What is Diastasis Recti?

Maybe you’ve heard about Diastasis Recti? Maybe you know you have it but aren’t sure what it means? Here’s the lowdown:

In pregnancy, our front abdominal muscles, called rectus abdominus, separate to make space for the growing baby. This is normal and necessary.

So what happens after? In time, with some helpful specific movement and breathing, these muscles can “rejoin”. Maybe they come back together fully, or partially and this can all depend on

a) what they were like before pregnancy

b) the number of pregnancies

c) who knows! genetics? size of baby? posture?

What does it mean when they are separated? How do you know if they are? Watch this video to have a feel of your own tummy and get an idea.

So, you do have a gap. What does this mean? Are you broken?! NO!

Luckily we are not just a set of bones and muscles- we are also fascia, ligaments, tendons, organs and much more. Our abdominal muscles are not the only things holding our insides in and giving us form. So we must work the whole core (this is not just the front or just the muscles) to give it tension and to enable it to support us fully with all the tasks we need to do - walking, picking up, holding etc. Even if the muscles do not come back together fully, as long as we have good tension overall we have that support.

So don’t let the term “diastasis recti” fill you with fear. It can be a starting point and the more knowledge about our bodies the better. Once we know what’s going on we can do effective and appropriate exercise.