Girdle with Side Zipper

The rectus abdominis muscles are found on the abdomen and are commonly referred to as the abs or “6 pack” muscles. There is a small band of tissue, called the linea alba, that connects the right and left side of the rectus abdominis muscles and is located at the midline of the body. Diastasis recti is a condition in which there is a weakening of the linea alba allowing for an abnormally large separation between the rectus abdominis muscles. This widening of the linea alba allows for bulging of the abdomen and an appearance of still appearing pregnant after delivery.

A hernia is the result of an organ or tissue protruding through an opening in the muscles. While a hernia can occur in many areas of the body, they most commonly develop in the abdominal and groin areas during pregnancy.
Developing a hernia during the course of your pregnancy is not always an immediate concern; in fact, most physicians recommend waiting until after you give birth to have the hernia treated. However, hernias rarely, if ever, go away on their own and must eventually be treated. Left untreated, a hernia will progressively worsen in severity and eventually become more serious can eventually lead to life-altering complications.

Back pain, especially in the lumbar or sacral regions, is a common condition experienced during pregnancy. In fact, nearly 1 out of every 2 pregnant women can expect to experience acute or chronic pain the in lumbar or sacral regions of the spine. The pain in these areas is typically temporary and a direct result of pregnancy-induced weight gain and hormonal changes, and often contributes to pain, sleep-disturbances, and other discomforts experienced during the course of the pregnancy.

Hip pain can be debilitating — especially when you are tasked with carrying a baby. The extra pressure and strain on your joints causes hip pain that pregnant women often misdiagnose and neglect to seek treatment for. Hip pain comes from various sources during pregnancy. Most women start to develop the joint pain during the second trimester, right as you start to develop a “baby bump.” The change in your walking style, the loosening of your ligaments holding together the sacroiliac joints, and sleeping on your side later in pregnancy all can add to hip pain. Another cause is pressure on your sciatic nerve, formally called Sciatica. Sciatica can cause pain, numbness, and/or tingling in the buttocks, hips, and thigh. This is where appointments with your physician are especially useful, as Sciatica can lead to serious complications.

Subluxation of symphysis is also known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). This is a condition that causes excessive movement of the pubic symphysis. The symphysis is a midline, nonsynovial joint that connects the right and left superior pubic ram. Because of the misalignment of the pelvis, pain is associated with this diagnosis. Basically, this joint holds the right and left sides of the pelvic muscles together. When this joint becomes soft, pelvic muscles and bones move more freely. With the weight of a growing baby, this can become a painful condition.

The perineum is the tissue that is located between the vagina and the anus. There are layers to the tissue being skin, subcutaneous tissue, and the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles are important muscles in regards to the passing of stool and urine. During vaginal delivery, the perineal tissue is stretched with the passing of the baby, mainly the head and shoulders, which can lead to tears of the perineal tissue. There are different grades ranging from 1 to 4 of perineal lacerations. Grades 1 and 2 are most common. Grades 3 and 4 are more severe with tearing of muscles and the anal sphincter. An episiotomy is an intentional perineal laceration made by the physician at the time of delivery. This was performed routinely some number of years ago, but is no long a routine procedure. Episiotomies are usually performed if there is concern for grade 3 or 4 perineal laceration or if there is concern to deliver the baby quickly.

The uterus is held in place by pelvic ligaments and muscles. The muscles can become weak or stretched out leading to a lack of support for the uterus. When the muscles become weak, the uterus may sag or descend from its normal position into the vagina. A uterovaginal prolapse is classified by its stage. A complete prolapse means part of the uterus has slipped so far that it protrudes from the vaginal opening. The difference with an incomplete uterovaginal prolapse is that the uterus becomes partially displaced into the vagina, but it does not protrude out.

The pelvic region of the body is the lowest part of the abdomen between the hip bones. The perineum in women refers to the area between the vagina and anus. Pelvic and perineal pain involves discomfort in either or both areas. Because the pelvic area and perineum are located near various organs, nerves, and muscles, pelvic and perineal pain is very common in women. The pain may come and go or be constant. The quality of the pain may vary based on the cause. The pain may be sharp, burn, or ache. Depending on the cause of the pain, symptoms may worsen when you move or use the bathroom.

Lower abdominal, inguinal, and groin pain is experienced due to the stretching of ligaments around the womb. As the womb becomes larger to accommodate the baby, the ligaments that hold the uterus in place must stretch. A certain ligament known as the round ligament is the culprit of your pain. This ligament attaches the front portion of the uterus to the groin. Normally, this ligament contracts and relaxes slowly when you sneeze, cough, or make rapid movements. During pregnancy everything speeds up and more weight is applied to the ligament. Due to the enlarging of the uterus during pregnancy, the round ligament is stretched and contracts more quickly, therefore causing pain.