“What you’re experiencing isn’t just a weak core,” Dr. Patel said gently.
“It’s what we call a core ecosystem collapse, and 90% of doctors never talk about it. In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 women who come in after birth are told to just ‘do ab workouts’ or ‘give it time.’”
“Let me show you what’s happening.”
She pulled out a marker and began sketching on her pad.
"First, pregnancy stretches your abdominal wall to make space for the baby. The tissue down the middle, what used to hold your abs together, becomes thin and loose, like an overstretched rubber band."
"Second, your pelvic floor weakens. It’s the base of your core, and once it loses tension, everything above it becomes unstable."
"Third, your brain stops sending strong, clear signals to those deep support muscles. They’re still there, but they’re asleep."
“And fourth - this is crucial - your internal pressure system goes out of balance. Every breath, every laugh, every lift starts pushing against a core that can’t hold itself together.”
"Wait," I interrupted. “You mean this isn’t just me being out of shape?”