Caring for your caesarean scar in the maternity unit
In the first few days after giving birth, a nurse will apply a dressing and monitor your recovery. Stitches or staples are usually removed between 5 and 10 days after the operation.
Being mindful of your movements
After giving birth, it’s important to move around while putting as little strain as possible on the area around your scar. The more you move, the less opportunity the tissues have to stick together. This can also cause pain.
When you go to the toilet, choose a position that makes it easier to pass a stool and requires as little effort as possible. For example, raise your feet on a small stool. This can also help prevent and relieve pain from any haemorrhoids. When you feel the urge to go, go straight away and wait for your bowels to start moving naturally before pushing.
When getting up, take care not to pull on the scar.
To do this, while lying down, bend your legs towards you one at a time.
Roll onto your side, keeping your legs bent.
Finally, push yourself up with your upper arm to sit on the edge of the bed, then stand up.
A few tips
Ask for help! Don’t hesitate to ask for help, whether with looking after your baby or getting around. This helps avoid putting too much pressure on your body and causing pain, which could affect the stitches or staples.
Try to walk.
Take painkillers for at least 5 days or as recommended by your doctor. The more pain you’re in, the more likely you are to hunch forwards. This can compress the scar and cause the organs to stick together. If you’re in pain, you won’t be able to stand up straight.
When you’re in bed, adjust the bed to the height of the cot so you don’t have to bend your back and can move more easily.
For clothing, choose high-waisted knickers to support the scar and avoid a fold of skin forming above it. Make sure your bottoms aren’t too tight, and avoid zips too.
As for your diet, drink enough water and eat foods rich in fibre, vitamins A, E and C, iron and zinc to support healing. Good postpartum nutrition is particularly important in your case. A postpartum food supplement rich in these nutrients can also help. Marine collagen can be beneficial too. Our food supplement for pregnant women and for the postpartum period, rich in collagen, can offer you support. Our postpartum bone broths are also rich in collagen.
If you feel low, it’s important to talk about it. An unplanned caesarean section can make it difficult to come to terms with your scar. You may not want to look at or touch it. If this continues, you may find it hard to care for your scar through massage or ointments, and adhesions may become more frequent and extensive.
Caring for your caesarean scar at home
Generally, you’ll be able to go home once the stitches or staples have been removed.
Avoid lifting heavy objects, particularly anything heavier than your baby (starting in the maternity unit).
Avoid positions that put strain on the scar.
If possible, try to get organised beforehand. Pay attention to the height of your bed. Set up the changing area and baby bath so they’re easy to use too. Put together a basket of baby essentials, such as nappies and cleanser, that you can easily carry around your home.
Ask someone else to take care of household tasks. You could, for example, seek help through the CAF from a family support worker who can help around the house, or ask your family or your co-parent. If you can, avoid doing certain tasks yourself too.
Avoid baths too. Find out more in our article bathing after giving birth. Keep the scar clean and dry. Wash it with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.
Avoid picking at the scab so you don’t delay healing.
The first few days
Clean it thoroughly and disinfect it if necessary. Healing is most active around days 7 to 12. On day 12, the scar may ooze and feel uncomfortable. This can be completely normal, but don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare professional (midwife, gynaecologist, nurse, etc.) if needed.
After 2 to 3 weeks
Start massaging with a cream, shea butter, for example, or an organic oil (coconut, rosehip, etc.). Ideally, continue the massage for several months, particularly to help avoid adhesions. Don’t hesitate to ask a healthcare professional (midwife, gynaecologist, nurse, etc.) to show you how to do the massage.
After 1 month, you can also use a silicone dressing.
Ideally, massage the area every day at first, as part of your routine, for a few minutes. Don’t press too hard when massaging initially, as it can feel uncomfortable or even painful.
You can then space the massages out to several times a week.
Once the skin has healed and closed fully, after 3 weeks or 1 month, you can resume hair removal or shaving.
Bear in mind that the scar remains sensitive. Waxing can be painful for a long time. Test it on a small area first. Every woman is different, so do what feels right for you.
For several months
Get support from a physiotherapist, particularly for your abdominal rehabilitation. This support can be provided for 2 months after giving birth. This corresponds to 10 sessions over 2 years and 2 months, reimbursed at 100%.
An osteopath, although not always covered by health insurance, can also be helpful for scar adhesions and your back.
Acupuncture and chiropractic care also offer options for adhesions.
From your first hours in the maternity unit to your return home, discover our replay on recovery after a caesarean section with Raphaëlle Buhot de Launay, a midwife at a level 3 maternity unit in Paris.
