Address Diastasis Recti (Mummy Tummy) | What It Is and How to Fix It!
IS YOUR POST PREGNANCY BULGE NOT GOING AWAY?
Having a belly bulge that still makes you look pregnant months after child birth. It is not just a matter of excess pregnancy weight. You may have diastasis recti.
In addition to noting a bulge, Diastasis Recti can also lead to back pain, poor posture, and even hernias. This is because the abdominal muscles manages the spine and the inner organs, furthermore weakens the separated muscles.
WHAT IS DIASTASIS RECTI SINGAPORE?
Pregnancy causes your body to change to make room for your growing baby. In addition to gaining weight, your uterus, muscles and skin around your stomach stretches to great extent. It is common for that extra pregnancy weight to linger for a while after giving birth. After all, changes in your body during pregnancy do not happen in an instant.
While most mummies lose around 6kg (baby's weight, the Amniotic Fluid, and the Placenta). After child birth, it can take weeks for your uterus to go to its actual size. However, if you notice that your stomach sticks out further than it used to before pregnancy. Especially above the belly button, it is possible that there is separation between your abdominal muscles. This condition is Diastasis Recti, some know it by common names such as ‘mummy tummy’ or ‘mommy pooch’.
Diastasis Recti is fairly common and happens to women who:
- above 35 yearsold
- gave birth to twins (or more)
People usually assume it as a common post-partum condition, but that is not exactly true.
WHAT IS ABDOMINAL SEPARATION? WHAT IS THE COMMON NAME FOR DIASTASIS RECTI?
Abdominal separation is a common condition aka ‘Diastasis Recti’ or ‘DRAM’ (Diastasis Rectus Abdominis Muscle).
The common name for Diastasis Recti is abdominal separation!
The long muscles of your abdomen (Rectus Abdominis) run from your chest to your pelvis. They lie just under the skin, down the middle of your belly. Abdominal separation is when these 2 long muscles separate from each other.
Diastasis Recti Abdominal separation may start in the second half of your pregnancy. It’s an innate change to your growing baby.
Abdominal separation (ad separation Diastasis Recti) often gets better in the first 6 to 8 weeks after having your baby.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE DIASTASIS RECTI?
Symptoms of Diastasis Recti varies from person to person. However, the most common Recti Diastasis symptom is a clear gap in the abdominal area. In addition, other Recti Diastasis symptoms include:
- A bulging or “doming” of the abdominal muscles when you sit up or engage in physical activity.
- Lower back pain.
- Poor posture
- Difficult to standing up straight.
- Muscle weakness in the abdominal area.
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Struggle to lift objects
- Struggle to walk or to carry out everyday tasks
- Pain during sex
- Pelvic or hip pain
- Urine leaks when sneeze or cough
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, you may not face visible symptoms of abdominal separation. But, during the second or third quarter, you might see a bulge or ridge developing on your belly. Furthermore, it can appear above and below the belly button. Where it is obvious when you’re trying to use your ab muscles to stand, sit up, or lie down. Additionally, If you face any extreme abdominal, back, or pelvic pain, see a doctor right away.
Post-partum
After delivery, a notable symptom is a bulge or “pooch” in your belly area. Even though you are no longer pregnant, it might look like you still are.
WHAT IS THE SIMPLE SELF CHECK FOR DIASTASIS RECTI AFTER CHILDBIRTH?
- Lie on your back, legs bent, feet flat on the floor.
- Raise your shoulders up off the floor slightly, holding your head with one hand, and look down at your belly.
- Move your other hand above and below your belly button, and all along your midline ab muscles. See if you can fit any fingers in the gaps between your muscles.
- If you feel a gap, or separation of one to two finger lengths. Then you likely have a decent case of Diastasis Recti. After a few weeks post-partum, the gap will start to narrow as your muscles regain strength.
In summary, while lifting your upper body slightly, as if to do a crunch. Use two fingers to gently push down into the center of your stomach. Above your belly button, at your belly button, and just below. If you feel more than two fingers width of space between your abdominal muscles, you likely have Diastasis Recti.
HOW MANY FINGERS DO YOU NEED FOR DIASTASIS RECTI TEST?
Two Fingers:
Visit a doctor if you have more than a two finger gap between your abdominals or face pain. They may want you to visit a physical therapist or pelvic floor therapists to help strengthen your abdominal muscles.
HOW MANY FINGERS IS SEVERE DIASTASIS RECTI SINGAPORE?
If you feel that the gap is wider than 2 fingers then you may have diastasis. Keeping in mind if the gap is 4-5 fingers, then your diastasis is severe. In both cases, you should ask your doctor for advice on Diastasis Recti treatment.
