In plain words
The rectus abdominis is the long muscle that runs down the front of the belly, from the ribs to the pubic bone. In pregnancy the growing uterus stretches the muscle and the thin tissue in the midline between its two halves, called the . Some stretching is normal, and the muscle usually shortens again after birth. In some people the two sides drift apart, a condition called . You may notice a soft ridge or bulge along the midline when you sit up or lift. Many mothers worry about this, and it is common enough to be a regular topic in postpartum care. A pelvic floor or physical therapist can check the gap and talk through what you notice.
The deeper version
The rectus abdominis is a paired vertical muscle arising from the pubic crest and symphysis and inserting on the xiphoid and costal cartilages. It is enclosed by the rectus sheath and separated in the midline by the linea alba. In pregnancy, sustained circumferential and anterior load lengthens the muscle, while , estrogen, and progesterone alter synthesis, cross-linking, and ground substance so the tissue becomes more extensible and less stiff. Inter-rectus distance is measured by palpation or ultrasound. Benjamin and colleagues (2014) found the evidence on exercise for antenatal and postnatal separation to be limited. Separation is common in late pregnancy and often narrows after birth, but the threshold for clinical concern is not settled.
Where it comes up
What mothers here say about rectus abdominis
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Sources
- 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)
- Standring S (ed.) — Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, 41st edition (2016)