Diastasis recti happens when the ab muscles (formally called the rectus abdominis muscles) on either side of the belly button separate, creating what's sometimes called a mommy pooch.Â
This separation of the abdominal muscles (aka rectus diastasis or rectus abdominis diastasis) happens most commonly post-pregnancy, especially in women over age 35 who’ve delivered a high-birth-weight baby or had multiple pregnancies erode the strength of the abdominal wall. It can also occur in men with abdominal obesity.
Diastasic recti is very common: Research shows that nearly half of women who've experienced their first pregnancy have the condition at six months postpartum. Because it takes time for the body to readjust after pregnancy, that number dropped to one-third after a year.Â
Some separation is normal, but it's considered diastasis recti when the gap that's created is more than two centimeters at one or more points of the linea alba (fascia), the layer of tissue that connects the abdominal muscles.
“The stomach protrudes because there is excess space in the abdominal cavity, and the internal organs fill this void, making a bulge,” says Dr. Tattelbaum. “Sometimes it can make a woman still look pregnant, even when she’s not.”Â
Diastasis recti is not just a cosmetic issue. Organs like the uterus and bowels no longer have the abdominal muscles to hold them in—only a thin layer of connective tissue keeps them in place.Â
Many doctors believe this lack of core continuity can contribute to lower back pain and umbilical hernias, when part of the intestine protrudes through the umbilical opening in the abdominal muscles, creating a soft swelling or bulge near the navel (umbilicus).
Your abdominal muscles work with your pelvic floor, so a separation of these muscles can also lead to issues like constipation, urinary incontinence, and prolapse.