Abdominal diastasis: how to recognize it, symptoms and post-partum remedies
Abdominal diastasis is a problem that is very much felt by women in the post-partum period. Despite not being talked about, very much, it is a very widespread disorder: 30% of new mothers suffer from it, often unconsciously.
Abdominal diastasis, in fact, is very normal during pregnancy, but resolves spontaneously in post-partum, after about 4-5 months from the birth of the baby. However, some women continue to have a swollen stomach and bulging abdominal muscle even in the following months.
If in some cases it ends up being just an aesthetic problem, in others it can lead to complications and become a real pathology: let's examine symptoms and remedies together to prevent and treat it better!
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Post-partum abdominal diastasis: what is it and what are the causes that cause it?
Abdominal diastasis consists in the longitudinal splitting of the two parts that make up the main muscle of the abdominal wall, the so-called "rectus of the" abdomen. The two parts move away from each other excessively due to the pressure exerted by the abdomen. "uterus growing during pregnancy: a real hole is created on the line that separates them (the" linea alba ").
In reality, the causes that cause abdominal diastasis are not yet completely clear: it seems there are further factors to determine it, in addition to the growth of the uterus, such as hereditary predisposition, the high age of the woman or a very heavy fetus (or twin).
It also seems that excessive physical exercise in the last trimester of pregnancy can lead to further contraindications. To keep fit, always follow a training program designed specifically for pregnant women, such as the exercises we suggest:
What are the symptoms of postpartum abdominal diastasis?
The dawn line, which we mentioned earlier, gradually tends to fray as the belly expands and - despite its resistance - inevitably loses elasticity and struggles to return to the way it was before. Between 4 and 5 months must pass for the situation to resolve itself and the hole created by the two muscle areas, the size of a couple of centimeters, can disappear.
If the hole does not disappear in that period of time, diastasis of the rectum becomes an obvious aesthetic problem, which may even worsen and lead to other ailments such as abdominal and back pain, back pain, incontinence, nausea and even difficulty in breathing and digestion. Sometimes diastasis can also lead to the formation of epigastric or abdominal hernias.
In the most serious cases, that is, when the two muscle groups are separated by more than 6 centimeters, it can be dangerous for the stomach and intestines.
Abdominal diastasis: how to recognize it?
Diagnosing abdominal diastasis may not be so simple: you sometimes risk confusing the problem with some of its symptoms, or neglecting it.
First of all, you have to pay close attention to the belly: if it continues to remain swollen, with a lot of navel protruding, even after 5-6 months from birth, it is likely that it is abdominal diastasis.
A further signal may be the formation of the so-called "fin" in correspondence with the linea alba, clearly visible if you try to perform an abdominal flexion lying on your back (crunch).
Finally, you can calculate the distance between the two spaced muscle bands yourself by inserting your fingers into the groove on the belly and measuring their dimensions.
Finally, do not hesitate to contact your doctor for an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, the only way to have a definitive confirmation.
Remedies for abdominal diastasis: exercises and physiotherapy or surgery?
In addition to the normal post-partum exercises to get back in shape, there are specific exercises to treat abdominal diastasis: avoid the do-it-yourself and contact an expert physiotherapist who will know how to guide you and will help you get back in line and, above all, in health.
If, on the other hand, the diastasis has reached a more advanced stage, it will be necessary to resort to surgery: it is an abdominoplasty, that is, a reconstruction of the abdominal wall, in order to close the distance between the two muscle groups.
The surgery will only leave you with a scar similar to that of a caesarean section.
