How to Fix Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti (also known as abdominal separation) is a condition which may affect pregnant women or newborns. Diastasis recti occurs when the right and left sides of the abdominal rectus muscle (front belly area) separate. Medline Plus reports that the condition is common, occurring mostly among premature and African-African infants; women may develop the condition because of increased pressure on this muscle. Most often, no treatment is needed, but women and infants who have complications arising from diastasis recti may undergo surgery to correct the condition.
Instructions
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Correcting Diastasis Recti
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Talk with your doctor about your condition or the condition of your child. Unless hernia has occurred, the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medline Plus indicate the treatment is not required.
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Ask your doctor about exercise, which may help correct diastasis recti in women, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Because all injuries are unique, your doctor can help you best decide if exercise is beneficial for you. Babies do not require exercise, as the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medline Plus report that their abdominal rectus muscle keeps growing, correcting the condition.
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Discuss treatment options with your doctor in the event of a hernia, which is indicated by pain in the belly area, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. When this occurs, surgery can be performed to correct the hernia.
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Tips & Warnings
Follow your doctor's post-surgery instructions to avoid complications if you or your child undergo surgery for a hernia.
Putting extra stress on the rectus muscle increases the chances of diastasis recti, and Medline Plus suggests that women who are 12 or more weeks pregnant should avoid heavy abdominal exercise.
References
- Photo Credit you hands on my belly image by Frenk_Danielle Kaufmann from Fotolia.com
