Here’s how to check if you have an abdominal muscle separation

Here’s how to check if you have an abdominal muscle separation.

Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Tuck in your chin and slowly raise your head and shoulders until you can see your abdomen. If you have a separation, you will usually see a bulge just above or below your belly button. If you are not sure, feel the centre of your abdoment. If you can feel a soft area between two bands of firmer muscle, then you have an abdominal muscle seperation.

Here is what to do if you have a separation.

If you have an abdominal muscle separation, you will need to support your abdoment while doing excercises. You can do this by either lacing your fingers together across your abdomen or crossing your arms and putting a hand on either side your abdomen.

There are mixed opinions on when to stop abdominal exercises if muscle seperation is present. To avoid all problems, stop abdominal exercises in the second trimester of your pregnancy.