Diastasis Rectus Abdominus (DRA), or abdominal separation, is very common during pregnancy. In fact, a study found that diastasis rectus abdominus “may affect up to 100% of pregnant women and it may persist in the immediate postpartum period in 35-60% of women.” By being aware of the existence of abdominal separation, which needs to occur to some degree to make room for the baby, you can start to prepare your core for birth and postpartum during pregnancy to reduce the effects of abdominal separation after birth.
The Importance of Rib Cage Mobility and How It Changes During Pregnancy
As the uterus grows during pregnancy, it presses up on the diaphragm and out on the abdominals to make room for the baby. This in turn causes the rib cage to be in a constant state of expansion, decreasing the ability of the rib cage to contract to a “normal” state. When the mobility of the rib cage decreases during pregnancy, you can have difficulty with upper extremity movement, posture, back pain, and lower extremity mobility. These accommodations don’t just “bounce back” after pregnancy. There needs to be a concentrated effort at working on rib cage mobility after pregnancy to get everything moving again.
The 4th Trimester Revealed- What No One Talks About After Birth
The 4th trimester is a difficult period of adjustment where you may not be sure what's going on or how to deal with it. Most moms feel totally unprepared for this trimester. Surrounding yourself with a support system and healthcare professionals like a pelvic floor physical therapist can greatly improve the postpartum healing process.
Preventing & Recovering From A C-Section
Find out what is a C-section, How to Recover, and Chances at a VBAC.
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