Twice a month, I lead exercise classes for women in early recovery from substance use disorder. They are still in detox from alcohol and/or drugs like methamphetamines, heroine, cocaine, fentanyl, and more. I’ll often have several pregnant mamas in my workout classes, because pregnancy can be a motivating factor in getting clean and sober.
Recently, I noticed one young pregnant addict in my session struggling with the most basic cues and movements. Through her shirt, I could see a kumquat-sized bulge at her navel, so after the class was over, I asked her if I could see her tummy. She willingly hiked up her shirt, and I saw a large umbilical hernia.
“We’ve been to her appointments with her, and she asked about that lump on her abs, and her doctors told her it’s normal, just part of pregnancy sometimes.”
That’s what her caseworker said as I had this 27-weeks-along mama take a breath and draw her abs in as she exhaled. Then I pinched the skin on either side of the hernia, pulling the edges closer together, and band-aided it in place. I felt furious because HERNIATION IS NOT NORMAL during pregnancy – even if it’s common – and abdominal hernias always come with Diastasis Recti AND both are very treatable!!!
Despite her history of substance use, she’s still a person who deserves care and compassion. Yet her valid concerns had been invalidated by her doctor. She had been brushed aside, leaving her to deal with yet another trauma – this time one to her tummy.
I’m no doctor or physical therapist, but I had her permission and that of her case worker to do what I could.
As soon as that bandaid went on, she said, “OoooohhhMYgawwwwdd! That feels so much better,” and she relaxed. She stopped stimming and fidgeting like addicts in detox tend to do. She took a big beautiful breath. Her shoulders dropped away from her ears. She made eye contact with me and smiled. She ran both hands across her belly and talked to her baby. Her sponsor and case worker were amazed at the instant change.
I made her team promise to get her some real tape + splint her abs and follow up with a doctor that would refer her to a surgeon. Meanwhile, she had a few hours of feeling supported and cared for.