C-section and abdominal muscle separation

This is often called diastasis recti. The connective tissue between the two long abdominal muscles becomes stretched during pregnancy, and a gap or ridge may remain after birth.

You may notice a central bulge when sitting up, coughing or lifting your baby. Some people also feel reduced trunk support or develop back discomfort. The visible gap alone does not show how well the abdominal wall works; tension, control, breathing and symptoms also matter.

During a caesarean birth, the surgeon generally separates tissues along their natural planes to reach the uterus. Recovery from the incision can temporarily change posture and movement, making existing pregnancy-related weakness more noticeable.

Begin with comfortable walking, relaxed breathing and gentle pelvic-floor and deep-abdominal activation once your maternity team says activity is suitable. Roll onto your side before rising from bed, exhale during effort and keep loads close to your body.

Avoid exercises that cause pronounced abdominal doming, incision pain or pelvic pressure. A postnatal physiotherapist can assess the scar, abdominal-wall control, pelvic floor and everyday lifting technique, then progress exercise around your symptoms rather than the width of the gap alone.

Contact your maternity team promptly if the wound becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen, painful, opens, drains pus or foul-smelling fluid, or if you develop fever or feel markedly unwell.

Seek urgent assessment for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, a new firm and tender bulge, vomiting, faintness, heavy vaginal bleeding, chest pain or difficulty breathing. These features need evaluation rather than being attributed to muscle separation.

Ask whether your incision has healed enough for exercise, whether your bulge could be a hernia, which movements suit your current recovery, and whether referral for postnatal physiotherapy would help. Mention back pain, urine leakage, pelvic heaviness or difficulty managing daily tasks.