The moments right after birth, your baby’s scent, the warmth of their skin on yours, those tiny twitches are unforgettable. For me, they’re some of the most beautiful memories with my own children.
But for many moms who’ve had a Cesarean birth, the postpartum recovery and healing journey afterward can feel complicated.
Often times I hear- “I do not need pelvic floor physical therapy I had a C-section.”
But while the physical scar may close in a matter of weeks, it can take much longer to feel connected to your core again.
Some women share they have trouble feeling their abdominal muscles. Others say it feels like their belly, pelvis, or even legs don’t quite “belong” to them anymore.
That disconnect is real, and it’s something we can gently work through.
Start Here: Gentle Scar Massage
Once your scar has fully healed (no drainage, scabbing, or increased redness and your provider gives the okay), you can begin soft tissue work to improve mobility and rebuild connection.
Here’s a simple way to start:
- Move your fingers up and down across the scar
- Make tiny circular motions, clockwise and counter-clockwise
- Gently pinch and roll the scar or nearby tissue
- Gradually widen the area to include more of your lower belly
Begin at the skin level with light pressure. Over time, and as your body allows, work deeper to reach the fascia and muscle layers.
Check this video to see what gentle scar massage looks like!
If the area feels too sensitive, use a q-tip to gently desensitize the skin.
And yes, pregnant moms can use these techniques too (with provider approval), starting in the second trimester and working only at the skin level.
Then, Reconnect With Your Core
Scar work is only one part of the puzzle rebuilding a relationship with your core is just as important.
We recommend starting with 360 breathing, a gentle and powerful way to awaken your core and pelvic floor:
• Inhale deeply and expand your ribs like an umbrella
• Exhale slowly and imagine gently lifting your pelvic floor, like you’re picking up a blueberry
This type of breathing not only strengthens deep abdominal muscles, but also restores coordination between your core and pelvic floor something often disrupted during and after pregnancy.
Our clients often share how transformative this simple practice feels. One mom told us she finally enjoyed running again after months of discomfort. Another felt confident in her body for the first time since birth, and even reported intimacy felt so much better.
Are you having pain with sex during your postpartum recovery?
If sex is painful after baby, you’re not alone.
9/10 women report feeling pain the first time having sex after baby.
1 in 4 still feel pain 18 months later.
And if you had a C-section or vacuum-assisted birth, that risk doubles.
Pain is common, not normal.
Our team wants to support you so you feel confident and safe during intimacy. There are so many ways that our team can support you to reduce pain and feel confident in your body after baby.
I help postpartum moms just like you.
Looking to start pelvic floor physical therapy? Our team of therapists will guide you on postpartum recovery, as well as help you with general pelvic health, pregnancy, and birth prep. We can see you virtually & in person located in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
