What is the Difference Between Diastasis Recti and Umbilical Hernia

The key difference between diastasis recti and umbilical hernia is that the diastasis recti is the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles during and after pregnancy in women or newborn babies, while umbilical hernia is a bulge or swelling in the belly button area in infants and young children.

Diastasis recti and umbilical hernia are two medical conditions that may have similar symptoms, such as abdominal bulge and abdominal pain. Both these conditions can be seen more in women and infants. However, diastasis recti is not a protrusion of intestines or abdominal tissues like in an umbilical hernia. Diastasis recti is normally a bulge of muscle due to a stretched connective tissue.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Diastasis Recti  
3. What is Umbilical Hernia
4. Similarities – Diastasis Recti and Umbilical Hernia
5. Diastasis Recti vs Umbilical Hernia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Diastasis Recti vs Umbilical Hernia

What is Diastasis Recti?

Diastasis recti or diastasis is the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles during and after pregnancy. This can be seen in women or in newborn babies. The rectus abdominis runs vertically along the front of the stomach. It is usually divided into left and right sides by a tissue called the linea alba, which runs down the middle. During pregnancy, rectus abdominis muscles are stretched, and linea alba becomes thin and pulls apart. When the linea alba tissue loses its elasticity from being overstretched, the gap created in the abdominals during pregnancy will not close as much as it should. This is known as diastasis recti.

The common signs and symptoms of diastasis recti may include a visible bulge that protrudes just above or below the belly button, softness around the belly button, doming when contracting abdomen muscles, difficulty lifting objects, pain during pregnancy, pelvic or hip pain, lower back pain, poor posture, leaking of urine, constipation, and weakness in the abdominals. The risk factors for this condition include multiple pregnancies, being over 35 years old, having twins or triplets, having a big baby, being extremely petite, and vaginal delivery.

Diastasis recti can be diagnosed through physical examinations and ultrasounds. Furthermore, diastasis recti is treated by lifestyle changes (avoiding lifting heavy things, rolling onto the side when getting out of bed or sitting up, and skipping activities and movements that push the abdominals outward), physical therapy, and diastasis recti surgery (a tummy tuck).

What is Umbilical Hernia?

An umbilical hernia is the soft swelling or bulge near the navel or belly button. It happens when part of the intestine protrudes through the umbilical opening in the abdominal muscles. This condition is usually painless and can be seen in children. Moreover, the signs and symptoms of umbilical hernia may include abdominal pain and tenderness, constipation, fever, full or round abdomen, red, purple, dark, or discolored bulge near the belly button, and vomiting. This condition may appear to be painless in children and painful in adults. The risk factors for an umbilical hernia include premature babies and those with low birth weights, race (black infants are affected more), being overweight, or having multiple pregnancies.

An umbilical hernia is diagnosed through a physical examination and imaging studies such as an abdominal ultrasound or a CT scan. Furthermore, umbilical hernia is treated with pain relievers and surgeries that make small incisions near the belly button and return the herniated tissue back to the abdominal cavity.

What are the Similarities Between Diastasis Recti and Umbilical Hernia?

• Diastasis recti and umbilical hernia are two medical conditions that may have similar symptoms, such as abdominal bulge, abdominal pain, etc.
• Both diastasis recti and umbilical hernia are a result of muscle separation.
• They can be seen more in women and infants.
• Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and ultrasounds.
• They are mainly treated through respective surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Diastasis Recti and Umbilical Hernia?

Diastasis recti is the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles during and after pregnancy in women or newborn babies, while umbilical hernia is a bulge or swelling in the belly button area in infants and young children. Thus, this is the key difference between diastasis recti and umbilical hernia. Furthermore, the risk factors for diastasis recti include having multiple pregnancies, being over 35 years old, having twins or triplets, having a big baby, being extremely petite, and having a vaginal delivery. On the other hand, the risk factors for umbilical hernia include premature babies and those with low birth weights, race (black infants are affected more), being overweight or having multiple pregnancies, and sex (more common in women).

The infographic below presents the differences between diastasis recti and umbilical hernia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Diastasis Recti vs. Umbilical Hernia

Diastasis recti and umbilical hernia are two medical conditions that occur due to muscle separation. Both these conditions may have similar symptoms like abdominal bulge and abdominal pain. However, diastasis recti is usually characterized by a gap in the abdominal muscles that starts at the belly button and goes downwards to the pubic area. On the other hand, an umbilical hernia is characterized by a small bulge normally located just below or behind the belly button. So, this summarizes the difference between diastasis recti and umbilical hernia.

Reference:

1. Chertoff, Jane. “Diastasis Recti: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, and More.” Healthline.
2. “Umbilical Hernia.” Mayo Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Ultrasonography of diastasis recti – Annotated” By Mikael Häggström – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Umbilical hernia 01” By Saltanat – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia