If you have been diagnosed with Diastasis Recti postpartum and are frustrated that your tummy still looks like it did months after giving birth, you are not alone. Many women feel like they still look six months pregnant even though they are back at the gym and eating well.

Before thinking about surgery, it is important to understand what Diastasis Recti is, why it happens, and how it affects your whole body.

What Is Diastasis Recti

Diastasis Recti happens when the two sides of your abdominal muscles separate along the connective tissue that runs down the middle of your tummy, called the linea alba. While it is common during pregnancy, some women find that the separation does not fully close after giving birth.

It can create a tummy pouch or a slightly bloated look, but the most important issue is how it affects your body’s function. A weak abdominal wall can change your posture, reduce core strength, and affect your pelvic floor.

How It Affects Core Strength and Stability

Your abdominal muscles are meant to work together to support your spine and pelvis. When they are separated, it can make your core weaker and less able to protect your back during daily activities and exercise. This can lead to discomfort in the lower back or pelvis and make it harder to move confidently.

Pelvic Floor Health

A Diastasis Recti can affect the pelvic floor because it changes how pressure is managed in your abdomen. When the abdominal muscles are not working properly, the pelvic floor may have to compensate. This can lead to weakness, tightness, or even incontinence.

Restoring the connection between your core and your pelvic floor is an important part of recovery.

Posture and How You Move

A weaker abdominal wall often changes the way your body holds itself. You might notice that your pelvis tilts forward, your lower back arches more, or your ribs flare out slightly. These changes can create tension in your muscles and make everyday movement and exercise less effective.

Digestive Health and Hernia Risk

A severe Diastasis Recti can sometimes affect digestion. Bloating, constipation, and changes in bowel habits are common complaints. Women with a more lax abdominal wall may also have a higher risk of developing an umbilical hernia, where part of the intestine pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall.

Why a Full-Body Approach Works Best

Recovering from Diastasis Recti is not just about doing crunches or losing weight. A full-body approach looks at your breathing, how your muscles work together, your posture, and even the movement of your internal organs. Addressing all of these areas helps you regain strength, function, and confidence.

FAQ

1. What is Diastasis Recti postpartum?
2. How long does Diastasis Recti recovery take?
3. Is Diastasis Recti only a cosmetic issue?
4. Can Diastasis Recti cause back or pelvic pain?
5. Can Diastasis Recti be healed without surgery?


Click here to learn more about Diastasis Recti Treatment in our next blog

Laura Barrett

TMP Collaborator

Laura began her career in women’s health physiotherapy in 2004 after graduating with a first-class honours degree in physiotherapy from King’s College, London. Having initially gained valuable experience working in a large teaching hospital in London, Laura entered the private health sector in the UK in 2008 before moving to Dubai in 2010. 
From 2010 to 2017, Laura held multiple roles at polyclinics in Dubai, including Head of Women’s Health Physiotherapy & Clinical Pilates. Laura then returned to the UK, where she founded a successful Women’s Health Physiotherapy and Pilates business in Surrey and Oxfordshire before deciding to return to Dubai in 2021 with her husband and two young sons.
Having always practised within women’s health physiotherapy, Laura gained additional certification as a Mummy MOT® Practitioner and continues to ensure that pre-natal women are fit and healthy when entering this exciting phase of their lives and that post-natal women are supported in their recovery from pregnancy, through childbirth and into ‘mummy hood’, returning to work and exercise and having the confidence and ability to pursue previous or new hobbies.
Laura has also trained as a Restore Scar Therapy Practitioner offering scar therapy to all in Dubai including women following a c-section birth, mastectomies or gyneacological surgery.