Diastasis Recti is a common postpartum issue for many women. Despite it being a common issue, there is a lot of confusion and oftentimes misinformation about this condition. If you have unanswered questions and concerns about diastasis recti (DR) like:
-What exactly is it?
-How did I get it?
-How do I test for it?
-How do I exercise now?
-And more….
Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered mama. You are going to leave this article feeling empowered and like you have some new tools to better support your incredible body.
The main points we will be covering:
What is diastasis recti?
Before we get to Diastasis Recti exercises, what is it? Diastasis recti, also referred to as ‘Divarication of the Recti’, DRA or ‘Rectus Divarification’, is the widening of the gap between the 2 sections of the Rectus Abdominis (or 6 pack) abdominal muscle. The split occurs at the Linea Alba, the mid-line collagen structures of connective tissue at the front of the abdomen. You can find out more about how to perform a diastasis recti test below.
100% of women have some level of diastasis of the rectus abdominis in the third trimester. (Gilliard and Brown 1996, Diane Lee 2013)
For many women the gap remains widened at 8 weeks, and may remain unchanged at 1 year postpartum. (Coldron et al 2008, Liaw et al 2011)
66% of women with diastasis recti have some level of pelvic floor dysfunction (Spitznagle et al 2007).
Diastasis recti and pelvic floor problems may present together. The Linea Alba (seam of tissue structures that form the meeting point of the 2 sides of all the core musculature) along with all the abdominal muscles, have stretched and thinned out.
ALL the muscles of the abdomen- Transversalis, internal and external obliques, as well as Rectus Abdominis – meet at this centre midline. This lack of stability can affect the whole body both aesthetically and functionally. That is why diastasis recti exercises are so important.
What does a diastasis recti look like?
You may see a ‘pooching’ or ‘doming’ of your stomach, especially when coming up from a lying position on your back. Sometimes you appear still a few months pregnant.
As well as the aesthetic concerns (not liking the way your tummy looks), diastasis recti may be associated with a weak core (and pelvic floor). This can lead to a lack of strength and stability in the entire pelvic region and midsection. Luckily, diastasis recti exercises can help gain back the strength and stability in the entire pelvic region and midsection.
What causes diastasis recti?
Diastasis Recti is the result of excessive intra-abdominal pressure or loading. It is common (and normal!) in the later stages of pregnancy, particularly second or subsequent pregnancies. The increased oad and al the changes of pregnancy have stretched the entire abdominal structure.
The Rectus Abdominis is only 1 of 4 layers of abdominal muscles: the Transverse Abdominis (deepest muscle layer) the Interior and Exterior Obliques (next 2 layers) that form your waist, and then the Rectus Abdominis is on the outside.
When the 2 parts of the muscle separate or come apart, the connective mid-line is stretched and weakened as it takes all other muscular and fascial support structures along with it. This can mean the abdomen is unsupported or unstable. This seam of connective tissue is designed to be taut, at full length and aligned in a vertical (breastbone to pubic bone) plane. But it cannot perform or function optimally when alignment is ‘out’. So alignment is important when discussing diastasis.
Diastasis Recti is a symptom of excessive and unsupported intra abdominal pressure. This is the same issue that creates other pelvic and abdominal problems including hernia and prolapse. DR should therefore be treated as part of an integrated program designed to re-align, re-connect and then strengthen the entire core musculature, rather than be addressed in isolation.
The focus should not be only on ‘closing the gap’!
Diastasis recti test – how to do it?
Watch the diastasis recti test video here!
Start the diastasis recti exercises, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Relax your head and shoulders and place your fingers (palm facing you) just above your belly button.
Lift your head and neck very slightly off the floor and press down with your fingertips. If you feel a gap, that’s the diastasis. You will feel the muscles close in around your fingers as you lift your head and neck. Don’t lift your shoulders. Repeat the test in two other place: directly over the belly button, and a couple of inches below.
A diastasis recti gap is measured in finger width’s. You are aiming for a 1-2 finger gap or less, but don’t panic if it’s much bigger at first.
