How do I know if I have diastasis recti NHS?
Daniel Rodriguez
Published Mar 12, 2026
How do I know if I have diastasis recti NHS?
This is called diastasis recti, or divarication….After you have had your baby, you can check the size of the separation with this simple technique:
- Lie on your back with your legs bent and your feet flat on the floor.
- Raise your shoulders off the floor slightly and look down at your tummy.
What is normal rectus diastasis?
What is diastasis recti? It is common and normal to have some separation between your rectus abdominus abdominal muscles (which you may refer to as your ‘6-pack’). In women that have not given birth, 1 cm (or one finger) separation at the level of the belly button and 0.5 cm above and below, is normal.
How do you fix rectus abdominis diastasis?
If you’re still experiencing symptoms or separation eight weeks postpartum, exercises may help. You can perform the exercises at home, or work with a physical therapist or postpartum fitness specialist. Postpartum treatment for diastasis recti usually involves pelvic floor and deep stomach muscle exercises.
Is rectus diastasis a hernia?
A diastasis of the abdominal wall, (diastasis recti), is not a hernia. Clinically, a diastasis may look like a hernia in the sense that when the abdomen is flexed, there is a noticeable and cosmetically unpleasing bulge, usually located in the upper abdomen in the midline, above your belly button.
Do I have diastasis rectus abdominis?
A belly bulge is the telltale sign of diastasis recti; its usually most noticeable when you’re contracting or straining muscles in your abdomen. Other symptoms might include lower back pain, constipation, urinary incontinence, and poor posture.
What happens if diastasis recti goes untreated?
If left untreated, diastasis recti can potentially lead to poor core stabilization, pelvic floor dysfunction, and back or pelvic pain.
Will diastasis recti ever go away?
Ab separation is normal with pregnancy, but with diastasis recti, the gap is more significant and doesn’t resolve on its own within a couple of months of giving birth.
Is diastasis recti serious?
It’s not physically dangerous, but many times, that bulge is what’s referred to as a “mommy pooch,” because it’s so common in women who have given birth, especially if they’ve had multiple births. Diastasis recti isn’t just about how a mother’s stomach looks, however.
What happens if Diastasis Recti goes untreated?
What can I do about my rectus diastasis?
9 Diastasis Recti Workouts Umbrella Breathing with Kegel. Start in a standing position with knees slightly bent, or sitting on a yoga ball or chair. Pelvic Tilts on Hands and Knees. Begin on hands and knees in a neutral spine. Kneeling Leg and Arm Extension with Knee Tap. Toe Taps Lying on Back. Single Leg Reach Lying on Back. Leg Extension with Weights. Double Leg Extension.
Does diastasis recti heal on it’s own?
If you’ve truly been diagnosed with a diastasis recti, it will not heal on its own. This is a condition where the fascia of the abdominal muscles has stretched causing a bulge. This only can be fixed with surgery. Best to lose weight with diet and exercise and then undergo an abdominoplasty.
How to heal from diastasis recti?
Tabletop Legs Alternating Heel Drops|5 reps per side. Lie on your back with your arms out by your sides and palms flat on the floor.
How to identify and fix diastasis recti?
A: Rectus diastasis repair. The only way to repair a rectus diastasis is to suture the muscle gap back together. Traditionally, this is done with a full tuck because these patients also have some extra skin. But, in patients without extra skin, it can be done through a limited scar mini-tummy tuck approach.