Your Guide to C-Section Recovery
While the number of cesarean (c-section) births performed in Canada is approximately ⅓ of all births, what is an even more staggering statistic is that C-section births -a major abdominal surgery - is also the most commonly performed in-patient surgery in the country and this number continues to rise. With the rate of this significant surgery on the rise, it becomes increasingly alarming that many women are left without adequate resources or support following this procedure and are unsure of how to help themselves have a successful recovery.
We’re here to help.
The team at wellbe is here to help you learn how you can optimize your physical recovery post-cesarean.
This article has tips for your immediate post-op recovery, but even if you are further along in your recovery process, you can still benefit from speaking to a pelvic health physical therapist or chiropractor about your c-section experience.
It is never too late to make changes and with a little help we can guide your recovery process!
Things to consider immediately post c-section
Speak with your healthcare team about pain medication – and make sure you stay on top of it! It is important to manage your pain so that you can sleep and recover well.
Walk around on day 1! Moving around for a few minutes at a time will be helpful for your recovery.
Ask for early skin-to-skin contact with your baby if it’s possible – this will help establish breastfeeding with your babe early.
Ask for help from the physiotherapy staff to teach you how to get in and out of bed and what breastfeeding positions will work well for you.
Hug a pillow if you need to cough, sneeze or when you go from sitting to standing. This will support your incision and help reduce pain.
Use compression panties or an abdominal wrap immediately post-op, for up to 6-8 weeks
MAKE SURE YOU REST – you just had major abdominal surgery and you need rest in order to recover. Ask for help with household chores and caring for your baby.
Exercise Goals in the first 0-2 weeks
The top priorities in this initial phase of healing are to get lots of rest, manage your pain and maintain your range of motion.
Exercise ideas:
Deep breathing – imagine you are opening an umbrella in your rib cage, you should expand in all directions.
Pelvic tilting – tuck your tailbone under your body and then slowly untuck.
Stretching your front body – lay on your back and reach your arms overhead.
Walking – 5-15 minutes/day
Pelvic floor exercises (ask your pelvic floor physiotherapist for exercises that will work for you)
Future Recovery
In order to best progress through your recovery, it is highly recommended that you see a pelvic floor physiotherapist who can guide you through treatment. In the first 4-6 weeks post-cesarean, a virtual appointment is helpful so that you can discuss your recovery with a therapist and get advice for progressing your exercises safely. After that, in-person appointments will allow your therapist to assess your scar, abdomen and pelvic floor function.
Once you have your incision examined by your doctor at the 6-week mark, you can start to work on scar mobilization techniques. This is extremely important in your recovery, because an immobile, poorly healed scar can lead to chronic pain, fascial and muscular tension and can inhibit abdominal strength. Your therapist can show you how to massage and release your scar at home and will provide scar massage in clinic.
wellbe is now offering C-Section Scar Tissue Release Therapy for both new and older scars! This involves a tool that delivers micro-current point stimulation (MPS) and helps to reduce adhesions and restrictions around your scar, leading to improved mobility, a decrease in pain and an improved appearance of your scar!
Our team at wellbe is ready to support you through your c-section recovery. We want to help you get back to all of the things you love while caring for your babe!
We want to help you get back to all of the things you love while still caring for your babe and your body!
This blog post was written by wellbe’s pelvic health physiotherapist Amber Watkins. Book your first session with Amber here and learn more about C-Section Scar Release Therapy.