Postpartum hernia: What to expect?

About fifteen months after my second C-section, I finally received a formal diagnosis for my diastasis recti.
My midsection feels incredibly heavy, and honestly, I’m relieved to have a clear answer. For a while, I was genuinely worried I’d just look pregnant forever.
I also have significant abdominal separation, by the way.
I’m trying to figure out which surgical centers are best for this. I've noticed some hospitals prefer open surgery while others offer laparoscopic options. Does anyone know if it's possible to repair the muscle separation and trim the excess skin at the same time? 😎
What is the actual experience like, and what should I expect during recovery?

Yeah, I had the same thing after my C-section—got surgery done at Mayo Clinic, but they didn't even take it out properly, so now I'm still stuck with this massive scar. Honestly, laparoscopy isn't going to cut it for you, especially since your core strength is pretty weak right now. You’re looking at a six-month recovery where you can't lift anything over like 7 pounds... though I don't know how I managed to carry my baby without losing it.

velvetcobra6 said:After my second baby via C-section, I finally got diagnosed with a hernia (15 months postpartum).
My stomach is huge. Honestly, I’m kind of relieved to have a diagnosis because now there's a fix; I was starting to think I'd just look pregnant forever.
I also have diastasis recti, by the way.
Does anyone know where the best surgeons are? Some hospitals do it open while others go laparoscopic. Is there any chance they can repair the muscle separation and trim the excess skin at the same time? 😎
What's the surgery actually like, and how is the recovery?

I had a ventral hernia repaired when I was 12 months postpartum. Mine wasn't from surgery, though—I developed it during my first pregnancy because I carried the baby so high up. They told me it's one of the toughest types to operate on.
I had mine done at a local hospital via traditional open surgery (not laparoscopic) and stayed for four days.
Day 1: prep. Day 2: surgery around noon, then IV fluids through day 2 and 3. Day 4: discharged in the morning with three injections I had to go to the ER every night to get administered.

Recovery took me a solid month and a half. They didn't use a drain on me, so my wound actually opened up after a week. I was lucky it opened and drained, otherwise, I might have ended up with sepsis. 😢 They recommend wearing a compression garment (you can usually get an insurance voucher for one through your provider), but you shouldn't do anything heavy physically for about six months to avoid the hernia coming back.

Forget about getting the extra skin removed—at least not here, since that's considered cosmetic and costs extra. As for repairing the muscles, I'm not sure.
Talk everything over with your doctor (even if mine didn't say a word until after the surgery).

Thanks for all the input.
I’m feeling a bit lost on how to handle things leading up to the surgery. My doctor advised against scheduling anything before summer, but what about waiting until the fall?
With a little one at home, I’m constantly lifting her... Should I be strictly avoiding any physical strain, or is that overkill? And what about taking a trip to the coast? I'm torn between being cautious and just trying to live my life like I didn't receive this news in the first place.

velvetcobra6 said:Thanks for the input.
I'm stuck on how to handle things leading up to the surgery. My doctor suggested waiting until after summer, but what am I supposed to do until fall hits?
Between dealing with a baby and having to lift her constantly... should I be avoiding all physical effort? Can I still go to the beach? Or just pretend I don't even have this issue?

Look, I lived with this hernia for over seven years and just did my best to function normally. Whenever it pinched, I’d just stop, take a breather, and then get back to it. You pretty much just gauge how much it's bothering you in the moment.
I finally bit the bullet and went under the knife because it was getting unbearable—the pinching happened way more often, and if I bent over too far, it felt like it was sliding right under my ribs. Then I couldn't even straighten up or take a breath without hitting a massive cramp.

Not sure why they aren't doing these surgeries during the summer at your clinic. Maybe the surgeon is taking vacation? A colleague of my sister-in-law actually had hers done recently.
Personally, I opted for a winter surgery because things are usually a bit quieter around the house then.

So, I had my third baby about four months ago—natural birth, by the way—and during my first follow-up, my OB-GYN basically tells me I’ve gained a pound. But the real issue was my belly button; it was sticking out like crazy, just this huge bulge from my stomach. I’d been wearing a waist trainer, which ended up digging in pretty badly, and while the navel has finally receded, it’s still not quite flush and it actually hurts a little bit when I touch the area around it. Is this what people call a hernia? And should I be making an appointment with a specialist to get this checked out?

First off, hello everyone—I’m really hoping someone here might be able to share some insight with me. Has anyone ever had to undergo hernia surgery following a C-section? In my case, they had to cut through the muscle too, and now I feel like I've somehow swallowed a basketball... which is just so frustrating because I’ve always been naturally thin with a flat stomach, but now, well, things are definitely different 😢 !!!!
I was also wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience with the Mayo Clinic—I’m actually scheduled for surgery there in about 7 or 8 days, and to be completely honest, I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed. I don't know much about what to expect, and I’m genuinely scared about how the procedure will turn out... I mean, will I ever truly get back to my old self?
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, does anyone know anything about the surgeon? She’s an abdominal surgeon who would be performing my operation at the Mayo Clinic... what is she like? And am I making the right call by choosing this hospital?
Thank you all so much in advance—any bit of information or advice you could offer would honestly mean the world to me right now!!!!