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Diastasis Recti or Abdominal Separation
During Pregnancy
Abdominal separation, also known as diastasis recti, is a condition that can occur during pregnancy when the abdominal muscles stretch and separate. The condition is usually harmless and will resolve itself after pregnancy, but it can cause some discomfort. There are some things that you can do to help manage the condition and make yourself more comfortable.
What is Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti occurs when the abdominal muscles separate, this can cause a bulge in the stomach area. In some cases, diastasis recti can lead to a hernia due to the stomach muscles no longer being able to fully hold in your internal organs.
The abdominal wall is made up of several muscles. These muscles work together to keep the stomach area tight and toned. When the muscles separate, it can cause a bulge in the stomach area. This bulge may be more noticeable when you strain or lift something heavy.
During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles gradually stretch and thin to accommodate the growing fetus. This process can cause diastasis recti or abdominal separation, in which the connective tissue between the left and right sides of the rectus abdominis (the large muscle that extends from the ribs to the pelvis) tears. This condition is usually benign and causes no harm to either mother or child, but it can be uncomfortable causing lower back pain and may require specific exercises or other treatments to correct. In some cases, diastasis recti can lead to a hernia. A hernia occurs when an organ or other tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the muscle. Hernias are usually treated with surgery.
What Causes Diastasis Recti
If you have ever been pregnant or even just carried a lot of weight around your midsection, you may have heard of diastasis recti. Diastasis recti is when the muscle separation occurs at the linea alba, creating a bulge in the abdominal wall near the belly button. This can happen to anyone, but it is more common in women who are pregnant or have had multiple pregnancies.
The good news is that diastasis recti is fixable! There are many exercises and treatments that can help close the gap in your abdominal muscles and get your tummy to look flat again. If you think you may have diastasis recti, talk to your doctor about what treatment options are available to you to improve diastasis recti.
Diastasis Recti A Common
Postpartum Condition
Around 60 to 70 percent of women experience diastasis recti, or abdominal separation, during pregnancy. The condition occurs when the connective tissue between the right and left sides of the rectus abdominis muscle stretches and weakens, creating a gap of two finger widths. Diastasis recti can cause a number of issues, including back pain, hernias, and urinary incontinence.
While diastasis recti is most common in pregnant women, it can also occur in men and non-pregnant women. The condition is often caused by excessive abdominal pressure, such as from obesity or pregnancy. It can also be caused by repetitive movements that put strain on the abdominal muscles, such as sit-ups and crunches.
Fortunately, diastasis recti is relatively common and there are a number of things you can do to treat it. First, try wearing a supportive belly band or girdle. This will help hold everything in place and take some of the pressure off your muscles. You should also avoid any exercises that put additional strain on your abdominals, such as sit-ups or crunches.
Finally, make sure you're doing regular pelvic floor exercises. These exercises can help strengthen the muscles around your pelvis and may help prevent diastasis recti from happening in the first place.
What Abdominal Muscles Are Effected With Abdominal Separation
Abdominal separation, also called diastasis recti, is a condition that can occur during or after pregnancy. It happens when the muscles in your abdomen stretch and tear, causing the connective tissue to weaken. This can cause the abdominal muscles to separate, which can lead to a bulge in your stomach.
There are two main types of abdominal separation: primary and secondary. Primary abdominal separation happens when the muscles in your abdomen stretch and tear during pregnancy. Secondary abdominal separation happens when the muscles in your abdomen are already weakened from another condition, such as obesity or chronic cough.
There are several ways to treat abdominal separation. If it’s mild, you may be able to improve it with exercises that strengthen the muscles in your abdomen. If it’s more severe, you may need surgery to repair the damaged muscles.
Can You Prevent Or Help Avoid
Diastasis Recti
There are things you can do to prevent or help avoid diastasis recti. First, avoid any activity that puts unnecessary strain on your abdominal muscles, such as sit-ups or crunches which can make abdominal separation worse or cause a weak core. Second, always use proper form when lifting anything, whether it’s your baby or a piece of furniture as the abdominal area tissue may tear from the increased strain. Finally, focus on strengthening your deep core muscles as certain exercises can help.
Can You Correct Diastasis Recti
In Pregnancy
If you want to know whether you can correct diastasis recti in pregnancy, the answer is yes! The good news is that diastasis recti can be corrected with specific exercises and proper nutrition to help you strengthen the abdominal wall muscles.
To help close the gap in your abdominal muscles, focus on workout programs that target the transverse abdominis, the deep abdominal muscle that helps stabilize your spine. Exercises like planks, Pilates, and yoga can all help strengthen this muscle. In addition to exercise, make sure you’re eating a nutritious diet. A healthy diet will help you lose any excess weight and give your body the nutrients it needs to heal.
At-Home Care of Postpartum Diastasis Recti
Luckily, there are things you can do at home to help heal your diastasis recti and get your body back to normal post-delivery. With some time and patience, you'll be feeling like yourself again in no time.
Here are some tips for at-home care of postpartum diastasis recti:
1. Get plenty of rest. Your body needs time to heal after giving birth. Give yourself permission to take it easy for a few weeks.
2. Eat healthy foods. Eating nutritious foods will help your body to heal and recover from childbirth.
3. Get moving by exercising gently. Once you feel up to it, start doing some gentle exercises like walking or swimming. Walking is a great way to start getting active again after having a baby. Exercise is important for healing your abdominal muscles and helping your body return to its pre-pregnancy state.
Pelvic Changes Due To
Abdominal Separation
Your pelvic floor is a hammock of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue that spans your sitting bones at the bottom of your pelvis to the base of your spine. It supports your bladder, uterus, and rectum and helps to close off your vaginal opening.
During pregnancy, the weight of your growing baby and the increased pressure on your abdominal cavity from your expanding uterus can cause these muscles and tissues to stretch and separate leading to diastasis recti or abdominal separation.
Care at Base Camp Health
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At Base Camp Health, we specialize in helping women who are experiencing pain in pregnancy through gentle, specific, and holistic chiropractic care. Our chiropractors utilize the Webster Technique to allow for the ideal positions for your body during pregnancy to help decrease the discomforts that are common during pregnancy. Schedule a time for our doctors to come to you in the comfort of your own home today.