Abdominal muscles during pregnancy - why do they look funky?

[mrspopo]

I remember this during the last pregnancy, and this time at 22 weeks it's happening again. I'm so curious... what's up with the abdominal muscles?

Normally if I lay flat on my back then use muscles for a sit-up, the whole abdominal area tenses up fairly flat. But towards the end of the pregnancy it looks so weird! If I use the same "sit-up" type muscles I see it bulge way up high in the middle. Like over the belly button and running a strait line up to my rib cage. It weirds me out because it's the same muslces and feels the same as when I'm not pregnant, it just looks so strange! I'm not talking about doing actual sit-ups, just using those muscles when you sit up or something.

Anyone else know why this is?

[MDever]

ummmm the baby

[mommajewels]

Your muscles spread to make room for baby. So when you go from lying down to sitting up, you have a "ridge" down the middle of your stomach where the muscles once were, but have now moved away.

[canadianbakers]

Originally Posted by mommajewels Your muscles spread to make room for baby. So when you go from lying down to sitting up, you have a "ridge" down the middle of your stomach where the muscles once were, but have now moved away.

The abdominal muscles will separate in the middle and come apart. The weird shape you see is the space where there is no muscle.

[Belle]

It's called diastasis recti, if you care to google it, but it's only a problem if they don't come back together after you give birth. If they don't, you should be careful about what kind of abdominal exercises you do because straight sit ups and core work can make it worse (ask me how I know!!).

[Christylkeller]

Originally Posted by Belle It's called diastasis recti, if you care to google it, but it's only a problem if they don't come back together after you give birth. If they don't, you should be careful about what kind of abdominal exercises you do because straight sit ups and core work can make it worse (ask me how I know!!).

YEP! Gonna say the same thing! I am pretty sure I have a small tear in mine as even when not pregnant I get that bulge when sitting up.

[mrspopo]

Originally Posted by canadianbakers The abdominal muscles will separate in the middle and come apart. The weird shape you see is the space where there is no muscle.

Oh ok, this makes so much sense. It's one of those things I've wondered about. Thank you