Scar Mobilization After a C-Section: How it Affects Your Pelvic Floor

When addressing pelvic floor issues, it's crucial to look beyond the pelvic floor itself. Often, “old scars” like those from a C-section, episiotomy, or perineal tearing play a significant role. Why? Because the abdominal wall and pelvic floor are connected through fascia, meaning that tension in one area can affect the other.

Scar tissue can act like a web, binding layers of tissue together and sometimes even adhering to internal organs. This restricts movement and can negatively impact pelvic floor function. Scars, no matter how small, should be able to glide smoothly across the skin, like the skin on your forearm.

Key Steps to Scar Mobilization:

1. Find Professional Help: Consider consulting a pelvic floor physical therapist or a massage therapist skilled in women’s health for guidance. They can help you feel more confident in performing self-mobilization techniques: pelvicrehab.com
2. Start Away from the Scar:When working on scar mobilization, begin far from the scar and slowly progress closer to assess how you respond to it. Moving too quickly with intense techniques without pausing to assess your response can leave you feeling sore or even painful. If it's a C-section scar, start near the belly button and move toward the scar over time.
3. Gentle Pressure: Start with light touch and gradually increase pressure as your body tolerates it. Begin far from the scar and work closer, ensuring you don’t cause discomfort.
4. Move in All Directions: Without using lubrication, gently stretch the skin up/down, side to side, diagonally, and in circular motions. Practice deep breathing to relax and increase blood flow to the area.

Scar Sensitivity and Emotional Reactions

It’s common to experience sensitivity around a scar. If touch is too uncomfortable, start with desensitization techniques, like using different textured fabrics to lightly touch the area. Starting with gently touching the area around and then on top of the scar with things like: a cotton ball, q-tip or make up brush and progress to rougher fabrics like towels or even denim as tolerated.  If emotional distress arises, acknowledge your feelings and use diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system.

Cupping as an Advanced Technique

Once you've built tolerance to manual mobilization, cupping can be an effective way to further mobilize deep tissue. Be sure to use lotion to help the cup glide on the skin and start with gentle suction, gradually increasing as your body allows. Bruising is common, but if cupping becomes painful, reduce suction or stop the session. My favorite product for this is Coconu Hemp Infused Body Oil for its lubrication and oil for softening the skin. Use the code, CAROLINEP for 15% off.

C-Section Scar Mobilization Timeline:

• Weeks 3-4: Focus on gentle breathing and tissue movement around the scar.
• Week 4: Mobilize the skin around the scar.
• Weeks 8-12: Begin working directly over the scar.
• Months 3-6: You can introduce cupping therapy if desired.

For more detailed techniques on scar mobilization, download our Scar Tissue Mobilization PDF Guide This guide walks you through desensitization techniques, tissue mobilization, and advanced practices like cupping.

Scar mobilization can often be one piece of the puzzle in healing your pelvic floor and core. If you're ready to get to the bottom of your pelvic floor and core issues join the Connect Pelvic Floor Membership