
Here in Florida, the C-section rate is 35.8%. More common than you might think. We want to ensure every postpartum woman receives the best care possible…especially in the case of a major surgery like a C-section!
What happens during a C-section?
A C-section is a major abdominal surgery. Your OB-GYN will cut horizontally through several layers consisting of skin, fat, and fascia. They will then cut a vertical line to split your abdominal muscles down the middle. Lastly, they will horizontally cut through the peritoneum, uterus, and move the bladder out of the way to cut the amniotic sac and get to your baby.
Post Op:
You just underwent a major abdominal surgery! General abdominal soreness, pain and discomfort is also normal. Most likely your cesarean scar will appear raised, pink, puffy…and might itch! It’s part of the healing process. Due to your abdomen being open during surgery, you may experience pain from trapped gas- most commonly under your shoulder blades or rib region.
You’ll want to look out for signs of infection:
Severe abdominal pain
Redness or swelling at incision site (worsening instead of resolving over time)
Pus discharge from incision site
Pain at incision site that won’t go away or gets worse
Fever
Painful urination
Foul smelling discharge
Bleeding that soaks a pad within an hour
Bleeding that contains large clothes (golf ball size)
Leg pain or swelling
Post C-section Garment Support
At Freya we’re big fans of core and pelvic floor support garments after any delivery but especially a C-section. These are our favorites.
Caring For Your Scar
On top of keeping your scar clean and dry, in order to support its healing and avoid complications, there are two key things you want to implement for your scar’s healing:
Scar desensitization
Scar mobilization
Scar Desensitization
Scar desensitization can begin at about 6 weeks post op or once the scar has healed. This will reduce numbness around the scar and limit the development of hypersensitivity. We know that sometimes C-section scars bring with it some emotional trauma which can lead to some disconnect making it difficult to want to engage with it. We recommend starting slow… by first just bringing your hand to your belly for three breaths and slowly working your way down to your scar. With a gentle hand on your scar now try three more breaths.
Once that becomes more comfortable, you’ll want to begin gently rubbing different materials on and around your scar to desensitize it (and the surrounding skin) to touch and pressure.
Here’s what we tell our patients to do:
Walk around your home and gather up a variety of textured materials like a cotton ball, an unused tooth brush, a hand towel, and a silky PJ or robe.
Get comfortable and lie down on your couch or bed.
Begin gently rubbing around then on your scar starting with the most gentle material. You can run along the length of the scar back and forth, perform circles, tap, etc.
Remember that nerves can take up to 6 months to heal and regenerate so try to stay patient and consistent!
Scar Mobilization
Scar mobilization is great for preventing adhesions. You can begin to perform mobilization around your scar at around 3-4 weeks. Wait until about 6 weeks or until your scar has fully healed to perform mobilization directly on the scar. Around the 12 week mark, we like to incorporate cupping into the routine to help break up any scar tissue.
Some mobilization techniques we perform and teach our patients:
Circular Massage
Starting at one of the ends of your scar, place 1-3 of the pads of your fingers on your scar with firm pressure. Move the skin and tissue below it in slow, continuous circles with firm pressure. Move incrementally along the length of your scar, repeating the above steps.
Skin rolling
Grab the skin on each side of the scar, and then lift the skin up.
Move along the scar, pinching and lifting. Pay attention to any points of “stuckness.” Spend more time on those places. After pinching and lifting, you can begin to wiggle the scar with the pinch and lift. Pull one side up and the other side down- do this along the length of the scar.
Sustained hold
With firm pressure at one end of your scar, place the pads of 1-3 fingers on your scar. Keep pressure and move your scar up and down, stretching the tissue with sustained holds. Continue stretching the scar in this way, moving it in all directions in this same manner. Hold the areas at the end range of your stretch, for several moments longer if a particular direction feels tighter than the others.
Topical agents we recommend to improve the appearance of your scar:
Silicone Strips
Silicone has shown to be effective in treating scars and minimizing their appearance over time…hypertrophic and keloid scars included! Only use silicone strips once your scar has fully closed and keep in mind that you may only be able to tolerate it for a little at first. The goal would be to work up to wear it 24 hours a day and removing it daily to clean the area.
The silicone strips are reusable and can be cleaned with soap and water. Let them air dry before reapplying. We recommend these to our patients!
Vitamin E
Vitamin E oil like this one is also safe to use on your scar and we recommend using a little as you massage your scar. It helps to soften the scar and decrease discoloration.
Welcoming a new life into the world via C-section is amazing but can also bring with it some trials and challenges. Make sure to take care of yourselves mommas! Your C-section scar symbolizes the strength and love that brought your child into the world. By prioritizing its care, you honor your body's journey and invest in your long-term well-being.
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