C-Section Recovery

What Can You do to Help Your C-section Recovery?

At Dalhousie Health & Wellness we have a variety of options to help ease the discomforts associated with c-section recovery. Many women are eager to rush into activities that can harm their low backs, core and pelvic floors. Most women simply aren’t ready to go back to the rigors of life and physical activity at their 6 week postpartum checkup. YES, your tissues have healed... but the most important question is, how is your body functioning? Do you leak urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, jump or run? Do you feel heaviness in your pelvic floor? Do you have a lumpy- bumpy scar, and tension in your abdominals? Do you have back pain, sciatica, pelvic pain or hip pain? Do you have the sensation that something isn’t quite right but you can’t really explain what you are feeling? Well, if you answered yes to any of the aforementioned questions then that is your body sending you a message that you are not yet recovered and you may need to slow down and get some help. At Dalhousie Health & Wellness we can offer the help you need. We can help you return safely to physical activity, and get your body functioning to tolerate the demands of your busy mom life!

The First 6-10 Weeks Postpartum

It is essential to tap into your deep core muscles for a smooth c-section recovery. Dr. Hodges works alongside women and teaches them how to properly engage their core. This proper core engagement involves diaphragmatic breath and the ability to connect to ones pelvic floor muscles, as well as low back stabilizing muscles. Activating these muscles in the first 6-10 weeks postpartum can help retrain the mind-body connection between the deep core and pelvic floor that can be diminished with pregnancy, during delivery and with a c-section. Dr. Hodges works closely with women before, during and after delivery to ensure a proper functioning core and pelvic floor.

Abdominal Massage and Scar Tissue Release

Many midwives and OBGYN’s refer to Dalhousie Health & Wellness for postpartum C-section and scar tissue care to help speed up healing. Once you are cleared by your OBGYN or midwives, massage therapy and gentle cupping are wonderful techniques to help release the scar tissue and help speed up the healing of the scar. Our Registered Massage Therapist Suzanne Hamm can preform gentle abdominal massage to help with c-section and postpartum recovery. Dr. Meredith Hodges can preform gentle cupping, acupuncture and abdominal release techniques to assist in your recovery.

Easing Back into Activity

Most women are eager to get back to physical activity and loose their baby weight. This unnecessary pressure to rush recovery can have lifelong negative consequences. It is an essential part of the postpartum recovery (c-section or vaginal birth) to slow down, listen to the signs that the body is giving and gently ease back into activity with the advice of your Dalhousie Health & Wellness healthcare team. If you are really eager to get back to physical activity sooner than later, we advise that you work with a trained postpartum specialist. Dr. Hodges has taken extensive training in postpartum recovery and uses Pilates to rehabilitate the postpartum body. Dr. Hodges works one-on-one with women to retrain the breath, core and pelvic floor. Weather you seek help from our highly trained postpartum team at Dalhousie Health & Wellness or prefer to allow the body to recover naturally, make sure you take time, slow down and be patient. Your body will heal on its own timeline with a little patience and TLC.