Connect with Your C-section Scar: Rituals for Healing

C-section scars are not only physical.

While the medical focus is narrowly on surgical recovery, many c-section moms find their emotional recovery totally neglected. Birth trauma, feelings of disfigurement or failure, pain and depression/anxiety are common. These can complicate healing just as much as infection and other medical risks.

At the same time, there is virtually no social acknowledgement of the impact this major surgery can have on those who endure it. C-section is widely regarded as “just another way to give birth,” with women expected to just be grateful for their baby and move on.

For these reasons, it is crucial to make room for honoring your c-section scar and your birth experience.

No matter how wrong or unwanted, going under the knife to birth your baby is a story of survival, sacrifice and strength.

One way to do this is by learning to connect with and care for your c-section scar.

Although touching or even looking at the scar can be challenging for many, there are physical as well as psychological benefits to developing a scar care practice designed to connect you emotionally to the place from which your baby was born.

Therapeutic Touch.

If you don’t feel ready to touch your c-section scar, starting with PT or massage can be a great option. Seek someone trained in women’s pelvic health who is experienced with scar mobilization therapy and cesarean recovery. Ideally, any practitioner working with c-section moms should also be trauma-informed and create a safe space for emotional release. Be sure to wait until 6 weeks (or you are otherwise cleared). Check out the Resource page for local bodyworkers – highly recommend Carrie at Evensong in Hudson for holistic abdominal massage, and Jen Plaetz in Eau Claire for pelvic PT.

Breathwork.

Simply resting your hands over your c-section scar and connecting to your breath can be a great place to start. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed, and put away any distractions. Tune into your body, and slowly bring your awareness to your pelvic area. Direct your breath to your scar, and notice how that feels. If this exercise brings up intense emotions, it’s okay to take a break and try again another time. Otherwise, try to just notice and sit with any discomfort, and breathe through that. Consider combining this exercise with affirmations! (Below).

Speak positive affirmations over yourself.

“My body is strong, capable and resilient.” “My scar is healing every day.” “I made a brave and powerful sacrifice for my baby.” “Surgery is one part of my story, but it’s not my whole story.” “I am a survivor.” “My scar is the magical portal through which my baby was born.” You don’t have to use these affirmations if they do not feel authentic to you, but I encourage you to find something that feels true to honor what you’ve been through. Speak these words to yourself as you place your hands over your c-section scar and send love and healing to the area of your body that had to crack open for your baby to be born.

Castor oil packs

Castor oil is a potent anti-inflammatory with strong healing properties, especially when combined with heat. Another great self-care practice that does not require you to touch your scar directly, applying castor oil packs to the scar can help break up underlying scar tissue, soften the feeling and appearance of the scar and overall promote healing and connection with your pelvic region. To begin, gather a few layers of organic cotton cloth or cut out flannel, and lie down in a comfortable spot. Castor oil can be messy, so be sure to put towels down underneath you and remove any clothing you do not want stained or damaged. Generally you want to soak your stack of cloths, place directly on your skin, cover with a layer of plastic (such as Saranwrap or a ziplock bag), then apply a heating pack or hot water bottle over the plastic. Continue for at least 20 minutes, wipe off any excess (or use it to practice some scar massage), then store the castor oil pack in a Ziplock bag. (It can be reused, but you won’t need to saturate it every time). Take this opportunity to really center your attention on your scar and pelvic region, and honor your body for all it has been through!

Herbal baths, oils & creams

Many people find it very nourishing to apply oil or a healing salve to their scar, and gentle massage over top of that. It creates a gentle barrier for those still struggling to touch the scar directly, and may provide healing benefits. Vitamin E oil and calendula savles in particular are popular in the cesarean community, with the later having been studied and shown to significantly hasten wound healing. Many also find a postpartum ritual bath very nourishing. This can also provide a calm, quiet opportunity to connect to the scar. You may wish to bring your baby in with you, or to soak alone. Some people find that holding their baby WHILE exploring the c-section scar can soften those emotions and mentally reprogram any negative associations they have at the incision site. Be sure to wait until you are cleared by your provider to submerge in water or apply any topical treatments.

Take a picture of your scar

Boudoir photography is growing, and so too is a unique niche of capturing c-section moms and their babies alongside their c-section scars. Consider that photography can help you celebrate your postpartum body, and lovingly document your scar as a part of your story. Especially for those with trauma or disappointment, it may be hard to conceive of ever wanting to intentionally celebrate or take a photo of your c-section scar. But many c-section moms later regret not documenting the rawness of their scar and their healing body against the softness of their baby.

Cesarean scar tattoo

Some people find it meaningful and cathartic to get a tattoo at the incision site. Perhaps something related to their baby, like name, date of birth, footprints or similar — or some other representation of the birth, their strength in overcoming, or the beauty or growth they see in their experience. A good place to ask for examples of cesarean scar tattoos would be in the ICAN national group on Facebook. Be sure to thoroughly research tattoo artists and wait until you are cleared by your provider. Many locations will not accept clients for artwork while breastfeeding, for example.

Cesarean is no less of an initiation to motherhood than vaginal birth and for many people, requires careful attention to emotional healing as well as physical.

May these tips to ritually connect to your c-section scar guide you gently toward peace and security in your birth story. Especially for those planning a vaginal birth after cesarean in the future, I find that accepting all aspects of your identity as a cesarean parent first, can have profound benefits in a subsequent pregnancy and birth. Regardless of whether you have more children, though, you deserve to honor yourself and your scar as the portals of life you both are.