Tiffiny Hall shares experience with ab separation during pregnancy
Fitness influencer and new mum of two Tiffiny Hall has opened up about her experience with post-partum abnormal separation.
In a video posted to Instagram, she shared that when she saw her women's health physiotherapist, she learned she had a gap between her abs that was 9cm wide. The doctor drew the separation on Hall's stomach.
She said that abs are meant to sit in the middle of the stomach, with the muscles "knitted together", but that her abs are now sitting on either side of the box that was drawn on her belly.
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Tiff Hall points out her ab separation post-pregnancy. Instagram
Also known as diastatis recti, abdominal separation can often occur during pregnancy due to the growth of the baby, with the condition becoming more apparent after giving birth.
"Down the middle of your rectus abdominis you have the linear alba. and that's like a sheath of muscle, and when you have the ab separation, that sheath of muscle gets really weak, and it pops out and it domes," she explained to her followers.
She lay down to demonstrate the doming of the muscle, which she says is "really dangerous" and advises against.
"I have a long way to go with my ab separation, and I'm going to start by doing a very simple program that I can't fail at," she shared.
"It's just slow and steady, but we're beginning, and that is a positive - we are getting started."
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Commenters thanked the now mum of two for her perspective.
"Thank you for being real about motherhood, this is something that's not spoken about enough," said one commenter.
"This is so important for new mums to understand. Although I didn't have any separation, I had pro lapse after first babe and can't recommend more highly seeing a women's physio during and after pregnancy so you are aware of what's going on with your body and how to work at repairing it!" another encouraged.
"Thank you for been real and vulnerable for us and to allow us to go on this journey with you!" said another.