In plain words
Diastasis recti is the widening of the gap between the two halves of the belly's long muscles, the . The connective tissue down the middle of the belly, the , stretches as the uterus grows. Some gap is normal in late pregnancy. The gap usually narrows over months after birth. For some mothers it stays wider. A bulge or along the midline, especially when rising from lying down or straining, is the common sign. Diastasis is not a hernia, though a hernia can occur alongside it. Rest, gentle core work, and a physical therapist's guidance are common options. A bulge that is firm, painful, or does not go down is something to have a provider look at the same week.
The deeper version
Diastasis recti is the same condition as : an increase in through widening and thinning of the linea alba. Boissonnault and Blaschak (Physical Therapy, 1988) documented it in the childbearing year, and Benjamin and colleagues (Physiotherapy, 2014) reviewed its prevalence and the effect of exercise in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Diagnosis is by palpation and, when measured, by ultrasound or caliper, with thresholds that vary across studies. Persistence beyond a year is reported in a minority. The main controversy concerns whether a measured gap predicts pain, dysfunction, or hernia, and whether exercise narrows the gap or only improves function.
Where it comes up
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain from feeding and carryingPostpartum: Your Body
- Cesarean recovery, week by weekPostpartum: Your Body
- Your body after birth: weight, shape, and timelinesPostpartum: Your Body
- Returning to exercisePostpartum: Your Body
What mothers here say about diastasis recti
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Boissonnault JS, Blaschak MJ — Incidence of diastasis recti abdominis during the childbearing year. Physical Therapy, 1988
- Benjamin DR, van de Water ATM, Peiris CL — Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review. Physiotherapy, 2014