Are you aware of the most common condition that women are faced with after giving birth?
Understanding Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti is a condition where the abdominal muscles have separated due to weakened connective tissue, leaving a gap between the left and right muscles. This occurs with nearly all pregnancies, to varying degrees from mild to severe, and is generally diagnosed during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
During pregnancy, your body undergoes many changes both physically and hormonally. On a hormonal level, your body secretes a set of hormones called Prostaglandins. More specifically, a hormone called Relaxin is secreted which helps loosen the muscles, joints, and ligaments in order to safely dilate and stretch, to accommodate a growing fetus. These hormones continue to be secreted throughout the lactation process.
In addition to the hormones floating throughout your body, you are also undergoing physical changes, which is increased internal pressure from your growing baby. The combination of the physiological changes and internal abdominal pressure, results in the connective tissue or fascia that lies in between the right and left abdominal muscles, to stretch, and thin out. As your baby grows larger, the internal pressure continues to increase and can lead to the overstretching of the fascial band.
After giving birth, the abdominal separation becomes a vulnerable and weakened area in your abdominal wall. The visible abdominal bulge is the result of your internal contents pushing through this damaged connective tissue. Often times, the muscles do not return to their original state despite consciously working on diet and exercise.
According to a new study done by the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), "restoring the pre-pregnancy shape of the abdomen, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery with muscle repair can improve back pain and urinary incontinence after childbearing. Functional improvements may result from restoring strength and stability in the abdominal and pelvic region as the operation incorporates repair of the abdominal muscle separation (rectus diastasis) that can occur after pregnancy. The results demonstrate that tummy tucks do have functional benefits, as well as cosmetic ones particularly in the postpartum population."
As you learn more about your abdominal separation, it is vital to be informed of the exercises that can worsen the condition. In fact, some of the more common exercises that you may be tempted to try such as sit ups, crunches, planks, and certain yoga moves, can increase abdominal pressure and worsen the separation.
Diastasis recti is a diagnosable condition when there is a separation present of at least 2 finger widths or beyond between the two sides of the rectus muscles. At this point, surgery becomes your most viable option to address the condition from the root of where it stems from.
