How much umbilical hernia/separation is normal?

[parentsvsPIL]

At 23 weeks, I've got a 7 cm-wide hernia around my belly button. I know that some degree of rectus abdominis separation is fine and normal, and that at the umbilicus this will effectively be a hernia, but I think this hernia may be getting wider. Am not lifting heavy things, and have stopped trying to sing really loudly after having DS stick his foot through the umbilical hernia a few times while I was singing on the weekend

Is this normal? Will it get better on its own?

My midwife is depressingly underinformed about most things, and has never heard the term diastasis recti before, so if this needs looking at I have to show her the relevant bit of a textbook and ask her to refer me to whoever...

[hopeful31yrs]

This is not a true hernia (where there is a gap in the sheath surrounding the muscles) but a laxity in the connective tissue between the rectus muscles. This has to be the case or there wouldn't be enough expansion room for your growing uterus. It will get better post pregnancy as the pregnancy hormones wear off - but it can remain or not completely resolve (then the options are to leave alone or to surgically fix which is tricky). Physio will help after a period of time but its not advisable to do physical exercise that causes increased force through the rectus sheath for a period of time post pregnancy.

You may have a true hernia however as well as the divarification of the rectus. If this is a pre-existing weakness pregnancy will put more pressure on it and can make it worse. A health care professional will be able to tell you if you have.

[hopeful31yrs]

Oh and how much is normal? i think thats pretty much how long is a piece of string... :)

[parentsvsPIL]

Thanks

Yep it's a true hernia rather than just the usual divarication... I'd forgotten I had an umbilical hernia up to about age 5, until it became very obvious in the last week or so.

Will take it to the GP when i go for my pertussis vaccine in a few weeks.