THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH AND WEIGHT GAIN
Treatment Process
4 - 6 hours
1 - 2 days
2 - 3 weeks
6 - 8 weeks
What Is the Abdominal Wall? What Is Its Structure Like?
Commonly known as the “inner abdomen,” the abdominal wall is a structure formed by the combination of multiple muscle groups and tough membranes. It surrounds the internal organs like a cylinder and serves to protect them. These muscles also enable the trunk to move in various directions. The anterior abdominal wall (the belly region) extends from just below the chest down to the groin area and consists of two strong, parallel muscle bands called the Rectus Abdominis muscles. These muscles are responsible for bending the body forward (as in performing a sit-up movement). The well-defined “six-pack” appearance seen on the abdominal wall of athletes or models is the result of training these muscles. The rectus muscles are connected by a tough membrane-like structure, which is perhaps the weakest point of the entire abdominal wall.
What Is the Effect of Pregnancy on the Abdominal Wall?
Unfortunately, most pregnancies are periods during which mothers eat uncontrollably and remain highly inactive. The number of women who can maintain their total pregnancy weight gain between 7–10 kilograms through regular exercise and diet is very small. In the later stages of pregnancy (the last three months), the growing uterus significantly increases intra-abdominal pressure. The abdominal wall can no longer withstand this internal pressure, and at its weakest point — the tough membrane holding the rectus muscles together — it begins to lose function and stretch.
As this expansion progresses, the rectus muscles that make up the front abdominal wall gradually separate from each other, leaving only a thin membrane between them (a condition known as rectus diastasis). You may recall how rapidly the abdominal circumference expands during the last 2–3 months of pregnancy. For women who maintain a good diet and exercise routine during the postpartum (puerperium and breastfeeding) period, the separation of the rectus muscles is usually not a major problem. However, for women who remain sedentary and neglect their nutrition after childbirth—especially after multiple pregnancies and deliveries—permanent abdominal sagging and associated uncontrolled weight gain become inevitable.
In conclusion:
- There is sagging of the skin, particularly below the navel, due to expansion during pregnancy that fails to fully retract afterward.
- Above the navel, there is a noticeable widening of the abdominal wall.
Patient Reviews
What is the Relationship Between Rectus Diastasis and Weight Gain?
There Is a Cause-and-Effect Relationship Between Uncontrolled Weight Gain and the Separation of the Rectus Muscles (Diastasis).
In women, diastasis—most often caused by repeated pregnancies—tends to lead to uncontrolled weight gain, whereas in men, excessive weight gain frequently causes the separation of the rectus muscles and marks the onset of irreversible obesity.
Following the separation of the rectus muscles, the stomach begins to expand forward over time since there is no longer a restrictive barrier in front of it. The stomach gradually protrudes between the two muscle bands. As the stomach enlarges, a person needs to eat more to feel full; the more the stomach fills, the more it expands forward. This creates a vicious cycle that leads to progressive obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. The increased food intake causes the person to consume more calories than they burn, resulting in significant and potentially health-threatening weight gain (obesity). The stomach, which now expands forward without limitation, also experiences functional impairment. The breakdown of food becomes incomplete, leading to post-meal bloating, a feeling of fullness, gas complaints, and other digestive issues.
In patients who develop intra-abdominal expansion due to rectus diastasis, two fundamental characteristics are almost always observed:
These individuals are happy only in the mornings. Upon waking, they feel refreshed and slim because the stomach, having emptied overnight, retracts backward between the muscles, allowing them to feel comfortable.
In their daily lives—while taking photos, attending social events, or shopping—these individuals often pull their abdomen inward with the help of the diaphragm. By doing so, they attempt to bring the abdominal muscles closer together and prevent the stomach from protruding forward.
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