Watching your tummy expand is something women either like or dislike despite having a baby grow inside.
But did you know that some women’s abdominals remain intact, while other women’s abdominals split?
What is abdominal splitting?
Abdominal splitting typically appears as a “tenting” along the midline on the abdominals. You typically notice it when you sit up from a lying down position.
Not every women experiences it during pregnancy, however it is much more common than we realize. In fact, it’s most common in the third trimester and early postpartum.
Why does this happen?
It can be due to maternal hormones, genetic predisposition, weak abdominal muscles and the mechanical strain of the growing belly.
What happens is the rectus abdominis (the main abdominal muscle) is a strap like muscle that runs from the ribs to the pelvis. It contracts to assist you from lying on your back to a seated position. The muscle consists of two vertical bands joined together by connective tissue along your midline. It is the connective tissue that stretches and causes the separation of the two vertical straps. Without proper rehabilitation of the muscle it can remain separated long after the baby arrives.
The separation of the rectus abdominis can cause a groove or valley along the center of your abs. And if the muscle is separated greater than two to three fingers width it becomes very noticeable to others, even through clothing. If it becomes greater than five fingers width there is a higher risk of a hernia or a hole in the abdominal wall, which can require medical intervention to repair.
Abdominal discomfort can be present in the area of the separation especially when your baby steps on or kicks the area. Any kind of impact in that area can be quite uncomfortable because the protection of the abdominal organs is jeopardized by the gap between the muscle bands.
Posture can also be affected as well as your ability to effectively isolate your “corset muscles” (obliques). Your obliques wrap around and come together at the connective tissue of your midline as well.