Even more important than the width of the gap though, is the tension (or lack of tension) in the midline – the linea alba. Contracting the muscles should create tension and resistance when you apply gentle pressure with your fingers to the midline. If it doesn’t – you have some re-connecting to do…
It’s important to understand too, that lying on your back is not the only position to assess a diastasis. A well informed specialist trainer or Physio may also have strategies to test your DR when standing, and even during functional movement.
What exercises will help with a diastasis?
MUTU System exercises will 🙌🏼. In a 2018 survey of 906 MUTU customers, 94% of women reported an improvement in signs and symptoms of diastasis recti. MUTU System is the original and proven diastasis recti exercise program.
Start here – First, you want to FIND and connect with your deep core muscles. Here’s how: Without raising or tensing your chest or shoulders, GENTLY draw your belly button inwards as you slowly exhale. That’s the right muscle! You’re not ‘sucking in’ or making any forceful or exaggerated movement. Your pelvis shouldn’t tuck under as you do this – in fact nothing should be happening in your shoulders, chest or pelvis! It is just a subtle drawing in at the lower abs.
You are not… sucking in your stomach, holding your breath, moving your ribs or your shoulders. You’re not tucking your butt / tailbone under you or thrusting your hips. These movements indicate instead that the Transverse is not fully engaged. You need to find this this muscle first and re-connect with it, if it is going to play its vital role in your core and pelvic floor system.
We work on your ALIGNMENT – a factor in that excessive pressure and loading.
Then we learn to ENGAGE your transverse abdominis and pelvic floor muscles effectively and correctly, not only when you exercise, but also during every-day movements like lifting, sneezing or twisting. This is a natural, reactive movement which you won’t always have to do consciously! But to re-conenct, to realign and to restore, we isolate at first… and then progress quickly to functional movement.
Then we STRENGTHEN the deep core in a way that will draw your rectus abdominis muscle (the six pack, outermost one, the one that has separated) back in together, helping to pull your belly back in… flatter and stronger. These are not isolated ‘ab only’ exercises!
The most effective way to get your body to the aesthetic and functional place you want it… is with whole body movement, gradually adding load (weight / body weight) to challenge and strengthen, and listening to your body signals as you go, to back-up, or move on.
Questions You May Have
We receive many messages and questions from mamas every day, many have similar themes when it comes to diastasis recti. Below are a few of the most common ones we get. If these are questions you have simply click the question box to learn more about the answer to your question:
MUTU System is for women who…
want their bodies to look, feel and function better after having a baby. Even if it’s a long time since having a baby. They want a core and a pelvic floor that work, that feel right and that do their job. It’s for women who want to lose weight after childbirth and keep it off. It’s the definitive, medically endorsed Mummy Tummy Workout System with diastasis recti exercises, created by postpartum fitness expert, Wendy Powell.
An international best-selling, industry acclaimed, award winning, holistic, realistic and supportive exercise and recovery program for Moms that truly works.
A proven, truly effective, tried and tested solution for ‘mummy tummy’, diastasis recti, pelvic floor weakness and core that isn’t as functional or strong as you’d like it to be.
Hi I am 62 and had 4 children all now in their 30’s. I was in a workout group lately and one of the instructors stopped me and mentioned that I had Diastasis Recti and that I should be doing excerices differently. Darn why did it take so long for someone to mention this. I have been to so many trainers over the years. I guess when I was doing leg lefts with both legs together my stomach coned up in the middle and said from now on until you get your strength back only do one leg at a time. to keep my stomack flat.
So working with your program is recommended?
Hi Roxanne, it’s great to hear from you. Here at MUTU we believe it’s never too late to start the program. The program is a complete post baby recovery program, addressing Diastasis Recti, improving core and pelvic floor function and promoting increased fitness and fat loss.
Your abdominal muscles are just like any other muscles – they just sit there when they’re not being used. They don’t go anywhere, or lose the ability to work… they just get weak. They may be tight or they may be slack, depending on your whole body alignment, but if they’re not being used, they are weak and ineffective.
