Young Singaporean mothers who just gave birth are susceptible to a lot of dangerous health issues. But with the right postnatal care, any possible illnesses can be avoided.
Unfortunately, giving birth comes with conditions that can be hard to treat. And one of the more common issues that new mothers have to face is the divarication of the recti.
If you're unfamiliar with what diastasis recti are, you're in luck! Today we'll be discussing what the condition is, how you can prevent it, and the various diastasis recti treatment in Singapore.
What Diastasis Recti Is?
Regardless of how common the condition is among mothers who recently gave birth, a large majority of the population don't know what diastasis recti are.
Simply put, diastasis recti is the partial or complete separation of the rectus abdominis, commonly known as our ab muscles. It's a condition that often occurs during and after pregnancy.
As a baby grows in the body of a mother, the uterus stretches the muscles in their abdomen. And while it seems like it's not a common condition, recent studies have revealed that up to 60% of women have experienced diastasis recti.
In rare cases, some men that lift heavy weights incorrectly suffer from the condition as well.
How Do I Know if I Have Diastasis Recti?
One of the most common symptoms of the divarication of the recti is having a pooch or bulge in one's stomach.
Other patients also experience lower back pain, poor posture, constipation, and bloating.
Women who are still pregnant may not have noticeable symptoms. But if they see a ridge developing in their bellies during their second or third trimester, it might be a symptom of diastasis recti developing. Mothers who are also experiencing abdominal or back pain during their pregnancy are advised to visit their doctors immediately.
As for mothers who just gave birth, the same pooch or bulge may be noticeable in their belly area. This might create the illusion of a pregnant woman even if they already gave birth.
Is Self-Check Possible?
Yes. Mothers who want to check if they've developed diastasis recti after delivery can do so through this guide:
- Lie on your back and bend your legs. Make sure that your feet are flat on the floor.
- Using one of your hands, support your head as you raise your shoulders off the floor while you check your belly.
- Move your other hand above and below your belly button. Test if you can fit a finger between the gaps of your muscles along the midline ab area.
If you felt a gap the size of one or two-finger lengths, you may have moderate diastasis recti. Over the next coming weeks, observe if the gap starts to narrow.
If it doesn't, it may be best to seek the opinion of a professional about it.
What Causes Diastasis Recti?
Divarication of the recti happens when excessive inner-abdominal pressure happens. As a woman goes through her pregnancy, her uterus expands and it affects her abdominal muscles.
The connective tissues of her muscles are stretched. Additionally, pregnancy hormones like relaxin and estrogen affect the tissues of her abdominal muscles, causing them to tear.
When the delivery comes, the pushing can further stress the muscles, inevitably leading to diastasis recti.
Can It Be Treated?
Thankfully, there is various diastasis recti treatment in Singapore's market.
Depending on the severity of the case, it can be treated with regular ab muscle exercises that help the area regain its strength. Mothers who need extra help during their postnatal care should seek the help of professionals that specializes in diastasis recti.
Workout moves that involve the pelvic floor and deep stomach muscles can help treat the divarication of the recti.
Can It be Prevented?
There's no sure way of guaranteeing that diastasis recti can be avoided. But there are exercises and other methods that can help mothers strengthen their core.
During pregnancy, women should seek out workout moves that activate their oblique muscles and train their pelvic floor. Any regimens that leave their tummy bulging out or causes back strain should be avoided.
If they're unsure of which exercises are meant for preventing diastasis recti, they should seek the assistance of a personal trainer. Keep in mind that any strenuous activity can affect both the mother and the baby that they're carrying.
Instead of experimenting on their own, they need to have an experienced trainer present during their workout sessions.
Key Takeaways
Ultimately, there's no shame in suffering from diastasis recti. Regardless of whether you're the mother of a newborn baby or someone unfortunate enough to not work out properly, there's a solution to your problems.
Orchard Clinic is one of Singapore's leading providers of diastasis recti treatment. With experienced physicians in their team, patients can rest easy knowing that Orchard Clinic will lead them to the right treatment for their needs.
