Diastasis Recti

What is Diastasis Recti?

Diastasis recti is the separation of your rectus abdominal muscles. This is caused by the pressure of your baby growing. This stretching of muscles reduces the elasticity between the muscles, this area is called the Linea Alba. Once you have given birth the tissues will start to heal and pull the muscles back closer to where they were before. Due to the lose to elasticity the muscles may not return to their original location. In more extreme cases some new mums may have a bulge left over which can be very upsetting and can influence their musculoskeletal function.

Who gets Diastasis Recti?

Diastasis Recti is extremely common, it is most common in pregnant and postpartum mums. It usually resolves itself approximately 8 weeks after delivery but can last longer in some.

Factors that increase your risk of Diastasis Recti

1. Multiple pregnancies
2. Multiple babies (twins)
3. Being over 35 years old
4. Having a large baby
5. Being very petite
6. Having a vaginal delivery due to the increase in intraabdominal pressure.

What does Diastasis Recti feel like?

It is not usually painful, you may feel a bulge or softness in the middle of your stomach. This is most obvious when you contract your abdominal muscles. It will have an impact of muscular function and so you may experience other symptoms such as back pain due to weakness within the core.

What do we look for at your Postnatal Assessment?

At your Postnatal Assessment we are looking for the width between your abdominal muscles, and the muscle tone beneath our fingers. 2cm between the muscles is considered diastasis recti but this is very small and is no cause for concern. The muscular tone tells us how well your muscles are contracting and relaxing, functionally this is more important.

Depending on your presentation you may be given core restore exercises to help start activating the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. If you present with lower back pain or other symptoms the diastasis recti allows us to have a more holistic view of the cause of your pain. While it may not be the sole cause it may have an influence on the way we treat, and the exercises prescribed. Each treatment plan is unique!