Recovering from a C-section can feel overwhelming for so many reasons, especially in a society that still largely treats it as “the easy way out.” 🙄 It’s major abdominal surgery (they go through seven layers of tissue), and then you go home with a newborn, often with limited instructions, and a lifting limit lower than the weight of the car seat. Plenty of people also labor for hours first, so they’re recovering from both the labor and surgery.
In this episode, pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Alex DiGrado and sex and relationship therapist Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy talk through the realities of a C-section recovery, including how pelvic floor PT can be really helpful. They also discuss the emotional toll of a birth that didn’t go as planned, or of choosing a C-section and navigating all the unsolicited opinions that come with it.
Dr. Alex also shares her own experience with a C-section and a VBAC, including both the empowering parts and the medical terminology that drove her crazy.
We hope you leave this episode knowing that however you gave birth, there’s no shame in your choices, and your recovery deserves compassion and support. And if you had either a C-section, a VBAC, or both, we’d love to hear from you! Please email us at underthehooddocs@gmail.com if you’d like to share your story.
What you’ll learn:
How pelvic floor PT can help with C-section recovery, from scar work to pain management to rebuilding core function.
How to retrain a numb or oversensitive scar with common household items.
How to set up your home and prep your support person for the realities of early recovery from a C-section.
A simple pillow-and-“shh” trick for bowel movements when your abs feel “turned off.”
A helpful phrase to use when it feels like decisions are being made too quickly during labor and delivery.
What a “gentle C-section” can look like, including ways to enhance early bonding with your baby.
Tune in if you’ve ever thought:
“I had a C-section, so I didn’t think pelvic floor PT applied to me.”
“Will the ‘shelf’ above my scar ever go away?”
“My birth didn’t go the way I had hoped, and I’m still working through it.”
“I chose to get a C-section, and now I feel like I have to explain myself to everyone.”
“I can’t tell if my provider is recommending a C-section because I need it or because it’s easier for them.”
“If I had a C-section the first time, do I have to have it the next time?”
Helpful resources:
Blog post: C-Section Recovery with Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
21:07: We could not find conclusive studies showing that pelvic floor physical therapy directly increases VBAC rates. But PFPT can help with several things that matter in labor. Research shows that prenatal pelvic floor training can shorten the pushing stage and lower the risk of severe tearing. A pelvic floor PT can also work with you on cesarean scar comfort, hip and pelvic mobility, relaxing the pelvic floor, and coordinating breath with pushing. Many different factors affect whether a VBAC is successful, and while more research is needed, pelvic floor PT may be a valuable part of preparing for a VBAC.
Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
Connect with us:
Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
Website: rebeccaeudy.com
Instagram: @rebeccahowardeudy
Newsletter: Parents in Love Substack
Dr. Alexandra DiGrado
Website: bostonpelvicpt.com
Instagram: @bostonpelvicpt
Newsletter: Under the Hood
Under the Hood Podcast
Instagram: @underthehooddocs
Website: underthehoodpod.com
YouTube: @underthehooddocs
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