Why Your C-Section Scar Deserves Attention
Whether your C-section was planned or unexpected, knowing how to care for your C-section scar afterward can feel overwhelming. A C-section is major abdominal surgery, yet many moms receive little to no guidance on scar healing and recovery.
Your C-section scar healing impacts more than just the appearance of your belly. It can affect core strength, pelvic floor function, and overall mobility.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- Why caring for your C-section scar matters
- When and how to start C-section scar massage
- Simple techniques for C-section scar mobilization
- Red flags to watch for
Understanding your body empowers you to heal with confidence!
Early Healing Tips: Supporting Your C-Section Scar from the Start
Did you know that seven layers of tissue are cut during a C-section? That’s why C-section recovery deserves the same care and attention as any other major surgery!
How to Protect Your Scar in the First Few Weeks
- Keep the incision clean and dry—follow your provider’s instructions for wound care.
- Avoid applying creams or ointments unless directed by your provider.
- Your provider will let you know when it’s safe to shower.
Posture Matters
In the early days, your body naturally hunches forward to protect the incision. While this is normal, staying curled up for too long can cause the scar to tighten and restrict movement.
Instead:
- Try to stand tall and lay straight when possible.
- Be gentle—don’t force an upright posture if it causes pulling on the stitches.
- Gradually work toward a comfortable, neutral position.
Healing well now helps prevent future pain, tightness, and movement restrictions.
What Happens If Your C-Section Scar Doesn’t Heal Properly?
While some scars heal without issue, others can create long-term problems if not addressed.
Possible issues from improper C-section scar healing:
- Pelvic pain or discomfort
- C-section shelf (excess skin or scar tissue above the incision)
- Incontinence or bladder dysfunction
- Lower back and hip pain
- Painful periods
- Abdominal pain or tightness
- Painful bowel movements
- Lingering numbness, tingling, or burning sensations
- Unhealed diastasis recti
Taking proactive steps to mobilize your scar can help reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore function.
Scar Desensitization
Many women experience numbness, tingling, or hypersensitivity around their C-section scar. This happens because nerves are cut during surgery, but the right techniques can help improve those symptoms.
Scar Desensitization Techniques
In the early weeks (before the scar is fully healed):
- Touch around the incision to stimulate nerve recovery. Start with just your fingers and be gentle.
- As this starts to feel easy and “normal”, progress to gently touching around the scar with different textures, like a cotton ball, silk scarf, or soft towel. You can make little circles and move up, down, and sideways in all directions.
Once the scar is fully closed:
- Begin touching directly on the scar with light pressure starting with just your fingers.
- Progress to using various textures listed above to help normalize sensation in the area.
Scar desensitization should never be painful—if it is, ease up! It may feel numb, tingly, or even “strange,” but gentle touch helps nerves wake up and regenerate.
C-Section Scar Mobilization
C-section scar mobilization is the next step following desensitization. It improves mobility, reduces tightness, and promotes healing. Always wait to start until your incision is fully closed and you’ve been cleared by your provider (typically 6-8 weeks postpartum).
Gentle Scar Mobilization
Start with superficial movements that move only the top layer of tissue around and on top of the scar.
- Use small circular motions around and over the scar.
- Go in different directions (side-to-side, up-and-down, diagonal).
- Be sure to focus on the tissue above and below the scar as well.
- As it feels like it moves well on the top layer, you can begin to press deeper as long as it isn’t painful.
- Eventually, get to the muscles underneath. This may be deeper than you would think to press, but not be painful.
If you notice any area where the skin isn’t gliding well, spend more time working on those restrictions.
Deeper Scar Mobilization
Once you’re comfortable, progress to deeper techniques.
Pinch & Lift: Gently pinch the scar between your fingers and lift slightly. Move along the scar, pinching and lifting. Spend time in any areas that seem more “stuck”. It is beneficial to pinch the skin above and below the scar as well.
Pinch Lift & Wiggle: Gently pinch the scar between your fingers and lift slightly. Pull one side up and the other side down. Do this along the length of the scar.
What If I’m Years Postpartum? Can I Still Improve My Scar?
Yes! Even if you’re months or years postpartum, you can still improve C-section scar mobility.
While the most healing happens within the first six months, working on your scar later on can still:
- Improve mobility and flexibility
- Reduce lingering tightness
- Relieve lower back, hip, or pelvic pain
- Help reconnect your core and pelvic floor
Just like in the early recovery phase, start with gentle techniques and work progressively deeper. Be sure to work on the scar itself and the tissue above and below the scar. Spend more time working on areas that don’t seem to move as well.
Red Flags to Watch For
While C-section scar mobilization is safe for most women, some symptoms may indicate an issue that needs medical attention.
Contact your provider if you experience:
- Severe pain or redness around the incision
- Hard lumps or thick bands forming under the scar
- Burning, pulling, or sharp pain that doesn’t improve
- Ongoing bladder leakage or pelvic heaviness
If something feels off, trust your body and reach out to a professional.
You Deserve a Strong & Confident Recovery
Your C-section scar recovery isn’t just about appearance, it’s about how your body moves, functions, and feels.
By caring for your scar, mobilizing tissue, and restoring mobility, you’re setting yourself up for a stronger, pain-free postpartum journey.
Want a structured plan for healing and regaining strength postpartum? Download my free Step-by-Step Postpartum Return to Exercise Guide and take the guesswork out of your recovery!
What about when & what to apply to the scar to reduce the appearance for nursing & non-nursing moms?
Hi Norma! Great question! Doing the scar mobilization will actually help with how the scar looks when it heals too. It will help the scar to not be as raised or thick, which will help with the appearance. Typically you want to wait until your incision is fully closed before applying any creams or anything to the scar, but that’s a great question for your provider. You may not necessarily need to apply anything to it. I’ve heard good things about many different scar creams, but especially the Nemah brand. I’d recommend ensuring anything you put around the scar has clean, safe ingredients, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Most of them will be fine to use with breastfeeding, but you might need to look into the specific product and consult with your provider to be sure!
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