Most women are told to “do core work” after pregnancy, but traditional ab exercises like crunches and sit-ups can actually make things worse. Research shows that true core recovery starts with breath retraining, posture alignment, and deep-core activation of the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor. These muscles work together to manage pressure, support your spine, and flatten your belly from the inside out. Once that foundation is rebuilt, progressive overload through controlled strength tra