5 Tips For Healing C-Section Scars

If you recently became a mother to a newborn through a c-section or are about to, here's postnatal expert Hannah West's guide on how to deal with a c-section scar...

PHOTOGRAPHY - KIERA ROSE

Hannah West is a postpartum professional at The 360 Mama, offering recovery courses and support for new mothers. In her opinion, women should receive more knowledge and advice about the c-section scar healing process. She speaks with NOVA just in time for Cesarean Awareness Month, which takes place annually in April.

She says: “Some women don’t even know how to care for their scar, they don’t even know when they should be removing their dressing. If you’re told these things early on, you can make such a difference to the woman’s health for their whole life. We are trying to get that support and advice out to women, even just the basics so that they cannot be struggling with infections months after birth. It shouldn’t be happening.”

NOVA provides you with a summary of what you should do in the first weeks after your procedure:

REST UP!

Getting enough rest is crucial for the body and mind’s general health. A caesarian procedure has an immense impact on any woman’s body. And this is why as a mother who just underwent such major surgery, your body needs time to heal, especially in the first week post birth. This is easier said than done, of course, because newborns require constant attention and care. But try to be gentle, don’t over exert yourself and sleep as much as you possibly can, even if it feels difficult or impossible at times.

BE MINDFUL OF ABDOMINAL MOVEMENTS

When you are coughing or sneezing, try to use a towel and apply light pressure over the wound. Hannah also talks about the benefits of using oils for loosening the scar. “Scar oil is fantastic because it really helps keep the scar hydrated. If you think of how a scab heals and how it goes all tight, that’s pretty much what your scar is doing and the oil helps improve the redness, the tightness and it helps the movement in the scar,” says Hannah.

EAT PLENTY OF PROTEIN AND GREENS

With an abdominal scar, you want to avoid bloating and unwanted gas because the digestive capacity is still weak. So, eating easily digestible foods is your best option. Protein and vitamin-rich foods are also known for repairing damaged tissue by promoting the production of collagen.

PRACTICE DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING AND PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES

What this involves is breathing in slowly through the nose and then out through the mouth using the diaphragm. Breathing in this way helps expand tight tissues around your c-section scar to minimise scar restriction. There are also several pelvic floor exercises that require no equipment and can be performed anywhere. These techniques help soften and flatten scar tissue after your caesarean incision is healed.

MASSAGE YOUR ABDOMEN AND SCAR

Not only does massage help scar tissue from growing in unwanted places and increase blood flow, but it is key for allowing women to reconnect with that part of their body. Hannah says: “I find that a lot of women can’t touch that area because of the trauma involved. I always recommend that women start by placing their hand over their scar, through their clothes and taking deep breaths. It just helps take away that fear of the area and helps them accept what has happened.”