Diastasis Recti - Do I Have It?
Diastasis Recti is a fairly common condition that affects pregnant and postpartum women. It occurs when the rectus abdominis muscles (commonly known as your six-pack muscles) separate during pregnancy from being stretched out for baby. When the tissue loses elasticity from being stretched too far out, the gap in the muscles doesn’t close as much as it should. This is Diastasis Recti. This condition can affect 60% of women postpartum but often resolves itself within 8 weeks. There are still 40% of women dealing with this six months postpartum.
Some of the signs and symptoms are:
A visible bulge or pooch above or below the belly button.
Softness or jelly-like feeling around your belly button
Coning or doming when you contract your ab muscles
Difficulty lifting objects, walking or performing daily tasks
Pain during sex
Pelvic, hip or low back pain
Poor posture
Urine leaking when you sneeze or cough
Constipation
Feeling weak in your abdominals
You can easily check yourself at home to see if you have Diastasis Recti. Follow these instructions:
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Lift your shoulders slightly off the ground, keeping one hand behind your head for support. Almost like you are doing a sit-up. Look down at your belly.
Move your other hand above your belly button area, palms down and fingers towards your toes.
Use your fingers to feel for a gap in between your abs. See how many fingers can fit in between the gap between your left and right abdominals.
If you feel a gap of two or three finger widths and softness in your belly then it’s time to come in and see us! If left untreated then Diastasis Recti can lead to an umbilical hernia, increase in back pain, pain during sex, urinary incontinence, and pelvic or hip pain.
The great news is that this condition can be fixed with physical therapy, regardless of how long it’s been since you had a baby. Call the office to schedule an evaluation, 720-500-7450.