{"id":3385,"date":"2019-05-15T14:44:30","date_gmt":"2019-05-15T18:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/?p=3385"},"modified":"2022-05-01T11:41:19","modified_gmt":"2022-05-01T15:41:19","slug":"what-is-diastasis-and-what-you-can-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birthyoudesire.com\/what-is-diastasis-and-what-you-can-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Diastasis? And What You Can Do About it."},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Diastasis? And What You Can Do About it.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

There are lots of events that change our bodies for us, whether we welcome those changes or not. Take pregnancy, for example. It\u2019s great to grow a human and, well, have the baby \u2014 but there\u2019s weight gain and other muscular changes that might happen during a pregnancy. And some of those changes can happen to people who don\u2019t get pregnant, too. One is called diastasis recti.<\/p>\n

What this term refers to is the splitting apart of the muscles of the front of the abdomen. It happens because it thins and weakens \u2014 normal during how the belly stretches during pregnancy. But it can also happen to men, especially if they lift incorrectly or gain a whole bunch of weight. And diastasis can occur in different areas, such as around the navel or below the navel. So what are some of the symptoms of this condition and what can you do in order to remedy it? This graphic offers some insights.<\/p>\n

\n

What Is\u00a0Diastasis Recti<\/em>?<\/h3>\n

Diastasis recti<\/em>\u00a0(DR) occurs when the front fascial connection between the two muscle bellies of\u00a0rectus abdominis<\/em>\u2014also known as the\u00a0linea alba<\/em>\u2014thins. In other words, the connective tissue that holds the two sections of your top abdominals together stretches out and weakens so it is no longer able to fully bear weight. Some diastasis and abdominal separation are normal during pregnancy and often heal on their own after childbirth. But this phenomenon isn\u2019t limited to moms: Diastasis may also occur in men<\/a>, non-childbearing women, and infants who regularly put increased pressure on the abdominal wall.<\/p>\n

Diastasis may happen in one or multiple locations on the abdomen. Your\u00a0linea alba<\/em>\u00a0can open around, below, or above the navel. You may also have a completely open diastasis, where you experience separation in all three areas. Knowing the location of the diastasis will help pinpoint the treatment needed to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

How to Check For Diastasis Recti<\/h3>\n

A true diastasis is measured when two fingers fit side-by-side between the rectus abdominis, and the tissue is soft. Normal fascial tissue between the\u00a0rectus abdominis<\/em>\u00a0should feel like a trampoline.<\/p>\n

To measure yourself for potential diastasis, lie on your back with your feet flat on the floor. Relax the belly and place two fingers directly below the navel. Repeat this again around the navel, and above it. If both fingers fit between the abdomen and sink deeply, then you may have DR. (Use this as a starting point but consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.)<\/p>\n

Depth matters more than width. If the abdomen is firm but still measures with two fingers, then the\u00a0linea alba<\/em> can absorb the load on the trunk. In this instance, it is common for the rectus to reclose with the right exercises and breathing patterns. The largest indicating factor is how far the fingers sink into the fascia. The more they sink, the thinner the fascia.<\/p>\n

Why Is\u00a0Diastasis Recti<\/em>\u00a0a Bad Thing?<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0linea alba<\/em>\u00a0works to support the trunk by assisting in load transfer. When the gap is too large and soft, it no longer transfers load effectively, which can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction, and pain and instability in the abdomen and sacroiliac joint (SI).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that women need to allow time for the\u00a0linea alba<\/em>\u00a0to heal\u00a0after giving birth<\/a>. Many factors come into play when it comes to healing fascia, including time since pregnancy, the number of pregnancies, overall health, inflammation, hydration, and how much stress is continually placed on the abdomen.<\/p>\n

Is\u00a0Diastasis Recti<\/em>\u00a0Preventable?<\/h3>\n

During pregnancy, diastasis is inevitable to some degree in the third trimester. Just because every mom gets it doesn\u2019t mean it will become problematic after pregnancy. Many women experience DR healing by\u00a0six months<\/a> postpartum. There is no definitive answer when it comes to preventing diastasis during pregnancy. A 2015 study showed no difference in the development of DR between women who exercise and those who did not. However, women who still experience DR after six months postpartum likely need further intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n

For men and non-childbearing women there are inherent risk factors when developing DR including:<\/p>\n