Muscle? Or Something Else?

[Scarlett]

Imagine lying on your back. In front of you is flobby stomach looking like the moon. When you sit up a bit, the area either side of your (front, high up) stomach tenses. I've only just noticed that when I do this/clench, I get two big bulges, one either side. To find this area (ladies) put your hands flat on your abdomen underneath your boobs and slightly to the sides. What is this?! Is it muscle?! Or is there some organ under there? Sorry for the weird question, but I've only just noticed quite how much it bulges when I tense. No pain.

[Stickybottle]

Sounds like what some call puppy fat

[Scarlett]

Oh there's plenty of that!! But these two areas go rock hard when I tense and sit up slightly. Not like fat at all! :D

[barry1010]

Google diastasis recti, your muscles have separated. Very common

[Stickybottle]

Apologies if you thought I was casting aspersions as that was not my intention Scarlett

[Scarlett]

Not at all, Sticky! I'm not sure if it is diastasis recti; see the upper arrows on this photo: https://www.rechargetherapy.com/post/diastasis-recti-during-pregnancy
It's more out towards the sides rather than the front. When I tense my stomach, both sides go really hard.

[barry1010]

I still think it could be your stomach musles - they can separate quite a lot. If the bulges are hard when you tense and the middle area from breast bone to navel is soft then that is a good indicator. If it were something else that area would be hard when you tense as if you were about to do a sit up.

[Sqad]

This is a symmetrical event and bilateral, hence almost certainly a normal anatomical consideration.

I agree with barry it is a normal muscle.

[Scarlett]

Thanks Barry, thanks Sqad. In which case I have more muscle than I thought!

[barry1010]

It can be improved with exercise but it won't happen overnight. Worth doing, though, it could save you from backache and a leaky bladder

[Scarlett]

I already have both those things Barry!! Do you have a link to whatever the problem is so I can look up exercises?

[barry1010]

Good starting point, Scarlett
https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/11749Precti.pdf

And for the leaky bladder my wife would urge you to buy a set a kegel weights

[Sqad]

Not happy with the diagnosis of diastasis rectify as this condition is invariably below the navel .
Your description appears to relate to above the navel and so suggests that you are just feeling normal muscle contracting.

[barry1010]

My wife had the bulges from below the breastbone right down to below her navel after giving birth - like the last image here
https://www.braceability.com/blogs/info/diastasis-recti

https://www.braceability.com/blogs/info/diastasis-recti

It was quite alarming when she first noticed big bulges when she tried to sit up in bed one morning

[Sqad]

barry, your diagnosis may well be correct but I have certain reservations from the description.

I may well be wrong.

[barry1010]

My wife has told me off for mentioning the kegel weights. Apparently, it is okay for her to talk to women about them but it is definitely not okay for men to mention to women they don't know. So apologies if I caused embarrassment or crossed the line
What do you think, Sqad?

[Sqad]

LOL....barry,this is a website which has many functions one of which is medical matters which are dealt with,with anonymity......one hopes.
The fact is that ABers meet and refer to each other often by their Christian names which ihave difficulty in accepting.
Women bleat on about equality.
You dealt with this thread,as you do with others, with authority, brevity and good advice.
I disagree totally with your wife, but she is entitled to her opinion.

[barry1010]

:D Would you recommend the kegels for a leaky bladder, Sqad? They did wonders for my wife

[Sqad]

Why not?
However I will qualify that by saying that I know b.ugger all about keel weights or exercises until I read this thread -:)

[barry1010]

You probably know kegel weights under a different name, Sqad.