Triangle Tummy

nolagal79 · November 2013

So, last night I laid down in bed then remembered I needed something (probably had to pee). When I went to sit up, I noticed that my stomach arched up. I laid back down, pulled my shirt up, and repeated the movement. My stomach actually formed a triangle!! Midline of my stomach and a few inches on either side bulged up and formed a triangle of sorts out of my stomach. I waited until DH came in the room, did it again, and we both laughed at my alien belly. I didn't think anything of it again. Until tonight. I googled it. Those 3 words, "I googled it," are like a four letter word to a paranoid pregnant lady and should cue horror movie music immediately.

Turns out it's real and has a name, Diastasis Recti. Basically what I've found out is that due to the hormone relaxin, the connective tissue that holds the abdominal muscles together is relaxing and therefore causing the seperation and therefore the triangle look. Most of what I have read says it's normal but what varies is how it heals. I've read that sometimes it heals just with exercise or sometimes requires surgery. I've also read that it may result in hernia.

Needless to say it has freaked me out and I have backed away from Dr. Google and am happy that I have an appt with my OB Wednesday and can ask her! Just curious to see if anybody else has this or has had it with previous pregnancies and what happened after you had the baby.

Emily6778 · November 2013

Yup, mine does this. Did it with DD too! I wouldn't worry!

peanutmuse · November 2013

That happens to my stomach too, but I didn't realize it was anything bad. My abs have always been pretty strong. Interesting.

nolagal79 · November 2013

So, I thought about this more last night and it makes biological sense. Abdominal muscles are held together by connective tissue. During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is released into the body to relax all sorts of important things - I.e. pelvis for delivery. However, our bodies can't control what gets relaxed so for some people the connective tissue holding our abs together is impacted, causing them to separate. The main culprit of causing this separation is the uterus growing and shifting organs looking for more space. When flexed, the abs still contract, just further apart than normally giving the sexy triangle look. After pregnancy and the hormone relaxin goes away, in theory the connective tissue should tighten back up. But I wonder if it's the same theory of people's feet "growing" due to spreading out and noses getting wider. Do those issues clear up after delivery as well? Either way, I'm sure the "bad" things I read about were extreme cases, but still can see how they would happen.

Sorry for rambling, trying to come up with a rational explanation rather than just accepting that I really do have a Prometheus in my belly!! >-)

Very interested in discussing this with my OB Wednesday!

HullGut · November 2013

I have this now and had it last time too. I never thought to google it, but I am interested in what you found. I don't think it is anything to worry about. But I am sure your OB can help calm your nerves about it.

rowanthefrog · November 2013

Mine has done this with all my pregnancies and does this now. I never thought much of it or googled or anything. I don't think its something to worry about. I just figured my organs were all moved around and when I laid in certain positions my skin fell in weird ways.

A

Unknown · November 2013

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nolagal79 · November 2013

You ladies rock - thanks!!!

MrsGraham06 · November 2013

Yup, completely normal. Mine is the type that requires surgery to fix (aka tummy tuck). I could really weird you out....but I won't. My OB told me after #1 that I should wait until I'm done having kids before I think about it again. It may also be the reason (to me) that I carry so far forward and look twice as pregnant as I "should".