Post-pregnancy abdominal wall separation
Tummy muscles separating after pregnancy and child birth
Abdominal wall separation is a common post-natal condition that can be treated with exercise or surgery from HCA UK.
About abdominal wall separation
Need to know
-
Post pregnancy symptoms icon plus
Women who are pregnant with twins or through IVF are more likely to experience abdominal wall separation due to an increased bump size, as well as those who have had multiple pregnancies.
You’re less likely to notice symptoms during pregnancy, but after pregnancy it’s easy to check by lying flat on your back with legs bent and your head and shoulders raised. If a ridge appears running down the middle of your tummy, this is the contents of your abdomen pushing up through the muscles
Often, this can be treated with exercises, however more extreme cases may benefit from surgery called abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). -
Diagnosing abdominal problems post pregnancy icon plus
After checking yourself, have a chat with your health visitor, GP or consultant, who will be able to double check using a similar method and give a proper diagnosis. They may give you some simple exercises to do, refer you to a physiotherapist for further support, or even recommend surgery.
If it is diagnosed as divarication, look after yourself by avoiding strenuous activity and heavy lifting and bending.
If your consultant can see that abdominal muscle weakness is affecting your ability to carry out daily activities, or the condition is causing you distress, they may recommend a surgical treatment called abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). -
Potential treatment options icon plus
The usual way to treat abdominal wall separation is with regular pelvic floor and deep stomach muscle exercises.
If surgery is recommended it will be carried out under general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep. It takes two to five hours and you’ll be cared for in hospital for at least a couple of nights afterwards.
Tummy tucks can be quite painful, so you'll be offered pain relief while you're in hospital. Be prepared to use pain relief for a few weeks afterwards as your body recovers from the operation. Your consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine, but it usually takes up to six weeks to fully recover.
Our consultants
Our facilities
From complex surgery to straightforward procedures, we provide exceptional care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
-
The Portland Hospital
205 - 209 Great Portland Street
London W1W 5AH
-
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
-
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place
St John's Wood
London NW8 9LE
-
Abdominal Wall and Hernia Unit
Abdominal Wall & Hernia Unit
Chelsea Bridge Road
London SW1W 8RH
-
Private Care at Guy's
Great Maze Pond
London SE1 9RT
-
HCA UK at The Shard
The Shard
32 St Thomas Street
London SE1 9BS
-
Platinum Medical Centre
15 - 17 Lodge Road
London
NW8 7JA
-
Chelsea Outpatients
272 & 280 Kings Road
London SW3 5AW
-
HCA UK at Docklands
2 Upper Bank Street, Canary Wharf
London
E14 5EE
Book an appointment
Our team can help with any enquiries or you can make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants.
Call us today
020 7079 4344