Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscle (DRAM) / Abdominal muscle separation during pregnancy
You may have heard of this before. DRAM is an essential part of pregnancy, to allow for your little ones to grow. The body is an amazing thing and hormones allow our muscles and connective tissues to adapt to allow space for bub's growth.
The muscle involved in DRAM is your Rectus Abdominus (your 6-pack muscles), which is connected down the middle by your Linea Alba (ligament). During pregnancy, the linea alba stretches and creates space between the 6-pack muscles for your baby to grow.
The space between your abdominal muscles can stretch usually up to about 8cm. This is completely normal. What we do need to look out for, though, is any ‘coning, doming or bulging’ in the middle of those muscles (in the centre of your tummy). You may notice this with sitting up out of bed, coughing, sneezing or lifting. This is not ‘normal’ and can weaken your abdominal wall and increase pressure on your pelvic floor if not managed correctly.
Visiting your Women’s Health Physiotherapist can be very beneficial if you are noticing this, as we can help advise on management strategies for during pregnancy to avoid ‘doming’ and immediate management strategies for post pregnancy to help encourage those abdominal muscles to recoil nicely.
A prenatal appointment for abdominal assessment is likely to involve:
- A conversation with a trained Physiotherapist about your concerns, history and goals.
- An assessment of your abdominal wall and strength
- Advice around how to help your abdominal wall for the remainder of your pregnancy
- Advice on/prescription of support garments (for pre and postntally)
- Exercise to help maintain your core strength
- Early management strategies for after bub is born
A postnatal appointment for abdominal assessment is likely to involve:
- A conversation with a trained Physiotherapist about your concerns, history and goals.
- An assessment of your abdominal wall and strength
- Discussion around/prescription of postnatal support garments
- Exercise to help encourage recoil of the rectus abdominus muscle (this will need to be tailored, and will depend on your pelvic floor function as well)
- Return to general exercise program/education
Do you think you could benefit from seeing a Physiotherapist?
Give us a call on 6281 2499 or click the button below to book online.
Author: Jess Garlick, Physiotherapist (BHSc, M. Physiotherapy Practice)
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