Here’s what the gap looks like at the muscular level:

When the two parts of the muscle separate as a result of this increased pressure (like in pregnancy), the connective tissue and midline is stretched and weakened as it takes all other muscular and fascial support structures along with it. This leaves the front of the abdomen unsupported and unstable.

Your tummy might still “look” pregnant, many months or even years post-baby. A diastasis can present itself as a ‘doming’ of your tummy, made worse when you perform crunch type movements or when sitting up from a lying position on your back.

After using MUTU System 94% of women reported an improvement in signs and symptoms of diastasis recti, or separation of the stomach muscles.*

DR occurs as a result of excessive intra-abdominal pressure or loading. It is common in the later stages of pregnancy (due to the inevitable shift in alignment from a growing baby), particularly in second or subsequent pregnancies. 

It can happen when your core is not quite functioning optimally, often due to issues with your overall core alignment. It’s important to note here that DR is not actually an injury, though, and is incredibly common after pregnancy.

Though having a strong and supple core and good alignment/posture prior to pregnancy is beneficial for many reasons, it might still occur. It’s not something you did “wrong” and it’s probably something you can fix with some intentional care.

When the two 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 may leave the front of the abdomen unsupported and unstable.

It is normal and expected to have your abdomen still be a bit rounded for a short time after birth (about eight weeks) as your uterus returns to its pre-pregnant size, your organs go back to their normal resting spot, you shed the increased fluids necessary for growing a baby, and you start to shed the fat gained as insulation and protection.

However, with DR, your tummy might still look pregnant, many months or even years after giving birth. This is often (somewhat dismissively) called “mommy belly” or “mommy tummy” or “pooch.” 

It can present itself as a ‘doming’ of your tummy, made worse when you perform crunch type movements or when sitting up from a lying position on your back. You might also find it resembles a loaf of bread. 

There’s an easy at-home test for determining if you have Diastasis Recti.

For a quick start guide just follow these few steps:

1. Lie on your back, legs bent and your feet flat on the floor.
2. Raise your shoulders off the floor slightly and look down at your belly.
3. Using the tips of your fingers feel just above and below your belly button, seeking the edges of your abdominal muscles. Take note of  the finger widths between your muscles i.e. how many fingers you can fit into the gap.

In the first few weeks of postpartum, you can do this test regularly to track how well your muscles are moving back together. If they stay separated past week eight, you have DR. 

When checking for symptoms you are assessing not only the width of the gap, but also its depth. This may feel a bit like testing for your belly’s level of squidgy-ness. The amount of separation on both counts will determine the severity of your DR, and what you can do to help close your abdominal separation (even in these severe cases).

Symptoms go beyond feeling like you have a saggy belly and can include:

• Noticeable bulge sticking out just above or below your belly button.
• Coning or doming when you contract your ab muscles.
• Squidgy feeling around your belly button.
• Poor posture and/or low back pain.
• Weakness in your core muscles.
• Difficulty lifting things.
• Pelvic or hip pain.
• Painful sex.
• Urine leaking when you sneeze or cough.
• Constipation.
• Back pain (often in the lower back region).

Diastasis recti itself isn’t painful (remember, it’s not an injury), but the symptoms can be (for example back pain can have a huge impact on quality of life for many of us). Even if you don’t necessarily feel any pain, having your deep abdominal muscles and core aligned is important for your stability and being able to do normal daily activities. 

Poor alignment and posture results in uncontained pressure and loading. Follow these steps to help you tweak and adjust your alignment:

1. Try not to thrust out your chest or tuck your backside!
2. Walk more, sit less. Change position more.
3. You need strong glutes and a strong core to heal a diastasis

Next you must learn to ENGAGE and RELEASE your core and pelvic floor effectively in everyday movements.

You want to be able to carry your baby, push your pram, lift your children, do housework, walk, and move with a strong and functional core.

MUTU retrains, reconnects and strengthens your core. You won’t always have to engage and release your core consciously but this is where we start.

Then through ongoing physical therapy you strengthen your transverse abdominis muscle to help draw your rectus abdominis muscle back in together, helping your tummy to feel stronger and look flatter.

A big part of bringing your ab muscles back together involves getting familiar with your core muscles and engaging your core.

Engaging your core is a more important than just sucking in your stomach. Learn more about engaging your core properly here. 

You can narrow the gap with exercises including abdominal exercises, core restoration exercises, breathing strategies and alignment adjustments.

By understanding how your body carries loads and withstands pressure, you can improve your core function, deep core muscles and the look of your tummy.

DR is a symptom of excessive intra abdominal pressure.

This is the same state that creates other pelvic floor and abdominal problems including hernia and prolapse.

It should therefore be treated as part of an integrated program designed to restore, re-connect and then strengthen the entire core musculature, rather than be addressed in isolation. This means moving beyond just how it looks.

Then you strengthen your transverse abdominis muscles to help draw your rectus abdominis muscle back in together, helping your tummy to feel stronger and look flatter.