I do have diastasis recti, but that’s not what was causing the bulge. So a CT scan was ordered. I waited another week wondering what it could be that the doctor couldn’t even know for sure what it was. In the mean time I have been becoming sick. I actually thought I might have been pregnant. I get nauseous all the time at random. The smell of B’s oatmeal made me run to the bathroom wanting to throw up. Later, my hummus made me run to the bathroom wanting to throw up. My days now consist of me getting really sick, then tired, then I’m fine. I took a test and I’m not pregnant. The doctor confirmed that I was not pregnant. So what is causing me to be sick?!
The CT Scan results had finally came back. I have an umbilical hernia at 3.1 cm. It turns out, that is actually and the larger end of umbilical hernias. A hernia happens when the intestine or tissue bulges through the muscle. It can become deadly if it begins strangulation of the organs. So once again…I am preparing for another surgery. Atleast this time I have time to prepare for it. The percentage of women who get an umbilical hernia from pregnancy is about 0.08 percent (healthline.com). My grandma had a hernia postpartum, but I don’t personally know anyone else who has had one. Why does no one tell pregnant women about all of these things?! Well, I guess that’s what motivation me to begin these blogs!
I hope to bring hope and things in common to people out there who need it. I want all of the women who come across this to know what is natural and what is normal with their bodies and that they are alone. I want them to know that everything about pregnancy, birth, and being a mother is NOT what we are told it is.
Resources:
Citation Resources: What You Need to Know About Umbilical Hernias During and After Pregnancy by Noreen Iftikhar,MD (17 February 2018) healthline.com
Confessions of a Preemie Mom 