Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Women’s experiences of living with increased inter-recti distance after childbirth: An interview
study
Version: 
0 
Date: 
01 Jun 2020
Reviewer's report:
I would like to congratulate the authors with an interesting, important and timely manuscript on how
women with diastesis recti abdominis (DRA) perceive theirs body and especially the abdomen after
childbirth. It is important to have scientific knowledge about this because there is a lot of attention in
social media on the topic and concern that this brings negative pressure on women in a vulnourable time
of their lives. I have only minor comments and questions to the authors
Abstract
*The conclusion at the end of the manuscript is better than the one in the abstract. Please concentrate on
the main findings of this study and not broad and vague general statements on theories
Introduction
*Please be careful with references that there is a connection between DRA and lumbopelvic pain. Most
studies do not find this
*The statements on "reductionist biomedical perspective" and "whole human" do not belong in a scientific
paper of this standard. In this area we need all sort of research and it is not necessary to argue for one
design by criticizing others. Please delete.
Methods
*I would say that this is a cross sectional study
*Please elaborate on why you chose 19 participants
*All over the methods section is good and easy to follow
Results
*Do the authors have more background information for table 1? E.g, weight gain and weight retention 
and
stria are important factors for how women perceive their bodies/abdomen after birth. This also calls for
more epidemiological studies with multivariate analyses to control for con-founders (should be
mentioned in the discussion)
*Did you asked for pelvic organ prolapse? 
*The results are easy to follow and brings new knowledge
Discussion
*The discussion starts with telling that there is variation in how women with DRA perceive their abdomen
after birth and this brings the need for other research designs to bring more knowledge. This should be
acknowledged together with some limitations on qualitative methods
*The authors should refer to studies not finding associations between DRA and lumbopelvic pain or
pelvic floor disorders. For the moment this is where the evidence is, not for the believed connection
Conclusion
*The conclusion can be shortened, and again delete anything unnecessary such as that this is a complex
phenomenon and the biopsychosocial perspective 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an additional
statistical review?
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further assessment
in your comments to the editors.
Not relevant to this manuscript
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Acceptable
Declaration of competing interests
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:
1
. 
Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this manuscript,
either now or in the future?
2
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Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially
from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?
3
. 
Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
4
. 
Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds or has
applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
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Do you have any other financial competing interests?
6
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Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' below. If your
reply is yes to any, please give details below.
I declare that I have no competing intersts
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