MUTU System program shows you how to re-connect and restore these muscles, how to improve your alignment, train your core and pelvic floor muscles to work optimally and at full strength and flexibility, and how to make your stomach muscles lie flat.
If you would like to see some before and after pictures of women we have helped for some reassurance, just click here. We also have a support group which is exclusive to our members. It’s a safe space where you can chat with other mamas to get help and support through your MUTU journey.
Hi I have a 2 finger gap my son is 16 months old and started Pilates recently and been advised not to do kettle bells . I was wondering if possible could I do a spin class ?
Some intensive exercise can make things worse if your core isn’t able to cope with that type of exercise yet. Ultimately, you will learn with MUTU to read your own body’s signals. We don’t have a list of do’s and don’ts… your body is telling you, you simply have to listen! Read more on ‘When You’re Ready to Crossfit, Plank Or Run’.
I am 71 and have a very large stomach from dias recti I look pregnant what can I do to help it go away?
Every year as I get older it gets larger, at 50 this was not an issue, can you help me?
Hi Patricia, thank you for your comment. It’s never too late to make a difference – to get a stronger lower back, a more optimally functioning core and pelvic floor, and a flatter stomach. Your abdominal muscles are just like any other muscles – they just sit there when they’re not being used. They don’t go anywhere, or lose the ability to work… they just get weak. They may be tight or they may be slack, depending on your whole body alignment, but if they’re not being used, they are weak and ineffective.
Hi Wendy,
I have just recently had my second child.
I am 24 years of age and my stomach pretty much looks back to normal to what it did before both my children. I have tested myself for DR and get just 1 finger and sometimes under gap. I think this was the same before having my children. My question is what is a pre natal women’s normal abdominal gap as I am under the impression that every human being has some amount of separation naturally before children? X
Also I have read reports that testing yourself from a raised starting position like a pillow gives you a more accurate result, I also did this and found my gap felt completely closed. Would you say this is a true test ?
Sorry to be a pain x
Hi Charlie, firstly let me just say that there is no “normal” as everyone will be different – more important is how your body feels and functions. If you are going about your day/exercises without pain, or leaking or bulging then that’s the indicator of if there is an issue or not. A finger measurement is not really that important if you are feeling strong and stable in your core, the midline connective tissue is shallow and firm and without the aforementioned issues. I wondered if this blog might also help you
Can you please include older women in this article. I am 75 and have been diagnosed with DR. I have had 4 children . Youngest is 50. I have severe bladder and bowel problems and bad backaches. Total abdominoplasty is being considered.
There must be thousands of older women in my situation. The main cause if my DR is moving heavy items over several years
I have had prolapsed pelvic floor and abdominal hernia repaired several times. and I went to dr today for abdominal pressure
and she examined my abdomen and said it was Rectus Diastasis ! I was blaming the pressure on the hernia! I was glad to learn about this condition called Rectus diastasis. since i’m in my 80’s I don’t think anything can be done!
Hi Wendy,
I just had my fifth baby a year ago, and recently realized that the fifth baby did me in and I now have DR. Pretty disappointed I made it to 4 with no problems. :( Nonetheless, my question is if I do this program and “close the gap”, is there some connective tissue that reconnects the muscles? Once the gap is closed, will it stay that way, or do I need to continually do these specific exercises to keep it closed?
Thank you
Hi Brittany, 5 babies – I’m super impressed! Yes, there is connective tissue between the 2 sheaths of muscles – this has been stretched and weakened. Tthe alignment adjustments, releases, stretches and the the foundational core work of MuTu will help this to heal and gets strong again. You won’t have to do the exercises for ever… but the cool thing is you won’t have to because you learn in MuTu how to make every exercise a core exercise, and how to keep your body safe and protected during everyday movement, aligning your body to avoid DR worsening.
I don’t have internet access at my house so if I bought the program is there any way that I can get it in dvd form? I am 6 months pp with my first child and want to get this healed up before i have my second