While these are the most common causes of diastasis recti, the condition can also occur to those who have weak muscles even with no birthing experience. During pregnancy, the release of natural hormones like estrogen and progesterone helps soften the fibrous connective tissue that joins the stomach muscles down the center (linea alba).
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Some of the known signs and symptoms of abdominal separation are as follows:
- Noticeable gap between two muscles
- Bulge or pooch in the midriff
- Lower back pains
- Bloating and constipation
How Do You Check if You Have Diastasis Recti Postpartum?
Once you’ve given birth, you may try this simple method, known as the finger-width method, in order to determine the extent of the separation:
- Lie on your back, with knees and legs bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Raise your shoulders slightly off the floor and look directly at your stomach.
- Pinch in between sides of the muscles above and below your abdominal button with the tips of your fingers. Try to fit as many fingers as you can into the space between your muscles.
- The separation can be characterized when there is a distance between the rectus abdominis muscles bigger than 2 finger-widths (≈2cm) on palpation.
Check this frequently to see if the gap is shrinking. Also, do consult your physician if you suspect you have diastasis recti. Your doctor may refer you to a physiotherapist for conservative (non-surgical) therapy of diastasis recti postpartum.
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