14/04/2026
Diastasis Recti is a separation of the midline of the abdominal muscles. It’s a common condition that usually affects women after pregnancy but can also affect women who haven’t given birth and even men. It’s important to say that it’s not painful and certainly not life threatening so if you think you have one, don’t panic.
In pregnancy it’s caused by the growing uterus expanding and stretching the linea alba (the central line down the middle of our abdominal wall) to accommodate your growing baby.
For those who haven’t given birth (or males) it can be due to poor lifting technique when lifting heavy loads or improper exercise; chronic straining (constipation or excessive coughing or even vomiting), and obesity. There can be other causes to but these are the main contributors.
For those who have given birth the linea alba can heal and come back together but if you have had a particularly large baby, or a multiple birth or pregnancies quite close together, the elasticity can be reduced through the excessive stretching.
The image above, of the diastasis, is more on the extreme side and only used to demonstrate what it is. It may not be that large for most people. Common signs are:
⭕️ a visible bulge or doming that protrudes just above or below your belly button on particular movements or positions;
⭕️ you may feel a soft, jellylike feeling around your belly button
⭕️ some people can place their fingers down into the gap in the middle of their abdomen.
If you are not certain if you have a diastasis recti, I will post a video on how you can check and over the next few weeks pop some posts on how you can improve your symptoms if you have them.
