C-Section Scar Massage Guide
- thebirthbase
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Looking after yourself when you’ve had a caesarean birth is SO important and something that is often overlooked. Unfortunately society seems to be focused on ‘bounce back’ culture, and expects us mums to suddenly ‘get back to it’ - without respecting the fact you’ve birthed your baby, had major abdominal surgery and now need to look after a newborn, and yourself!
This expectation, teamed with a (in my opinion) pretty poor ‘6 week check at the GP’ that really doesn’t serve women very well, is not good. We deserve so much better!
That’s why, it’s really important you understand know exactly what ‘scar massage’ is and why it’s so important for your long term recovery from birth.
Scar massage is a hands on technique to support recovery, that you can do at home. The idea is to start with desensitising the tissue around the area, and slowly progress over time to mobilise the scar directly.
Scar massage has the ability too…
Improve blood flow and healing time
Help flatten and soften your scar
Reduce the appearance of a “shelf”...also sometimes referred too as ‘overhang’, or c section pouch. (This is because mobilisation of the scar can help prevent tissues from adhering to surrounding structures)
Decrease pain, itching and discolouration at the scar site
Reduce numbing
Improve tightness and elasticity of skin surrounding the scar
Manage swelling
Reduce muscle restriction
Reconnect you with your body after birth
So, when could you start?
Think about starting when…
You feel comfortable to touch your scar (however please note that touching your scar can be really emotional (especially if the c-section was an emergency or undesired) - please be kind to yourself and only start when you feel ready. You are an incredible woman.
Your wound no longer has a scab or raised appearance
When your midwife/GP gives you green light at 6 week check.
2-4 weeks postpartum…Start with very gently desensitizing the tissue around (above and below) the scar. You can use a feather or soft scarf to begin softly tracing above and below the area. Once you are comfortable with this step, you can move on to direct touch and gently beginning scar massage.
When ready, using an oil (coconut oil or vitamin e oil works really well) - with your fingertips, use light touch and circular sweeps in different directions to very gently massage around your scar.
6-8 weeks postpartum… when your scar is fully healed, progress to mobilising the scar directly itself - still using an oil - try a variety of vertical strokes, zig zag and circular movements. Never approach scar massage heavy handedly - it may be tender, but should never hurt.
Finally, after a few months, progress to something called 'skin rolling'. This is where you lift up the scar and tissue around it and moving it.
How frequently could you do it?
You may want to try doing scar massage for 5 minutes everyday, until all your tissues are freely moving in all directions. This might take a few weeks. Once this is done, you could switch to doing your massage weekly. Then reduce to monthly, up until your baby is 2 years old. If you haven't started this in immediate postpartum, don't worry! It's still a really great idea to start whenever you can.
Ps. If you want to take scar recovery to the next level, HLP therapy are the experts (and based not too far away if you’re local! In Leicestershire).
Please note this is not medical advice, merely guidance on what may be able to aid postnatal recovery.
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