Wellness Library

Thanks to many maternal health advocates, the separation of abdominal muscles, known as Diastasis recti,  has become a better-known postnatal condition. Information about it is now available, and women are becoming aware of this condition and seeking help.

This was not the case around a decade ago when I had two children in a row. It took me a year and a half to understand what caused my body's discomfort and functional problems. Finally, after researching my symptoms,  I learned that I suffered from Diastasis Recti, a condition I had never heard of and no one had mentioned to me.

I ran a small fitness studio then, and many of my clients were new moms. When I learned more about postpartum rehabilitation and started talking about it, I noticed that they were hungry for information. I wrote an article about separated abdominal muscles that was immediately published in a Finnish newspaper.

Separated abdominal muscles - Diastasis recti

After...

I have previously written an article on separated abdominal muscles, explaining what it means and how it can be rehabilitated.

I have organised information sessions on separated abdominal muscles and postpartum exercise for sports professionals together with a physiotherapist who specialises in the pelvic floor muscle area and a personal trainer who specialises in exercise during and after pregnancy. The aim has been to increase knowledge in the topic because it was not previously included in any personal trainer training nor in the training of healthcare professionals. In other words, knowledge on the topic depended on independent studying and the interest of each individual. Luckily, the situation has improved slightly since then, and the topic is written and talked about more widely.

The reason for my own interest and the wish to distribute information about the topic is that I have personal experience of separated abdominal muscles.

How to get rid of a baby belly 

I had two...

What is the connection between the pelvic floor muscles, the condition of the abdominal and core muscles, and rewarding sex life? Weak core muscles and not feeling comfortable in your own skin can significantly impact how you feel about yourself. Unsurprisingly, not feeling at home in your own body affects your sexuality and how you feel about someone else touching your body.

The condition of the pelvic floor muscles and the deep abdominal muscles affect a person's sex life in many ways. The nerves may have been affected by an operation, scar tissue, or some other damage, and the sense of touch may have been affected. A lack of proper control in the pelvic floor area, or constant tension there, can affect how we feel. A continually tense pelvic floor area is like having a temporarily numb arm or leg: a numb limb or other body part is difficult to control.

While hormone levels are high during pregnancy and after childbirth, each woman is different.

Sex is not...