Diastasis recti after C-section: symptoms to know

After a C-section, diastasis recti may appear as midline doming, weak abdominal support or back discomfort during movement. The abdominal separation is related to pregnancy and pressure changes, while the incision adds its own healing considerations. Both the scar and the deeper abdominal wall should be considered during assessment.

Possible symptoms include a ridge when moving from lying to sitting, difficulty coughing or lifting without bracing, tenderness around the scar, restricted scar movement, and pelvic heaviness or leaking. These symptoms can overlap with normal post-operative recovery, a hernia, scar sensitivity or pelvic-floor dysfunction. A clinician can examine the scar, abdominal wall and movement pattern to separate these possibilities.

Follow the post-operative advice you were given, support the incision when coughing, and avoid breath-holding during effort. Start with comfortable walking and gentle breathing, then build abdominal and pelvic-floor work in stages. Do not push through sharp scar pain or a new bulge. [Postnatal Physiotherapy](/treatments/pelvic-floor-and-rehabilitation/postnatal-physiotherapy/) may help coordinate scar, trunk and pelvic-floor rehabilitation.

Contact a clinician for persistent pain, wound concerns, increasing weakness, difficulty with urine or stool control, or symptoms that stop you caring for yourself or your baby. Seek urgent care for fever, wound opening, spreading redness, heavy bleeding, severe pain, vomiting, faintness, or a firm painful bulge that does not settle.

Ask whether the scar is healing as expected, whether the bulge could be a hernia, and which abdominal exercises are appropriate now. Ask how to combine scar care with breathing and pelvic-floor work.