How did it feel when your tummy muscles separated?

[Bellyrub1980]

I'm 32 weeks and over the last week it's as if my tummy has suddenly doubled in size.

Anyhoo, was just sat on the sofa and pulled myself up and felt a strange 'ripping' sensation over my belly button. It wasn't at all painful, infact I thought it was my top ripping!! But now realise it was a feeling in my tummy. Could this be a big stretch mark under the surface or could it be the muscles separating?

[haventgotaclue1]

Well I think (have been told) that my tummy muscles may also have separated...but I never felt anything (if this has actually happened).
Reason I THINK they may have separated is because when I get up from lying down (i.e. use my stomach muscles), a doom shape kind of appears where it was a nicely rounded bump, when I sit up. My friend reckons this is because the muscles have separated.
I've got no idea if she's right - it doesn't hurt to sit up, but sneezing and laughing can be a bit painful.
I'm 29 weeks now and first noticed this maybe a couple of weeks ago...

[haventgotaclue1]

oops, meant "dome", not "doom"

[LittleRedDinosaur]

Mine separated both times and I didn't feel a thing either- just noticed the lump when I sat up.

[Bellyrub1980]

I'm wondering if it's just a stretch mark developing then?? It felt like a painless rip... Very strange!!

[KatharineClover]

It felt like a painless twang, like a zip undoing: strange but no pain. I have weird pointy tummy too when I sit up now. Definitely separated, I can feel the separation is 2-3 finger-tips wide.

[Sleepyhoglet]

I have a dome too. Was hoping it was normal!

[squizita]

I had a 'dome' and asked - the MW said no it doesn't mean they've separated but to avoid movements that create the change in shape.
I don't have it anymore (38 week).

Apparently women with very strong core muscles are more at risk not less.

[Loveallmyboys]

I often get a sensation line an elastic band being twanged across the top of my bump if I move too quickly. Midwife looked at me like I was mad when I mentioned it tho!

[Sleepyhoglet]

Ha ha to very strong core muscles

[Bellyrub1980]

Ever since that happened it does feel like I've pulled muscle on my tummy but on the inside. Only I could pull a muscle getting up from the sofa!!!

[TheScenicRoute]

Does this happen to everyone?

[squizita]

Scenic No - a relatively small percentage of women. It's not just stretching/torn muscles and "mummy tummy" (which are common) it's a separation of the abdominal muscles which can need physio or surgery later in bad cases.