Pelvic Floor Therapy After C-Section
At Foundations Pelvic Health, we are a team of perinatal and pelvic floor physical therapy specialists. We are dedicated to guiding women through their postpartum recovery! One of the main concerns we help with is C-section scar management and core re-strengthening.
How does Pelvic Floor PT help?
Our pelvic floor PTs can assist with a variety of issues postpartum, including symptoms as a result of Cesarean births. After a C-section, women may experience tenderness, tightness, and/or numbness at the lower abdomen as well as difficulty activating their core muscles. Our pelvic floor PTs will complete an evaluation and will create a plan to address your specific concerns.
The Procedure:
A C-section is a major abdominal surgery and should be treated accordingly. The skin, fascia (connective tissue), muscle, and organ layers are affected through the incision and your body needs time to adequately heal. Our pelvic floor therapists can provide education on ways to reduce discomfort and protect the scar with daily activities such as:
rolling over in bed
lifting your baby
having bowel movements
Addressing the Scar:
Once cleared by your OB or midwife, our pelvic floor PT will assess the mobility of your scar (how well the scar is moving). Scars can take ~ 2 years to completely heal, so you have plenty of time to make changes at your scar. But the earlier you start, the better!
Scars should eventually be able to move & up, down, side to side, and in all directions without restriction or pain. Ideally, all the layers of tissue below the skin should seamlessly glide so that you don’t have pain, pulling, or tightness when moving around, such as lifting overhead or twisting. Your therapist will provide specific massage to your scar to help break up any restrictions and also show you ways to perform at home if you’re comfortable. Cupping techniques can also be used throughout the lower abdomen to reduce tightness and improve mobility.
If you’re having increased sensitivity to touch, certain fabrics or wearing certain pants/underwear, our hands-on manual techniques can help to desensitize the area and improve your ability to tolerate different sensations at your scar.
Your pelvic floor therapist can also educate you on ways to improve the appearance of your scar including cupping, the use of silicone strips, and applying specific lotions.
Mobility & Exercise:
Pelvic floor therapy will also include mobility exercises and stretches to facilitate movement at and around the scar. Exercises such as cat-cow, thread the needle, cobra, and hip flexor stretches help to improve overall posture and stretch the lower abdominal muscles. If you’re nervous about where and how to start, we can help!
Core and abdominal activation is paramount as the lower abdominals were affected throughout pregnancy and as a result of the C-section. Your pelvic floor PT will help you to retrain the lower abdominals and guide you to safely return to core strengthening and return to your usual exercise. We will also assess for and address diastasis recti (abdominal separation).
Pelvic Floor Assessment:
Even though you did not have a vaginal birth, your pelvic floor may still be affected post C-section. During pregnancy, your pelvic floor carries an increased load for many months.
The core, glutes, and pelvic floor muscles work as a team - so, if your abdominals are weakened by the C-section, your pelvic floor muscles may be jumping in to help do more. It is important to screen for any bowel, bladder, or sexual health symptoms and assess with an internal pelvic floor assessment if you are experiencing any of these concerns.
Supporting your postpartum recovery after C-section
Our pelvic floor PTs work with women throughout their postpartum recovery to keep you strong and moving. We love to support during your postpartum recovery to help you get back into doing the things you love safely!