CAUSE OF DIASTASIS RECTI
Excess inner-abdominal pressure causes Diastasis Recti. During pregnancy, your abdominal muscles and connective tissues stretches out from your bloated uterus. They help pregnancy hormones relax and estrogen. Pushing during delivery can also lead to Diastasis Recti. You may expect some abdominal separation during and post pregnancy. Newborn babies sometimes have Diastasis Recti because their abdominal muscles aren't fully establish. The condition usually corrects itself with time.
DOES DIASTASIS RECTI EVER FULLY HEAL?
You can heal it by reducing the gap between your abdominal muscles. However, it will take time for the gap to close. For the Linea Alba and connective tissues to heal and strengthen. Noting that it is crucial to regain your core functions than lessen the gap.
WHAT HAPPENS IF DIASTASIS RECTI GOES UNTREATED?
If Diastasis Recti goes ignored, it can lead to side effects like:
- Poor posture
- Low back pain
- Constipation
- Urine leaks
It may also cause difficulty with breathing or movement.
Rectus Diastasis creates an obvious bulge in your abdomen, but it's more than just a surface concern. Untreated Rectus Diastasis can weaken abdominal muscles over time, leaving you with chronic lower back pain and reduced vigour.
If this condition doesn’t go away on its own, it is wise to seek help from physical therapy.
IS DIASTASIS RECTI PAINFUL?
Diastasis Recti or the separation of muscles is not painful by itself. However, you may face issues such as poor posture which may result in pain. Diastasis Recti can also result in weakness of your core muscles. Which often lead to hip and pelvic pain, pain during sex, and lower back pain.
WHO IS AT RISK OF DIASTASIS RECTI IN SINGAPORE?
Diastasis Recti can affect anyone. Here, there are some factors that may be prone to this risk.
Risk factors include:
- Being pregnant over the age of 35
- Pregnant with multiple babies, e.g., twins, triplets
- Back-to-back pregnancies
- Pregnant with a big or heavy baby
- Having a vaginal delivery
- Being petite or small sized
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR DIASTASIS RECTI IN SINGAPORE?
There are 2 ways to treat Diastasis Recti: surgical and non-surgical.
Non-surgical
Treating Diastasis Recti with a non-surgical course, using the EMShape®. Which is a non-invasive muscle building and toning technology that uses HIPEM to cause forced muscle contractions in your abdomen. Additionally helping to ease the growth of abdominal muscles. This further allow your core muscles to strengthen, reshape your waist and tummy, and tighten loose skin.
WHAT IS EMShape®?
EMSHAPE uses High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIPEM) technology to induce supramaximal muscle contractions. This technology enables muscle building, offering effective muscle toning, shaping and firming all at the same time.
The EMShape®can also help with Diastasis Recti, also known as the "pooch", a common condition that occurs post-pregnancy which affects two-thirds of women.
Some women resort to having an abdominoplasty or a "tummy tuck" which may be too invasive and not necessary for some women. A non-invasive alternative solution would be to stick to a strict program of deep abdominal exercises performed with a neutral spine combined with pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegel’s and pelvic tilts.
Thankfully with the advancement of technology, mothers who do not have the time to exercise and do not wish to go under the knife, the EMShape®can help to target Diastasis Recti and help mothers to regain their confidence.
Highlights:
- Non-invasive and painless procedure.
- 20,000 contractions – the equivalent of 20,000 crunches/squats to strengthen and tone abdominal.
EMSHAPE™ DIASTASIS RECTI (Abdominal Separation) TREATMENT
EMSHAPE™ uses HIPEM to close muscle gap by building up abdominal muscles and bringing them together. When the muscles come together and firms up, the waist also becomes trimmer.
Besides being a non-invasive treatment, EMSHAPE™ also requires neither pre nor post treatment and patients do not have downtime.
EMSHAPE™ is ideal as a walk-in walk out body outline treatment, suited to people with busy lifestyles.
It is possible to use EMSHAPE™ to tackle diastasis even years after giving birth. There are some factors to note as far as the result of this treatment is concerned. The severe your diastasis the longer it may take to heal.
HOW EMShape® WORKS?
1: Myofibrillars loosen
As a result of ageing, Myofibrillars are loose and fragile because of the lack of exercise, lifestyle changes, fat accumulation, pregnancy and other factors.
2: Myofibrillars Break
The EMShape interacts with muscle neurons to induce supramaximal muscle contraction in the process of continuous muscle contractions, part of myofibrillar are gradually broken to cause muscle self-repair.
