Ah, diastasis. I have it as well, and MUCH worse with the second baby than the first (it was pretty darn bad with the first too). Right now, I'm split from groin to sternum, and you can fit about four fingers width in the space. Yikes!! Since the little guy is only 3 months old, I do expect this to get much better, but I have to face the fact that the "mommy pooch" will never quite go away. It did, however, get MUCH better with my first, right before I got pregnant with the second. Some things that definitely helped me were:
- "Lose your Mummy Tummy" - look for it on Amazon.com. It has some great exercises that are very easy to do.
- A regular ab routine NOT including crunches, which can make the situation worse. I got this routine out of Parents magazine, and wish I could send you the pics. I'll do my best to describe the exercises:
1) Leg Circles - Lie on your back with your arms by your side and your legs out straight on the floor. Pull your belly button toward your spine. Keep it there as you raise your right leg toward the ceiling as far as you can. While holding your abs in toward your spine, make a circle the size of a dinner plate with your pointed foot. Do this 10 times in one direction, then make the circles 10 more times in the opposite direction. Drop your foot (while still holding those abs in) and repeat with the other leg.
2) Head Lifts - Get into the "crunch" position, with your knees bent and your hands behind your head. Pull your belly button in toward your spine, raise your head off the ground, and count to five. Slowly lower down. Repeat 15 times (increase as you get stronger). (Important note - do not lift your shoulders off the floor. This is a 'head lift' not a crunch. Try to focus on pulling your belly button farther in toward your spine with each lift and don't release until your head is back on the floor).
3) Head Lift Twist - Same position as last. Pull your belly button in again, and lift your head. Turn to the right so your right elbow is pointed at the wall on your right and count to five. Come back to the middle (stay up!) and turn to the left. Count to five. Repeat 10 times (adding more when able).
4) Toe Touches - Lie on your back, pull in your belly button, and lift your knees off the floor so your thighs are perpendicular to your body and your lower legs and feet are parallel to the floor. Keeping your belly button pulled in, lower one leg to the ground and tap it with your toe. Count to five as you pull your leg back to the starting position. Repeat with the other leg. Tap each leg 10 times. When you've mastered this, try lengthening your leg out along the floor, keeping it just above the floor but not touching. Don't do this until you're ready!
5) The Plank - Put your body into a push-up position, with your arms under your shoulders. Lower your butt so that your body is as streamlined as possible. Lift one leg and count to five. Repeat with the other leg. Do 5 lifts with each leg.
I hope this helps. These exercises take about 5 minutes per day, and they really do work. They are specifically for helping women pull their muscles back together. The more you do them, they more you'll find that you can hold your abs in better during regular life activities. As the other moms said, surgery is most often considered cosmetic, and will not be covered. Try the exercise route and see how it goes! I'm doing it now and hope it pays off!
Good luck,
Amy K