Be careful not to simply pull your head off the floor when checking for the diastasis. Raising your head too far or incorrectly will temporarily decrease the width of the separation. Your rib cage should move closer to your pelvis as your head is only slightly lifted off the floor.
For the first few weeks postpartum, you may feel a hole in your belly. This is very normal, abdominal connective tissue is relaxed after childbirth. As the weeks pass, elasticity will return.
Why is it important to address your "Mummy Tummy"?
Abdominal diastasis reduces the strength of the abdominal wall and can aggravate lower back pain and pelvic instability. Separation in a previous pregnancy increases the likelihood and severity of a diastasis in future pregnancies. Women expecting multiples or with poor abdominal muscle tone are at a greater risk of developing an abdominal diastasis. Genetics are also a factor.
