Mommy tummy aka diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a prevalent issue.

One in three American moms have DRA that persists greater than a year.

So what is a diastasis recti? It is the stretching of the linea alba, a connective tissue that runs down the midline of the abdomen and connects the abdominal muscles. The stretching happens during pregnancy in almost 100% of mothers to make room for a growing baby. Many of these moms are told this is a normal part of pregnancy, even by their healthcare providers.

DRA is not just about appearance, it is also connected to pelvic floor dysfunctions as well as pelvic and low back pain. In a study by Kari Bo et al., they found that mothers in the US with DRA were also more likely to have the following:

Self Magazine's online staff recently reached out to select experts in the field of physical therapy, including our own Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, for their input on the best tools to help keep correct posture.

Here is a brief excerpt and a link to the full article:

Health
October 31, 2020

8 Posture Correctors That Will Help You Stop Slouching

Physical therapists share their top recommendations.

By Krissy Brady

If you’re one of the many people navigating a new home office lifestyle or spending more time at home, you may notice that your posture is suffering as a result. Maybe your body is starting to resemble a question mark due to an uncomfortable work setup or being cooped up indoors. When so much of your daily grind is spent in front of a screen or hovered over a phone, without enough breaks in between, it’s easy to develop the tendency to round and slump your shoulders (which, in turn, puts pressure on your spine).

Growing up, we all watched the standard puberty video: You know, that video that told us a whole lot of nothing — conversely leaving us with a whole lot of questions? How many times have you glanced down there just out of curiosity? It may be time to grab a mirror and catch up with what’s actually going on with your vagina.

Vulvovaginal anatomy and how it all actually works

First things first, the proper term for what you may call your vagina is really your vulva. The vulva is the exterior part of your genital anatomy whereas your vagina is the tube that connects your vulva and your cervix — or the “neck of the uterus” as Doula and birth educator, Amy Lewis, says. Be aware that no two vulvas look the same. That said, listed below are the anatomical parts of your vulva and vagina that you can familiarize yourself with to help you identify what exactly your normal is.