How should I properly care for my C-section scar?

You should receive instructions on how to care for your abdomen and C-section scar while you’re still in the postpartum ward at the maternity hospital. Diaphragmatic breathing, proper positioning, and walking are very important . These are the basics for ensuring that the wound and abdominal muscles heal properly, function as intended, and do not cause problems later on. At the same time, you should begin targeted care of the wound area, i.e., the incision site.

Women who have had a C-section are often afraid to touch the incision and feel that if the area is covered, they must not touch it. This is a misconception; touch is actually one of the gentlest ways to reconnect with yourself, to become friends with your body again, and to function within your body and the changes it has undergone.

While the wound is covered, I use contact breathing and gentle touch and stroking in the abdominal area. Contact breathing means that I place my palms on the area of the wound and try to breathe with my diaphragm, directing the breath all the way under my palms. As you inhale, you’ll feel your palms rise gently, and as you exhale, they’ll sink. In addition to breathing into the pelvic area, it’s helpful to gently stroke the abdominal wall in the direction of peristalsis.

Once the wound is exposed, you can begin to touch it. Try to feel it by gently running your finger over it to determine exactly where the wound is located and what it feels like. Next, you can place your entire palm on the injured area and apply gentle, even pressure. It’s also helpful to apply pressure in all directions. However, be mindful of any pain.

Once the stitches have been removed, the incision has become a scar and is ready for regular massage. This is actually a highly recommended way to care for your abdomen after a C-section. You can use any pharmaceutical-grade oil (such as olive, St. John’s wort, hemp, or coconut oil) and massage the scar with gentle circular motions. Massage the scar itself—don’t be afraid to touch it—as well as the areas above and below the scar, that is, the entire surrounding area. Perform this massage every day. In addition to the massage, it’s also very helpful to work on the entire area around the injury. This means placing your hand on your lower abdomen and gently stroking in various directions—up, down, right, left, and diagonally upward. Try to maintain a gentle tension and breathe through it. This will help the tissues relax, release tension, and make it easier for you to breathe—and in this way, it promotes proper healing of the wound and scar.

In addition to this self-care, it is advisable to begin activating the pelvic floor and gently contracting the abdominal wall isometrically. Exercises that involve activating the peripheral parts of the body are most suitable. For example, while lying on your back with your legs bent, you can try pressing into the mat—first with your left foot, then your right, and then your left and right shoulder blades. Or, as you exhale, contract your pelvic floor, and as you inhale, relax it. Later, try contracting and relaxing your abdominal wall as well. Such gentle exercises are very nourishing for your entire body and nervous system. In addition to exercises while lying on your back, you can also perform these gentle activations while lying on your side. Once you no longer feel any pulling from the scar or lower abdomen and are able to stand up straight, you can start lying on your stomach. This is also very relieving for back pain.

If you are unable to look at your injury or touch your scar, it is best to seek professional help. We know from experience that women can function in this state for months or even years, until they become estranged from that area of their bodies. It’s as if women block out their lower abdomen from their awareness because the C-section was too stressful and overwhelming an experience for them. Once you’ve reached such a serious state, you usually can’t manage without professional help.

Intimate physical therapy can help you reconnect with your lower abdomen and the entire pelvic region. Here at Intimfyzio, we take a sensitive approach and will help you reconnect with that part of your body and learn how to touch it. This type of therapy is often accompanied by tears and the release of emotions. However, it is a natural way to regain control of the entire situation and process it.