Pregnancy is a time of change. A woman’s body is growing and stretching to accommodate growing a tiny human inside of it.
Saying that the body changes would be an understatement, as it goes through a lengthy process to be able to withstand a stressful condition. One of the common effects of this process is diastasis recti.
What Is Diastasis Recti?
While a woman is pregnant, her uterus will expand to accommodate the growing fetus. This stretches what we commonly refer to as the “six-pack” of abdominal muscles that lie over the stomach.
The two parallel bands of muscle separate, sometimes causing a bulge in the middle of the abdomen that can be seen in the late stages of pregnancy and especially in the postpartum stage of pregnancy. This is called diastasis recti.
This condition is commonly paired with weak abdominal muscles as they haven’t been used in over nine months. Due to weak muscles, a woman can experience lower back pain and difficulty in doing things that involve the abdominal muscles for support, such as lifting objects or doing regular, daily activities.
The severity of diastasis recti in women depends on various factors including how many babies were carried, how big the babies grew, and the strength of your abdomen prepregnancy. Women who carry multiples or large babies are more susceptible to diastasis recti.
The condition is quite common, with one in two women experiencing it postpartum.
What Not to Do
If a woman thinks she has diastasis recti, she should talk with her OBGYN or primary care physician as soon as possible. The sooner it’s identified, the sooner it can be treated.
The one thing a woman shouldn’t do is try to take care of it herself through intense ab work or exercise. The kind of exercises to avoid include crunches, sit-ups and any other activity that will cause your abs to bulge.
These exercises actually will put more strain on the muscles, making it worse. A woman with this condition also should avoid yoga or intense stretching until speaking with her doctor.
This shouldn’t be hard, though, because the largest part of postpartum after having a baby is taking a well-deserved rest.
Treating Diastasis Recti
The best option to treat diastasis recti is physical therapy. Physical therapy is the focus on rehabilitation of joints and muscles to put them back in working condition.
The professionals at South Orange Rehabilitation and Wellness understand this condition well. We work with our patients to identify the best way to treat their specific condition based on a variety of factors, including lifestyle, current mobility and how they feel overall.
It can be very common for women to have low self-esteem or not feel attractive after having a baby. Diastasis recti may amplify this feeling, which is why a patient should find a physical therapist they feel comfortable with and who makes them feel both heard and seen.
Some things a physical therapist could advise for the correction of diastasis recti would start at home, with the woman trying to pay more attention to how she uses her abs every day. Sometimes simply being mindful of using certain muscle groups can help them strengthen on their own.
There’s also the possibility of having to wear a belly splint to help your abs heal back together. A therapist also could recommend starting light exercises that focus on deep, easy muscle work like pilates.
We’re Here to Help
Despite the ongoing pandemic, South Orange Rehabilitation and Wellness is still open and seeing patients. We’re monitoring the situation closely and are taking the necessary precautions to ensure both our staff and our patients stay safe during this time.
If you are recovering from diastasis recti or need other physical therapy help, reach out to us today on our website to schedule an appointment. Our four steps toward a pain-free life will have you back on your feet and feeling better in no time.
