Don’t Ignore These Symptoms in Your C-Section Scar
It is absolutely normal to feel some strange sensations around your incision in the early weeks/months postpartum. You will likely feel quite a bit of numbness between the belly button and scar, some increased sensitivity to the area, and some discomfort when applying some pressure to the abdomen. This would be normal for any post-operative area.
What is a problem is when these symptoms linger for several months, even several years. This is quite common because moms are not told to do anything about it.
If you experience things like…
Unable to look at or touch your scar
Pain leaning against the kitchen or bathroom counter
Cannot wear certain clothes or waistbands because it is too sensitive
Lower abdominal pain or pulling
Numbness that has not shown any signs of improvement
…and you are over 6 months postpartum, it is time to intervene and treat these tissues!
The 6 month mark is not a magical date by any means. But that this point, a substantial amount of tissue healing has taken place, while the scar tissue is also not in full maturation status. We can still influence these tissues. There should be an understanding at this point that you are far enough out from surgery that dismissing these symptoms is not okay.
Here is what I recommend:
You need to look at, touch, feel, and accept that the scar is there and a part of your body.
This is tough for many people. Whether your incision is associated with some birth trauma, or you just get grossed out by scars, it is really important to learn to accept this scar as being a part of YOU! The longer you ignore it, the less your brain associates with it. This can contribute to feeling “less connected” with your abdominal muscles, or continued pain/discomfort/numbness in the area.
2. If you have pain leaning against a counter, it is a good indication that you need to massage the abdominal tissues.
These tissues have scarring, adhesions, and tightness that need to be mobilized. Massaging the area (consistently - most days of the week for 5-10 minutes) helps bring blood flow to the area and therefore oxygen to the tissues. When tissues have good oxygen, they heal faster and are less tight and restricted. You will notice a difference with this after being consistent for just a few weeks. The massage should not be painful, but enough pressure to feel therapeutic.
3. If you are sensitive to clothing/waistbands, it is a good indication that you will benefit from desensitization to that area.
Rub the area on and around the scar, exposing it to different fabrics and pressures. You can use soft fabrics like silk, satin, cotton progressing to more rough sensations like denim. You can use items like a make-up brush, Q-tip, or folded paper towel to brush along the area as well. All of these are making the skin and nerve endings more used to experiencing friction, which is necessary to make it more less sensitive to clothing in the long run. Do this for a few minutes most days and you will start to notice an improvement.
4. Cupping to the scar and abdomen can decrease lower abdominal pain and pulling.
Get a silicone cupping set on Amazon (I’ll link one here). Use a little coconut oil or massage lotion and apply to the scar and lower abdominals. Squeeze the cup and apply it to the skin to create a seal, then let go for the skin to be sucked up into the cup. Slide the cup along the scar and abdominals, back and forth, spending more time in areas that feel more tight. Do this for about 5 minutes a day, most days of the week. You should notice an improvement in the pulling sensation.
5. Numbness that shows NO signs of improvement, you need to expose this area to more touch and blood flow.
Numbness in the lower abdominals and around the scar is very normal after c-section, but it should show signs of improvement over the course of the next year. You should notice that the numb area is smaller and that sensation is improved. It may not be perfect, but improved. If it is the same as early post-op, you need to massage this area. Massaging the area brings blood flow. Nerves take a very long time to regenerate but do better in an environment that has blood flow.
If you want more help and visuals, check out my C-Section Scar Mobilization Mini Course!
I review scar desensitization, abdominal and scar massage, and cupping in video format to help you replicate this at home on your own.
If you live in Charlotte and want hands-on guidance, you are more than welcome to book a session with me and we can go over it together!
