Diastasis after childbirth - what is it?

Almost all women after a recent birth make a lot of effort to tidy up their figure and regain their former slimness. But some people never manage to get rid of their round belly. They have no idea that diastasis is the cause. However, do not despair, it is quite possible to cope with it.

What is diastasis

This phenomenon affects the rectus peritoneum muscles. Directly adjacent to the lower layers of the skin is the linea alba muscle tissue. Diastasis causes the rectus abdominis muscles to move along this linea alba.

This pathological change is mainly observed in women who have recently given birth. However, in some cases, diastasis can be found in childhood and in males, so it cannot be said that this is a rare phenomenon. Women inevitably become familiar with diastasis, childbirth were performed by caesarean section.

Muscle tissue with diastasis is weak and unable to perform its functions. The load from them is redistributed to the rest of the muscles, which causes the internal organs to descend or shift, an umbilical hernia often occurs, the process of food digestion is disrupted, and painful sensations appear in the spine.

How to identify diastasis

The separation of the abdominal muscles is impossible not to notice. Even its faint manifestation is visible to the naked eye. The very first symptom of this condition is an enlarged white line and a small discharge in the lower abdomen. With severe diastasis, severe health problems can be noticed in the future:

• The abdominal muscles lose their ability to contract.
• Over time, the muscle tissue on the abdomen completely atrophies.
• The abdominal press weakens.
• There is a gradual thinning of the tendon tissue.

It is important not only to notice the presence of signs of diastasis, but also to identify at what stage of development it is. The easiest way to do this is by measuring the width of the whitish strip located between the navel and the urinary process:

• If the width of the whitish strip does not exceed 7 cm, then diastasis is in the first degree.
• Exceeding the width of the white stripe by 7 cm indicates diastasis of the 2nd degree.
• With the third degree of diastasis, you can see a sagging belly.

Diastasis is easy to detect on your own. To do this, you need to lie on your back, pressing your feet firmly to the floor and bending your knees. Now place one of your hands behind your head and place the other on your stomach, placing your fingers on the white line. Press your hand onto your abdominal area, lifting your upper torso. Using your hand, set the boundaries of the muscles and determine the width of the muscle tissue.

Why does diastasis appear after childbirth?

In the postpartum period, diastasis appears due to previous pregnancy. Moreover, the more often a woman gives birth, the more likely she will have diastasis. This is explained by the constant pressure of the child growing inside the mother’s womb, which greatly stretches the muscles.

Another factor that provokes the appearance of diastasis is the peculiarity of a woman’s physiology during the period pregnancy. At this time, the woman’s body produces a special hormone – relaxin. Its action is aimed at softening the abdominal muscles and improving their elasticity.

For most women, after the birth of a baby, after some time the stomach returns to its physiological norm. In some exceptional cases, muscle tissue is deformed so severely that it is no longer able to return to its previous shape without outside help.

According to the observations of specialists, not all women are at risk of getting diastasis. For example, with constant physical activity and regular sports, diastasis appears very rarely. There are other groups of pregnant women in whom diastasis appears very often:

• With a lot of weight gained during pregnancy.
• Existing cellulite.
• Severely enlarged breasts.
• Pregnancy with 2 or more babies.
• The second pregnancy is a short time after the first, when the muscles do not have time to restore their shape.

Exercises for diastasis

To eliminate diastasis, it is important to adhere to a proper nutrition system and eat in small portions. This helps speed up your metabolism and get rid of extra centimeters on your waist. Exercise will also help you get back into shape. However, classic abdominal exercises cannot be done with diastasis. They only increase the pressure in the abdominal cavity and increase the degree of divergence of the white line.

• Lie down on the floor and draw in your stomach, imagining that your navel is approaching your spine. Do not hold your breath. As you exhale, slowly touch one foot to the floor, and as you inhale, return to the starting position.

• From the same starting position with bent knees, slowly straighten your leg while sliding along the floor. Then return your leg to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

• In the same starting position, put an elastic band on your legs and spread your knees to shoulder width. Press your upper body tightly to the floor. Exhaling, slowly open your knees, and inhaling, return to the starting position.

• From the same position, place an inflatable ball between your knees. As you exhale, squeeze the ball with your knees, and as you inhale, release the tension.

Any of the exercises in the complex must be performed 10 times.