Objectives:
to compare the distance between the rectus abdominis muscles (RAM) and the prevalence of separation of the rectus abdominis muscle (SRAM) in the supra- and infra-umbilical regions of primiparous and multiparous women during immediate post-partum and to identify associated factors relating to mother and child.
Methods:
a cross-sectional study was carried out with 115 primiparous and 154 multiparous women. The SRAM was measured 4.5 cm above and below the umbilical scar and was correlated with maternal age, body mass index (BMI), gestational age, weight, height, and the circumference of the head and thorax of the newborn. Student's t test, Pearson's correlation, the chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression, p<0.05, were used to analyze the data.
Results:
the distance between the supra-umbilical RAMs was 3.04 (±1.68) and 3.35 (±1.19) cm in the primiparous and multiparous women. The prevalence of supra-umbilical SRAM was 74.8% and 76.6% and that of infra-umbilical SRAM 40.0% and 54.5%. In both groups a positive correlation was found between the distance between the supra-umbilical RAM, the age of the mother, BMI and infra-umbilical RAM. The BMI and weight of the newborn were the factors associated with supra-umbilical SRAM in primiparous women and maternal age was the associated factor among multiparous women.
Conclusions:
irrespective of parity, the distance between the RAM and the prevalence of SRAM were greater in the supra-umbilical region and correlated with the age of the mother, BMI and infra-umbilical SRAM. Among primiparous women the associated factors were BMI and weight of the newborn and among multiparous women, the age of the mother alone.
Postpartum period; Diastasis; Rectus abdominis; Parity; Infant; newborn