Diastasis Recti (Mommy Tummy)

During pregnancy the two halves of the abdominal muscle move apart to make room, and the connective tissue along the midline stretches. Some separation happens in nearly every pregnancy and is a normal adaptation, not an injury. When it does not recover on its own, it is called diastasis recti — often described as a mommy tummy, a doming belly, or a stomach that still looks pregnant months later.

Width is the part everyone measures, but on its own it explains very little. What matters more is whether the tissue between the muscles can take tension, and whether the deep abdominals, diaphragm and pelvic floor are managing pressure together. That is why two people with the same measurement can have completely different symptoms — and why a gap that has not narrowed can still become strong and comfortable.

Assessment covers the separation itself, how the midline behaves under load, your breathing pattern, and your pelvic floor, since abdominal separation, leaking, back pain and prolapse commonly appear together. Treatment is graded exercise built on what the assessment shows, progressed as your tolerance improves, alongside practical adjustments to how you lift, carry and get out of bed.

There is no timeline that fits everyone, and results depend on your starting point, how long it has been, and what else is going on. Your physiotherapist will be straightforward with you about what to expect in your case.