Diastasis Recti Specialist In The NYC Tri-State Area

Diastasis recti, sometimes called mommy tummy, is the term for when your front ab muscles (rectus abdominis) partially or completely separate.

It occurs when there is a separation of the connective tissue, called the “white line” or linea alba, that holds the rectus abdominis muscles together.

This is very common during and after pregnancy. In fact, up to 60% of women may experience diastasis recti during pregnancy or postpartum.

It’s generally a good idea to return back to regular exercise after pregnancy in order to get the body back in shape. 

But since diastasis recti is so prevalent during pregnancy, it can delay a return to exercise as well as create other sources of pain related to caring for a newborn.

Who is at risk of diastasis recti?

Diastasis recti is most common with women during and after pregnancy.

Men can sometimes get diastasis recti when lifting with improper form.

The belly spread can also happen with newborn babies, but that often goes away on its own.

What are symptoms of diastasis recti?

The rectus abdominis muscles work together with the lower back muscles to keep us stable. They provide the proper support for stabilizing the trunk and lumbar spine.

When someone has diastasis recti, it means the rectus abdominis muscles cannot work like intended. 

To compensate for the lack of support, the spine has to work overtime. This puts extra stress on the spine, which leads to back pain and weakness.

Other symptoms of diastasis recti may include:

• Constipation

• Urine leaking

• Difficulty breathing

• Difficulty moving normally

In extreme cases, the connective tissue may tear, causing organs to poke out of the opening (also known as a hernia).

Women concerned about having diastasis recti can watch this short instructional guide to determine whether they may have this condition or not.

The connective tissue affected by diastasis recti can be thought of as a piece of plastic wrap which can easily be stretched and tugged. 

This stretching can often occur from:

• Pregnancy

• Weight gain 

• Abdominal surgery

The most common cause for women is pregnancy. 

For pregnant women, some sort of ab separation during and after pregnancy is to be expected. But some patients can experience extreme symptoms, such as a hernia or lingering pain. 

In these cases, contact a pelvic floor specialist immediately.

How do you treat diastasis recti?

Diastasis recti is a condition caused by the weakening of the connective tissues in the rectus abdominis muscle.

To treat the condition, the connective tissue must be restrengthened. By doing this, the diastasis becomes smaller, and the tissue heals.

A licensed therapist can create a plan to treat your diastasis recti.

Get the best treatment options for your diastasis recti.

At our practice, we see many patients for diastasis recti and we have offices in the Upper West Side, Midtown Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

If you have any questions, feel free to email her at kristin@femfirsthealth.com.

Get started on the road to recovery, click here to book an appointment or give us a call at (646) 678-3034 today.

Diastasis recti FAQs

Frequently asked questions we get about diastasis recti.

How do I know if I have diastasis recti?

To know whether you have diastasis recti, do the following test:

1. Lie down on your side and then roll onto your back. 

2. Put one hand behind your head so you can lift it up when looking down on your stomach as you do the test. If you have diastasis, your abs will not function as well, so you want that extra support.

3. Form your fingers into claws and dig deep into your navel with your knuckles.

4. Feel if there is a gap and check how many fingers you can fit in there.

5. Do the same for the area 3 inches above and below your navel. Diastasis recti can occur in different places along the linea alba, so be thorough.

6. If you can fit more than 2 and a half fingers in your gap, you may have diastasis recti. At this point, contact a medical professional as soon as possible.

What does diastasis recti look like?

A stomach bulge is a common sign of diastasis recti. The middle of a healthy rectus abdominis should be a straight line. But if there is a noticeable, somewhat circular gap in the middle, that may be a sign of diastasis recti. See below for a photo of diastasis recti.

Yes you can. Some women can be discouraged to try and fix diastasis recti, even years after their pregnancies, but It’s never too late to fix it. 

All it takes is strengthening the core through proper and consistent exercise. It doesn’t even have to be intense exercise. You just need to stimulate the core enough every day for the tissue to start regenerating. But make sure that the exercises are gentle.

If the right exercises are done consistently and proper form, the tissue can start healing after some time.

Can I lift weights with diastasis recti?

Avoid lifting weights. In most weightlifting exercises, the core is involved in stabilizing the rest of the body. Having diastasis recti renders the core less effective. By lifting weights, too much pressure is applied and can worsen the condition.