Abdominal Diastasis: Understand What It Is And What To Do To Treat!

Has your baby been born and after delivery noticed that the belly is still swollen and flaccid, especially in the region near the navel? It can be diastasis , a common problem that affects some women and can cause discomfort and even pain. But calm down! Rest assured, there are ways to solve this.

Want to know more? So, keep reading and learn all about diastasis !

Abdominal Diastasis: What is it?

The transformations suffered in the woman’s body during pregnancy, even if frightening, are already expected. After all, it is one of adaptations, where there is an increase in the hips, belly, breasts, among other parts, which tend to return to normal as the child progresses. However, in some cases, the abdomen may not return to its previous rigidity, which causes discomfort, frustration and even a certain insecurity at times.

Therefore, it is important to know that this flaccidity can be the diastasis, which is a distancing of the muscles, causing the region to lose its rigidity . Resulting in an apparent excess of skin and enlargement of the abdominal region, which can affect the woman in different ways and even cause pain.

This separation is normal as the belly grows for the baby’s comfort and development. However, after a few weeks after the child’s birth, this distance decreases until it returns to the previous musculature. And when that doesn’t happen, it’s diastasis.

When this happens, the abdominal muscles can be up to 10 centimeters apart, resulting in the appearance of sagging and wider waist in most cases. And in more severe situations, diastasis can also cause pain in the stomach, back and even legs, causing complications and discomfort in the woman’s daily life.

This problem usually affects pregnant women over 35 years old. But it can also arise at other times, such as with excessive weight lifting and even incorrect posture outside of pregnancy, which requires care and attention.

Thus, it is worth knowing a little more about the main reasons and how to prevent diastase during pregnancy. Check out!

How to prevent diastasis during pregnancy

Abdominal diastasis does not occur in all cases of pregnancy and, according to research, affects less than 150 thousand women in Brazil per year. Therefore, it is worth knowing that some initiatives can prevent, avoiding pain and discomfort.

So, if you are pregnant and are looking for some suggestions to avoid diastasis , most doctors make the following recommendations:

  • Control your weight during pregnancy: As the baby grows in the womb, the muscles will naturally be more relaxed. However, with excess weight gain, this can cause diastasis, as the weight exerted on the tissues will be greater, impairing postpartum regeneration. So, avoid gaining weight beyond what is recommended and maintain a healthy and balanced diet that will also help in this matter;
  • Pay attention to correct posture in pregnancy: Poor posture can also affect the balance of the baby’s weight in relation to the mother’s body, interfering with the functionality of the abdominal muscles. Therefore, maintain a proper posture, even with belly weight and, if possible, seek a physiotherapist who will indicate adequate exercises, contributing to the correct support of the body;
  • Avoid impact exercises : Some physical activities that involve impact such as running and jumping, for example, can exert pressure not indicated for the gestation phase and postpartum recovery, as well as abdominal and trunk rotation activities. Therefore, if you exercise, avoid this training and look for lighter options that will contribute to the maintenance of health, without immediate and later discomforts, as in the case of diastasis.

By taking these precautions, this problem can be avoided, ensuring a better recovery for the woman. However, if you have already had the baby and are looking for ways to identify, know the main symptoms of diastasis , as well as what to do . Check out!

Main symptoms of abdominal diastasis

Diastasis is usually identified only after delivery, during the recovery process. However, there are situations where it can be verified between the second and third trimester of pregnancy , indicating the need for attention and precautions.

Thus, when noticing a certain bulge above and below the navel that is more accentuated when straining the abdominal muscles, such as when standing, sitting or lying down, it may be a case of diastase. As well as pain in the foot of the belly and pelvis, which indicates the need for immediate medical help.

And in addition, after pregnancy and childbirth, the main symptoms of diastasis are :

  • Sagging in the abdomen and navel region;
  • Abdominal bulge, even after childbirth;
  • Constipation;
  • Pain in the lower back;
  • Urinary incontinence;
  • Feeling of loose organs;
  • Difficulty in digestion;
  • Stomach discomfort;
  • Difficulty keeping upright posture; and
  • Swelling.

So, when noticing these symptoms it can be diastase and thus, it requires attention and treatment. But in addition, it is also possible to take a test to verify. Therefore, to carry it out, do as follows:

  1. Lie on your stomach;
  2. With one hand, place the middle and index fingers positioned two fingers above and below the navel;
  3. Then contract your abdomen, lifting your head slightly, as if you were going to perform an abdominal exercise and see the result.

When doing this movement, if you feel the fingers touch the muscle and jump a little more up, everything is normal with the stomach muscles. However, if there is no movement of the fingers and they sink, as if sensing a crack in the musculature, it could be diastasis. And the first step is to go to the doctor in order to check for possible help, as well as activities and exercises that can help in this muscle recovery process.

How to treat postpartum diastasis

Unfortunately, diastasis does not have an easy and quick treatment for correction, which can be a little frustrating for women. However, with patience and good recommendations it can be remedied, making the abdomen return to normal.

Thus, some specialists may recommend physical exercise, physiotherapy or surgery in more specific cases . However, be careful with home activities and always look for instructions before starting, as some exercises can make the situation worse.

Sit-ups, planks with the belly on the floor, spine hyperflexion or hyperextension, weight training with very high loads and impact exercises, for example, are not indicated. They can cause the opposite effect, leaving the muscles even looser and also contributing to pain and discomfort. So beware!

Therefore, to properly treat, seek a specialist doctor such as an obstetrician and physiotherapist. And remember to also work on the self-esteem and motivation that can be affected during this time.

Diastasis complications

As mentioned before, the main complications associated with diastasis are sagging skin in the abdominal region, pain in the stomach, back, lower back and even legs.

And this pain occurs because the abdominal muscles act as a natural support that protects the spine during movements and locomotion , such as when walking, sitting and exercising. Thus, when this muscle is weak, the spine is overloaded and then there is a greater chance of developing problems such as wear and tear and even herniated disc, for example. Therefore, it is important to carry out the treatment, promoting the junction and strengthening of the abdominal fibers.

Therefore, if you are suspicious or sure of diastasis, don’t neglect it and look for a doctor now to help in the best treatment . After all, this will ensure more well-being and quality of life, so necessary for the new mother.

Did you like our information about abdominal diastasis? Leave your comment!

Website | + posts

Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *