What’s going on with my abs after birth?

I’ve spoken to many women that talk about their desire to gain a flat tummy, and how are conscious of having a “mummy tummy” which they often think is because of holding onto excess fat that was gained during pregnancy. In reality, it can often be attributed to having an abdominal separation that hasn’t healed.  If untreated, abdominal separation can also have the amazing (not) ability to cause your abdomen to still look pregnant, this is because your core isn’t being properly supported.

In their quest for a flat tummy post-birth, many mums assume that to achieve this, the best exercise they should do is the good old sit-up BUT I am here to tell you that isn’t the place to start and it can potentially be a dangerous move…

It’s really important to know that one of the most common changes that takes place during and after your pregnancy actually happens is Diastasis Recti.

What??

Ok, I am a trainer who deals with this condition every day and even I can’t pronounce it properly so let’s just call it abdominal separation.  If you think about it, it makes sense…

Your abdominals are joined on the left and right side by connective tissue that runs along the midline. It starts at your sternum and goes right down to your pubic bone. This tissue is called your linea alba. During pregnancy the linea alba softens and stretches, allowing the abdominal wall to expand as your baby grows inside you.  It can take a huge amount of stress and stretching during pregnancy, especially when you have grown so much and are getting towards the end of your pregnancy! Pretty incredible if you ask me!

When the linea alba is stretched so much that the two sides of the rectus abdominus separate, that my friends is what is known as Diastasis Recti or in simple terms Abdominal Separation.