Archive for the ‘pregnancy’ Category
Diastasis Recti – Separation of the rectus abdominus post partum
Sunday, October 11th, 2009
Sorry for that technical heading – I hope you haven’t run off already! What we are going to talk about here is an issue that often occurs during pregnancy where the stomach muscle that runs the length of the torso (rectus abdominus) can separate and open somewhat like a zipper. This is not necessarily due to weak stomach muscles, in fact some of the fittest women can develop this problem as their stomach muscles are so tight that the separation occurs to make room for the growing uterus. Many factors come into play in developing a diastasis recti. First the hormones circulating during the pregnancy will soften the connective tissue around the abdominals, thus making them more susceptible to stress. Secondly, these muscles are lengthening and loosening to accommodate the growing uterus. A diastasis will usually develop over time, mainly during the third trimester however, it came happen sooner in subsequent (2nd, 3rd etc) pregnancies.
How to tell if you have developed a diastasis? Usually it is very apparent. Whilst still pregnant you might notice a bulge in the abdominal area whenever you raise yourself from a lying position. Occasionally it can be the cause of back pain. You may also notice a near triangular shape to your stomach in the later stages of your pregnancy. Post partum the separation will probably be not so obvious so please check with your doctor before resuming any kind of abdominal work, your instructor here at Tailored Pilates will also be able to help and advise you with this.
The bad news is that many women are not routinely checked for this condition and even when they are they are told there is nothing that can be done about it.
The good news is that this is wrong! The body is an amazing instrument with a fantastic ability to heal itself. There is always something that can be done to fix or improve 99% of problems including this one. At Tailored Pilates we have the knowledge and ability to fix this problem if you are prepared to work at it! Please talk to Ingrida ASAP to get yourself on the road to recovery now!
Other issues that can and should be looked at and set on the road to recovery as soon as possible after the birth are: Separation of the pubis symphasis and Cesarean Section recovery.