3: Myofibrillar Repair
After the treatment, Myofibrillars tend to be strong and tight. muscles become firm and elastic. It responds with a deep remodelling of inner structure that results in muscle building, growth and body shaping.
WHAT IS THE EMShape® PROCEDURE?
THE PROCESS
1: Fat Accumulation-
When there is excess weight gain, more fat accumulates in the fat cells causing them to swell which results in cellulite.
2: Fat Disruption
Electro-Magnetic Wave, intensive supramaximal contractions enhance the release of epinephrine which triggers a cascade effect leading to supramaximal lipolysis in fat cells.
3: Fat Loss-
After EMShape®, targeted fat cells shrink in volume and are eliminated.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF HIPEM TECHNOLOGY?
Side effects consists of short term mild flushes on the skin and sore abdominal muscles.
The risks and side effects of HIPEM treatment are mild and short term. Some of the most common risks and side effects include:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Pain
- Muscle sore
KEY BENEFITS OF EMSHAPE
Key Benefits as follows:
- Builds muscle while burning fat
- Body sculpting
- Tones and lifts the buttocks
- Promotes muscle contraction
- Reduces body fat
- Speeds up metabolism
- Non-invasive, pain-free
- Zero downtime, no side effects
HOW MUCH IS DIASTASIS RECTI TREATMENT USING EMSHAPE HIPEM TECHNOLOGY?
Treatment Price of Diastasis Recti (Mummy Tummy) starts from $450 per session includes GST. We advise patients to consult before treatment to assess your needs. As the treatment targets muscle recovery, tissue healing and restore for best recovery of the conditions.
Trial Treatment Price at $68 Includes:
- Comprehensive Personalised Assessment
- Treatment using EMSHAPE HIPEM Technology
FAQ
- Anyone can benefit from the EMSHAPE treatment. Book a complimentary consultation with our Body Therapists.
- Anyone who wants to strengthen their abdominal, buttock or thigh muscles can benefit from the EMSHAPE treatment procedure.
- As with any treatment, results vary from patient to patient.
- Some patients see results as early as 2 to 6 weeks after beginning treatment.
- The muscles treated will feel stronger with each treatment, with increased muscle mass resulting about 2-4 weeks after the 4 treatment series.
- Full results are measurable at approximately the 12 week mark depending on your body response.
- Our therapists will book you in for your follow up review appointment and additional treatments may be recommended depending on your expectations and outcomes you are wanting to achieve.
- Improvement of the overlying fat is appreciable by about 3 months after the series is completed.
- We recommend a good exercise regimen to maintain results.
- Many individuals find EMSHAPE treatments at 3 to 6 month intervals are useful to maintain results.
- We recommend a good exercise regimen to maintain results.
- The EMSHAPE treatment procedure feels like an intensive workout.
- There is also a prickling sensation during the treatment.
- You can lie down and relax during the treatment.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, implanted neurostimulator, drug pump or electronic implanted device
- Metal rods, pins, plates, metal IUD or orthopedic implants/joints
- Pulmonary insufficiency, cardiac disorders, epilepsy or active malignancy
- Bleeding disorders, or taking blood thinners
- History of hernia repair with mesh, or any recent surgical procedure in the area
- Any injury, damage or tear to muscle or soft tissue in the area to be treated including active hernia
- You may not use the device near your chest, head or neck
- You are under 18 years old
- This treatment must be performed by a trained therapist. Our Body Therapists are trained therapists that specialise in aesthetic, non-surgical, non- invasive body transformation procedures.
- We want to ensure that you are happy and that optimal results are achieved, it is important that you attend your review appointment and assessment at the scheduled time to check the aesthetic outcome.
- Your health and well-being is our priority. If you are concerned about any aspect of your treatment, please contact your wellness centre immediately we are here to help.
Anyone can enjoy the EMSHAPE treatment. Yet, clients who have a healthy BMI will generally see more visible results.
EMSHAPE treatments are suitable for men and women, provided you aren’t pregnant and don’t have a pacemaker or metal implants.
30 minutes treatment with a minimum of 4 sessions. The number of sessions required may vary from person to person, depending on their body condition.
Our team can recommend a plan tailored to your specific goals and circumstances.
EMSHAPE can be applied to the abdomen and buttocks area. The newest areas that can also be treated include inner thighs, outer thighs, front thighs, and back thighs.
Individuals can feel a difference right after one session and can see desired results as early as 2-4 weeks after the first treatment. The treated area will feel stronger with each treatment, with increased muscle mass. Overlying fat will also improve along the way.
