Caesarean Scar Massage - What Is It and Why Should You Do It?
If you've had a Caesarean, you may have been left wondering… what the hell do I do now?!
Maybe it's numb. Maybe it's tight. Maybe it feels uncomfortable when your clothes rub against it. Perhaps it feels completely fine and you've just started wondering whether there's anything you should actually be doing with it.
You may have been wondering about this at the back of your mind, but let's be honest, after having a baby, your own recovery can very easily drop down the priority list. As a mum myself, I know that once you've got a tiny person who needs you constantly, you're probably much more focused on feeding, nappies, sleep (or lack of it!), and keeping everyone alive than thinking about what's happening with your own body.
So hopefully, you can take 5 minutes right now to find out about Caesarean scar massage and how it can support your postnatal recovery.
What actually is Caesarean scar massage?
Once your Caesarean scar is fully healed, scar massage involves gently massaging and moving the scar and the surrounding tissue.
It isn't about digging into your scar or trying to force anything to change. It should be gentle, calm and adapted to how your scar feels.
No scar is the same. Your scar can feel very different from someone else's. I know it’s hard not to compare, but your experience of recovery may be different to your friends.
Some women notice numbness around the scar. Others experience tightness, pulling, tenderness, itching or sensitivity. You may even find that one side feels completely different to the other.
All of these things can feel quite strange when you're not sure what to expect.
So why massage your Caesarean scar?
Your scar feels tight or restricted
As a scar heals, the tissue can feel less mobile than the surrounding skin and tissue. Scar massage may help to improve the mobility of the scar and surrounding area, and some women find that it helps with sensations such as tightness, sensitivity or discomfort.
Your scar feels numb
This is probably the most common phrase I hear. I can imagine how surprising it is to feel how different the sensation on your stomach and around your scar is after a Caesarean. You might touch the area and think, "That's weird… I can feel pressure but it doesn't really feel like my skin." Numbness can happen because nerves are affected during surgery, and sensation can change as the area heals.
You feel disconnected from your body
I think this is an important one. Your body has been through a pretty big experience. Whether you had a planned Caesarean or an emergency Caesarean, there can be a lot of emotions that come up when you look at or think about your scar. You may have spent the first few weeks avoiding looking at or touching your scar because it felt sore, strange or just a bit too much. Then suddenly you're months down the line and you're wondering, "Should I be doing something with this?" There is no right or wrong way to feel about your scar, but understanding it and becoming more comfortable with the area can be a really positive part of your recovery.
Scar massage may help with how the area feels over time, but it isn't a magic fix and everyone's recovery is different.
When can I start massaging my scar?
Your scar needs to be fully healed before you start massaging it. That means no open areas, scabs, weeping or signs of infection.
I generally recommend waiting until at least 8 weeks after your Caesarean before I treat the scar. If your scar is fully healed, you can usually begin very gentle self-massage, but if you're unsure whether your scar is ready, please speak to your midwife, GP or another appropriate healthcare professional first.
There is absolutely no rush. Your body has just grown and delivered a baby and undergone major surgery. It doesn't need any more pressure put on it!
What if I've had my Caesarean a long time ago?
It isn't necessarily too late to start massaging your scar. I have seen women from a range of time scales, from a few months postnatal to a few years.
Let’s remember your life has been taken over by a baby, you’ve been a little busy I think. It’s normal for your recovery to take a back seat (even though I wish it wouldn’t!). Or perhaps you simply didn't know that scar massage was something you could do, or you’re just not feeling ready to engage with your scar yet.
The weeks have been passing and suddenly you realise you still have areas of numbness, tightness or discomfort, or you may just feel that the scar doesn't move quite as freely as the surrounding tissue.
There is no end date, you can start whenever you’re ready or have capacity.
What happens during a Caesarean scar massage appointment?
Firstly, we talk about your scar and how it feels. Everyone's experience is different, so I want to know whether you're experiencing numbness, tightness, sensitivity or discomfort and whether there's anything you're particularly concerned about.
I'll then work with the scar and surrounding tissue using gentle techniques, adapting the pressure and treatment to you. Some areas may feel more sensitive than others, and that's completely fine. I'll communicate with you throughout so we can make sure you're comfortable.
Does scar massage hurt?
It shouldn't be about pushing through pain. Your scar may feel sensitive, tight or uncomfortable, particularly if you haven't touched the area much before, but I'll always work within your comfort levels. We can adjust the pressure and techniques depending on how your scar feels on the day.
And finally…
Having a Caesarean is a huge thing for your body to recover from, whether it was planned, unplanned, straightforward or a completely different birth experience to the one you had imagined.
Your scar is just one small part of that recovery, but it's a part that can sometimes get forgotten about.
If you're experiencing numbness, tightness, sensitivity or discomfort around your scar, or you're simply curious about whether scar massage could help, hopefully this has given you a better idea of what it involves.
If you'd like some support, I offer individual Caesarean scar massage appointments where we can look at how your scar is feeling and work at a pace that feels comfortable for you. I also run an Introduction to Caesarean Scar Massage Workshop if you'd like to learn more about scar massage in a relaxed, small-group setting.
If you'd like to find out more about Caesarean scar massage or my workshops, you can find the details below.
Introduction to Caesarean Scar Massage Workshop - Thursday 5th November
