Diastasis
recti refer to the visible
separation or gap between
your left and right recti
muscles. Once again it
is due to the hormones
that surface during pregnancy,
mainly relaxin. Many women
are not even aware that
they have it.
After delivery
most women will have a
gap between the two stomach
muscles, known as the
rectus muscles.
Rectus muscles run vertically
down to the pelvis. They
may separate in the middle.
This separation is termed
as diastasis recti and
is a type of hernia.
Why
Diastasis Rectus happens
It is a normal occurrence
that happens during pregnancy
where the abdominal walls
get stretched and pushed
apart as your baby grows.
Relaxin causes the abdominal
muscles to expand sideways
leading to diastasis recti.
The two halves of the
rectus abdominus separate,
a normal tendency during
pregnancy. Multiple births
and repeated pregnancies
aggravate the condition.
If this is your first
pregnancy the separation
is not obvious at all.
With subsequent pregnancies
the separation gains prominence.
Exercises can strengthen
these muscles but the
bulge or gap will not
totally disappear.
Handy
self-exam
• Lie on your back
with your knees bent.
The separation is more
obvious when you are lying
down with your head raised.
• Place two fingers
of your right hand just
above the belly button
pointing down and your
left hand by your side.
Slowly lift your head.
Your abdominal muscles
will tighten. You may
notice a bulge in the
middle of your abdomen.
You may also feel a gap
between the sides of your
abdominal muscles.
• If the gap is
obvious then you do have
diastasis. With diastasis
you will have to make
sure the situation doesn't
worsen by avoiding certain
exercises and your movements
in general.
• If at 10 days
(with exercising) the
gap is still four fingers,
then help from the physiotherapist
or your doctor is necessary
to fix the distended rectus.
Correct exercises will
be recommended.
More..
• The outermost
layer is the rectus abdominus.
This muscle comprises
of two halves that are
joined together by a long
fibrous tissue in the
middle. The next muscle
layer is the internal
and external obliques.
The innermost abdominal
layer is the transverse
muscle.
• Interestingly
the gap that you feel
between the muscles is
your uterus. Baby's movements
can be felt more easily
here.
• Some women have
no gap. The average gap
is two fingers (3cm or
1¼ in).
• These muscles
have distended if the
separation is about 6
cm or 2½ in.
•
Following pregnancy these
muscles contract and close
the gap. The rectus is
considered to have closed
if there is a solid base
with a tiny gap and your
finger does not sink into
soft tissue. An average
two finger gap will take
2-3 weeks to close, longer
if the gap is bigger.
• It isn't painful
or harmful to you or your
baby
• Girdles will not
help get rid of the bulge
or the gap.
• Take great care
to maintain correct posture
and when getting out of
bed.
• Attempt gentle
oblique abdominal exercises
only when the gap is closed
usually from 3 weeks onwards
or when it has reduced
to 3cm/ 1¼ in.
