It is common for new mummies to be mistaken as pregnant even if they have already given birth. Because even without the baby in the womb, mummy bellies continue to protrude–post partum belly.

Naturally,post partum bellygoes away without needing medical intervention. Mummy pooch will flatten out after months of kegel and diastasis recti exercises.

However, there are situations wherediastasis recti in Singaporeare more severe than usual and need medical attention. Otherwise, a simple mummy pooch could lead to a severe health problem.

This article will discuss the possible complication of untreateddivarication of the recti.

All You Need To Know About Diastasis Recti In Singapore

The diastasis recti is a condition where a gap forms between the recti muscles or the rectus abdominis, separating them.

Divarication of the rectiis common among women mainly because pregnancy stretches the recti muscles to give room to the growing baby in the womb.

However, women are not the only ones who develop this condition. There are rare cases where men suffer from the diastasis recti in Singapore. Excessive weight lifting, sit-ups, push-ups and other improper exercises are the culprits of the separation of the recti muscles in males.

Is diastasis recti dangerous?

The divarication of the rectiis not always dangerous. Apart from impeding some bodily functions temporarily, women worry more about its cosmetic impact–post partum belly.

Medical treatments can speed up the healing of therecti muscles, but diastasis recti can be treated at home through exercise programmes.

However, there are cases where diastasis recti can be dangerous.

How to tell if you have diastasis recti in Singapore?

People can do a diastasis recti self-check at home by performing these several steps:

STEP 1: Lie on your back

Find a flat surface, such as your floor and lie on your back. Bend your knees whilst your soles remain planted on the floor.

STEP 2: Find your belly

Lift your shirt and find your belly. Place your hand above your navel.

STEP 3: Elevate your head

Try to elevate your head without removing your shoulders from the floor. Then try to feel the areas of your belly and look for sponge-like or squishier parts.

STEP 4: Press down your fingers

Sink your three middle fingers into the part of yourrecti muscles right above your belly button gently. Your head is still elevated. The gap is typically three-fingers wide.

STEP 5: Repeat the process

Repeat the process at your belly button and below your belly button. Feel free to add or remove a finger.

It is advisable to try this test two weeks after giving birth.

The separation of therecti muscles is abnormal when it is two-finger widths.

The gap eventually narrows down three weeks into the kegel anddiastasis recti exercises. Consult your postnatal and alternative medical provider if there are no changes in the size despite the routines.

Don’t let your divarication of recti be left untreated. As much as possible, consult your postnatal provider. Otherwise, it could lead to these complications.

4 Possible Complications Of Untreated Diastasis Recti In Singapore

Most complications of untreated diastasis recti are manageable, but there are conditions that might need immediate medical attention.

Nevertheless, life-threatening or not, these conditions should be resolved immediately because a mother’s body is still vulnerable weeks and months after giving birth.

Here are the common complications of the divarication of recti:

1. Hernia

A hernia happens when the muscles and tissues that contain internal organs have weak parts, such as tears and gaps. The internal organs would squeeze into that weak spot and protrude outward, giving a bulging appearance from the outside. Hernia can happen anywhere in the body, but it is most common in the abdomen.

There are three types of hernias that happen in the abdomen. These are ventral, inguinal, and umbilical.

A person has a ventral hernia when the protrusion appears above the belly button.

A person has an inguinal hernia when the protrusion appears near the groyne.

A person has an umbilical hernia when the protrusion appears at the navel.

All these hernias are due to the gap between the recti muscles, courtesy of the divarication of the recti.

The bowel organs, such as the intestines, fill the gap, creating a bulge, often mistaken for a mummy pooch or post partum belly.

An untreated hernia in the abdomen could result in the obstruction of the bowel movements, causing severe stomach pain, vomiting, and nausea.

Trapped bowel organs in the gap could also cut off blood supply and lead to tissue death. This case needs immediate medical attention.

2. Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence refers to the inability to control the urinary bladder, resulting in the involuntary leakage of urine. There are several types of urinary incontinence, but mothers withdiastasis recti in Singaporecommonly suffer from stress incontinence.

Urinary stress incontinence happens when the muscles around the bladder cannot manage too much force and pressure from laughing, sneezing, and coughing.

The pelvic floor muscles are responsible for controlling the bladder. During pregnancy, these muscles weaken, along with the stretching of the recti muscles that support them.

Pelvic organ prolapse is common during childbirth as mums put immense pressure to push the baby out. Weak pelvic floor and recti muscles mean lax bladder control, ergo stress incontinence.

Mummies can strengthen their pelvic floor and recti muscles by performing kegel and diastasis recti exercises.

3. Lower back pain

Therecti muscles support the upper body posture. The back alone supports the upper body if the recti muscles are weak.

Carrying the infant during nursing and lulling them exacerbates the back pain.

Plenty of rest and strengthening therecti musclesthroughdiastasis recti exercises can alleviate lower back pain.

4. Painful sexual intercourse

Besides the fact that the vaginal walls are still raw and fresh, sex can be painful due to weak pelvic floor and recti muscles. It is difficult to sustain a stable sex position without support, and penetration can be painful.

Takeaway

A mother’s body is vulnerable after giving birth. Never be complacent about health, or else simple diastasis recti in Singapore can lead to something more serious.

Orchard Clinic

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