Ladies, this one’s for you! If you’re a new mom recovering from a C-section delivery, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. It’s natural to put your new baby’s care above your own, but failing to seek out the proper scar treatment after a cesarean can have serious consequences.

Most hospitals in the US do next to nothing to prepare moms for the recovery process. If you were to give birth by c-section in a European country such as France, the hospital would call you 6 weeks post-partum to get physical rehabilitation for any aches and pains from birth.

While we do not all have the luxury of flying to Europe just to give birth, there are some things we can do here in our own country to help with c-section treatment and cut down on the recovery time. We’ve gathered the best tips for c-section scar healing from the medical specialists and chiropractors at Urban Wellness Clinic to share with you below.

1. Take It Easy

Too many new moms don’t take this advice seriously, but ignoring it can lead to more pain and discomfort.

Avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby for the first 6 weeks after giving birth. When women’s bodies prepare to give birth, they get a surge of hormones that make our ligaments and joints looser to help the baby come out. These hormones are still flowing through our system for a while after giving birth and your looser joints can increase the potential for injury. If you are lifting something heavy, you need to make sure you are breathing and bracing your core.

Allow yourself to ask for help from family and friends, as you slowly build up your core strength. Even if it doesn’t come naturally, your body and baby will thank you for it. Make sure you get enough sleep and don’t leap back into a workout routine until after your six week check up.

2. Get Moving

This may sound contradictory to the first tip, but hear us out…

We highly recommend walking for at least 5-10 minutes the first five days after the C-section, as studies show this speeds up the healing process. We also recommend practising The Functional Progression for the first 6 weeks post-partum to get your full range of motion back.

Functional Progression is a series of moments that mimic the way babies naturally learn how to move – from the ground up and from the core outwards. Daily practice can help rehabilitate compromised core muscles post c-section. The movements strengthen your core and show your body how to move the way it was designed to move.

After the first 6 week period is up, we recommend getting on a training regimen such as The Fit Fourth with Melissa Paris to help you transition back into higher impact fitness and activities. You can find her 20 and 30-minute exercise videos on the NEOU fitness app.

3. Check Out Lymphatic & Myofascial Massage

As soon as your doctor says it’s okay, seek out lymphatic and myofascial massage at a wellness clinic. These specialized massage techniques encourage proper drainage of inflammation and allow for scar tissue healing. When scars don’t heal properly, it can cause residual nerve and muscle pain.

More importantly, scar tissue can change how you walk and your posture so gets assessed right away! A targeted massage from a professional medical provider can make a dramatic difference.

4. Consider Active Release Therapy

Even old scars can benefit from Active Release Therapy. When performed by a professional, scar tissue release therapy can increase blood flow, which encourages healing and decreases residual pain. This technique also minimizes the appearance of scars, which makes it a good alternative to c-section scar removal.

This release is important, especially with old C-section scars that create a tugging feeling around the lower abdomen and into the groin, causing hip pain and numbness. The reason for this is due to the C-section scar itself and how it is creating compensations within the body. When your skin and muscles have undergone surgery and then stitched for recovery, the connective tissue underneath bunches up to secure the area. In theory, this is good as we do not want to have a weak and open wound; however, the pulling of the tissue itself for prolonged periods of time can cause other complaints down the road.

As mentioned above, core strength is vital in regaining the strength and stability needed post-baby. A tight area of connective tissue, known as fascia, underneath the scar can keep your abdominal muscles from functioning the way they are supposed to. Breathing down and wide will be restricted and progressing to a strength program will be prolonged and difficult.

Active Release can help decrease the tension in that area and also help decrease tension being pulled from other muscles and compensations. For example, your upper trap muscles will not get tight from simply carrying your baby due to overcompensating for your core. These and other similar compensations that creep up in the body are addressed by the practitioners at Urban Wellness Clinic daily.

5. Dealing with Pelvic Floor Issues

Just because your baby was a c-section delivery does not mean you are not at risk for pelvic floor issues. In fact, these issues are common after giving birth and the risk of dysfunction increases with the more children a woman has. The pelvic floor helps to maintain bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and it keeps a woman’s pelvic organs in place.

Common issues are urinary problems such as urinary leakage, loss of pelvic organ support or pelvic organ prolapse, and bowel dysfunction. Although it can be embarrassing and sometimes painful, pelvic floor dysfunction is a highly treatable condition. Here at UWC, we have a wonderful network of professionals we trust and will be happy to direct you to the right person.

If you’re considering a C-section, or have already undergone one (no matter how long ago), and want to talk to a women’s health specialist about all of your options for c-section scar treatment, call Urban Wellness Clinic at (212) 355-4665.

Best in Health,

Dr. Emily Kiberd