Healing After a Cesarean Section

Something all new mothers experience, whether C-section or vaginal delivery, is postural changes during pregnancy; exaggerated lumbar lordosis, stretching of the abdominal wall and greater pressure on the bladder, urethra and pelvic floor. In addition, those who have had a caesarean, will have a deep incision in the abdomen that will affect how the body moves. The natural changes of both pregnancy and delivery (either vaginal or caesarean) impact the pelvic floor muscles, often causing discomfort and pain pre and post-partum.

When a baby is delivered through caesarean, an incision is made in the abdomen, cutting through layers of skin, fat, and connective tissue, followed by cutting the uterus to bring the baby out. Afterwards, the uterus is stitched back together and the outer layers are sutured with dissolvable stitches. However, even a well-healed scar is still scar tissue.

What are the consequences of this scar tissue?

Scar tissue is a normal part of the healing process in the body. After an injury, the body will produce an excess of collagen to speed up healing, forming an uneven pattern of tissue. Collagen is a strong and elastic substance that can resist stretching and pulling; scar tissue can affect posture, hip flexibility, how you use your core muscles, and your pelvic floor muscles, and it can even adhere to your uterus and bladder. Weakness, inflexibility, low back and pelvic pain is a common complaint after a C-section, and women are informed to take it easy for 6 weeks and not to lift more than the baby.

But what’s next?

Once the incision is healed, gently work on massaging your scar. A technique called skin rolling, where you lift the skin gently and ‘roll’ it across the abdomen, is useful to help improve flexibility of the scar. Stretching the scar tissue will help realign collagen fibres, making the tissue stronger and more flexible. A pelvic health therapist, or a registered massage therapist, can help with remodeling scar tissue to return collagen fibres to normal.

Diaphragmatic breathing exercises are encouraged. The diaphragm forms the top of your core and plays an important part in core stabilization. This technique improves lung expansion, abdominal tone, and relaxation.

Don’t ignore your pelvic floor! A visit with a pelvic physiotherapist can address issues resulting from pelvic floor dysfunction; constipation, incontinence, pelvic pain, rectus diastasis and painful sex. In discussion with your therapist, a rehabilitation plan will be developed to achieve your individual needs. Book an appointment at a Lifemark clinic near you to start the healing process.