During pregnancy, your abdominal wall stretches to accommodate roughly 14 inches of growth, and the linea alba (the connective tissue between the rectus abdominis muscles) thins and widens. In approximately two-thirds of women, this separation, known as diastasis recti, persists beyond eight weeks postpartum without targeted intervention. The National Library of Medicine has published research showing that postpartum diastasis prevalence remains high even at six months, particularly without focused rehabilitation.
The pelvic floor sustains comparable strain. Vaginal delivery stretches these muscles by up to 250%, and cesarean recovery introduces scar tissue that can alter core mechanics. Hormonal shifts (specifically the drop in relaxin and the changes in estrogen) further influence connective tissue tone, contributing to the characteristic feeling of "looseness" in the abdomen and pelvis. Targeted programs like Core and Floor are designed to address both layers simultaneously.
Body composition changes compound the picture. Hormonal fluctuations alter where fat is stored and how easily it is mobilized, while sleep deprivation and elevated cortisol can slow metabolic recovery. The result is a body that often does not respond to diet and exercise the way it did before, even with consistent effort.
