C-section Scar Massage
A 2020 prospective cohort study found that out of 462 people who gave birth via cesarean, roughly 25% still had pain at 3 months following birth. 1 in 4 still had scar pain at 3 months postpartum. While some mild to moderate c-section scar pain in the first few weeks postpartum may be considered a normal part of post-operative healing, pelvic floor physical therapy can help treat pain continuing past 6 weeks postpartum.
An important note: It’s never too late to address your pain. If you’re still experiencing c-section scar pain months or years following your c-section, pelvic floor PT can help.
So why do people develop pain following cesarean? A c-section is a surgical procedure, and as with all surgical procedures, surgery causes significant tissue trauma. When our tissue experiences trauma, the body responds by tensing to guard the impacted area. This is a protective response which, in the short term, helps to keep our body safe. However when this response sticks around for more than a week or two, this previously helpful guarding can begin to cause pain. Imagine tightly closing your fist. After first you’ll feel extra stability and support in your wrist but after 30 seconds or so you’ll start to feel pain in your hand.
In the case of a c-section, this guarding occurs primarily in the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. When these muscles stay contracted after the first few weeks postpartum, this can lead to longer lasting c-section scar pain. But don’t fret! Though c-section scar pain is common, it is also extremely treatable. Most patients we see for cesarean section scar pain at Lady Bird PT experience significant pain relief in 1-2 visits.
A typical session for c-section scar pain includes manual therapy (hands on work) performed by the physical therapist while guiding you through exercises to perform at home. One of the most common techniques we teach people for managing scar pain at home is scar massage.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into my three favorite c-section scar massage techniques I have my patients work on at home.
Before we get into it, c-section scar massage should not be performed before the incision has fully healed, typically around 5-6 weeks. If you have any redness, heat or swelling around the scar, please contact your medical provider before beginning scar massage. Scar massage should not be painful, though it may be uncomfortable. For more gentle scar work, consider scar desensitization. It’s normal to have soreness in the hours and day or two following c-section scar massage but if you notice increased pain, please stop and contact your provider.
Now that we’re through all my nifty disclaimers, on to the good stuff.
If you’re interested in trying c-section scar massage at home, here are 5 simple steps:
Lay on your back, propped up on pillows. You want to make sure your belly can fully relax while still being able to reach your abdomen.
Expose your scar and apply your favorite lotion (I prefer coconut oil) to your low abdomen and scar.
Start by gently massaging along your scar. In the videos below you’ll find some of my favorite scar massage techniques.
Spend ~10 minutes per session, giving yourself a day or so break between sessions. You don’t want to perform scar massage if you’re still sore from the last session.
Focus on deep belly breathing during your scar massage so you can help your body stay relaxed.
If working on your own scar feels overwhelming or you’re not making progress with scar massage, pelvic floor PT can help.
Contact us here to learn more about working with our pelvic floor physical therapists who can help address your pain, support your postpartum healing and help you confidently return to all the things you love to do!
Want to learn more about c-section scar pain and recovery?
Click here to learn about our self-paced, c-section recovery program to help you reduce pain and sensitivity around your scar while regaining strength and confidence after your cesarean. It’s never too late or too early to start supporting your body through your recovery.
This post was written by Dr. Rebecca Maidansky, PT, DPT, owner and founder of Lady Bird Physical Therapy. Rebecca is a pelvic floor physical therapist in Austin, TX and founded Lady Bird Physical Therapy in 2019. She is the creator of Birth Preparation and Postpartum Planning, Baby Steps Fitness and the head writer and editor of The Pelvic Press.
Rebecca is a passionate writer and vocal advocate for pelvic health and the importance of improving access to perinatal care. She believes strongly that many common pregnancy pains and postpartum symptoms can be eased or even prevented with basic education and care.
She created this blog to help all birthing people manage common pregnancy pains, prepare for birth and recover postpartum.