Scar care
The Caesarean scar is about 10 to 15 cm long and lies horizontally at the upper edge of the pubic hair (bikini zone). In the best cases, the skin heals edge to edge without infection, leaving only a fine line on the surface, first red, then pinkish and finally flesh-colored. Some scars run vertically from the navel to the pubic bone, but this only concerns a minority of women in the West.
Scar care should not stop with the removal of staples or threads. It is important to explain to women basic careThe following points should be borne in mind: dry the scar thoroughly after showering, if necessary with a hair dryer in "sweeping" mode, and avoid wearing low-rise briefs whose top edge may rub against the fresh scar, for example. Mesh briefs are commercially available and fit comfortably over all body shapes. They are easy to wash (by hand) and dry.
For avoid adhesion formation as much as possible (body tissue adhesions) in the area of the scar, it's important to be able to stand up straight quickly and move as naturally as possible. Over time, these adhesions can lead to other health concerns, such as poor posture, tightness in the pelvis or back pain.
The first few days especially By keeping the knees very slightly bent, it's easier to straighten the upper body without creating tension in the lumbar region and on the scar. Your breathing will also be easier and fuller. Avoid walking slightly bent forward, as is often the case with caesarean women.
You need avoid twisting movements of the upper body which place great demands on the lateral external points of the internal scar and can be painful. Pain is often felt to the left and right above and further outside the skin scar.
Cough, sneeze and laugh is also uncomfortable. In this case, supporting the scar with both hands and contracting the perineum (crotch) even slightly can relieve pressure and pain. Abdominal exercises and heavy lifting should be avoided for the first few weeks. Ask your midwife how to stand up properly and what exercises are possible.
Sometimes healing is a problemThis is particularly true in the event of infection or haematoma, or if the edges do not join perfectly. The suture may loosen in places, and blood, pus or serous discharge may occur. If the problem arises during hospitalization, care can begin on the spot before being continued at home by a qualified midwife. But this can also happen after the patient has returned home. If a midwife has already been scheduled for home visits, she will put in place all the necessary arrangements. Otherwise, a consultation at the Maternity Ward or with your obstetrician is essential before continuing care at home.
Once the severity has been assessed, the affected area is usually drained, disinfected frequently and then left to close up gradually. Antibiotic treatment may also be necessary. For women, this means frequent care and dressing changes, the worry of a partially open scar and the need to take it easy even more. But after this difficult and delayed start to healing, the other measures suggested here make perfect sense.
At first, women generally don't like to touch or even look at their scars, partly because of temporary insensitivity (several weeks in any case) of the area, especially above. Observing the healing and inviting women to integrate the scar into their daily care is an important step in integrating the C-section event into their lives.
Sometimes a " symbolic compensation" can be practiced around the scar: thanking it for the life it has allowed to pass, tenderly caressing it to soften it and give it life, taking it in affection because it has allowed you to give birth. Use your imagination to find your own individual way. Scars are a visible sign of our lives, with their ups and downs, and, like bruises, they make us unique and precious.
To obtain a soft scar, you can apply cream and after a few weeks, really massage and mobilize the scar with circulatory and up-and-down "zigzag" movements. You should also stretch the scar lengthwise. Ideally, you should be able to roll parts of this area between your fingers to enhance the deep massage effect.
There are special creams such as Gorgonium ointment, Contractubex, Keli-Med Cream or Dermatix Ultra Gel (check with your doctor for prescriptions), Cicaplast from La Roche-Posay or Cicalfate from Avène (see the "cosmetics" section) to treat scars. If you wish to use a massage oilIf you have a scar, choose a rich oil containing jojoba or wheat germ oil. The creams you used during pregnancy to treat stretch marks can also be used on your scar. Start as soon as the last little scabs on the scar have fallen off, usually after 2 to 3 weeks.
Particularly for curvy women, the sweating in the scar area can cause problems of moisture, irritation and unpleasant odour: refreshing the scar with water and drying it out will be the basis of care. A hair dryer is especially useful in the early stages of healing: sweep the scar with the air flow and your skin will be dry before applying any other product. Applying a very neutral talcum powder (ask your chemist) will help keep your scar drier.
Generally speaking, it's not a luxury to show your scar to a physiotherapist, osteopath or acupuncturist within the first three months to check or improve scar mobility and loosen any adhesions. Lymphatic drainage can also be beneficial to post-operative recovery, especially when the lower abdomen seems to be "engorged".
For my part, I am in a position to offer you a soft laser treatment to facilitate healing and tissue recovery, as well as "tap scars after they have healed. Taping is well known in the sports world and has a number of applications in obstetrics too: scars, back pain, engorgement, tummy support during pregnancy and more.
A Caesarean section does not automatically protect against the worries of a weak baby. perineum (pelvic floor) under the pretext that there was no vaginal passage. Pregnancy already puts a lot of strain on the pelvic floor, and I can only encourage you to tone and strengthen your perineum - it's central to your femininity and your whole look. Above all, don't do any abdominal exercises without strengthening the perineum. Midwives can advise you to take a specific course in postnatal gymnastics may be available near you, and if that's not enough, talk to your gynaecologist about a prescription for perineal rehabilitation.
In recent years, we've seen the development of more global methods for perinatal care. In other words, the approach and treatment are based on the physical, emotional and verbal levels. As women often try to cope "in their heads", they learn to return to their bodily sensations through touch, exercises and breathing, to let buried and poorly digested emotions rise to the surface. Ideally, they will free themselves from the tensions that the difficult experience has created in their body, very often around the scar. Find out more about existing methods by looking specifically for practitioners specializing in perinatal care.
It's safe to assume that a certain amount of back pain is linked to the scar(s) of a more or less long-standing Caesarean section. I'm not aware of any studies on the long-term effects of caesarean sections on women's health, but my personal experience and that of paramedical practitioners clearly point in this direction. Your comments on this aspect can shed more light on the subject and provide avenues to explore.
All the suggested steps can be taken long after the work has been completed, and you can still achieve improvements.
