C-section, I had no idea!

Did you know that in the United States, 1 in 4 births are C-section! When I first heard this statistic, it was VERY alarming to me. Even more alarming is the fact that over 1/3 of C-sections are repeat C-section in the US. With this said, understanding the most safe, effective way to rehab and care for yourself after major abdominal surgery is critical! Most C-section mothers are sent home with very simple instructions: don't drive, don't walk up stairs, and take it easy for at least 2 wks- BUT what they are not told is that once cleared by a doctor there are ways to safely regain their core strength before returning to any sort of exercise routine- in some cases even as soon as one week. Since C-section is considered major abdominal surgery it should be treated as another other surgery- with proper rehabilitation.

Every woman's healing time is different. The recovery time from a C-section can vary from woman to woman. Some women may feel up to beginning simple rehab exercises after just one week and some may be longer, but not doing any kind of rehab for the abdominals can effect a woman's body forever. Incontinence of the bladder, diastasis-recti, back pain, bowel issues, digestive issues can all come from major abdominal surgery. With proper strengthening of these muscles can help all of these problems.

Gentle exercises starting with simple breathing up toward the rib cage and eventually heading down toward the incision may be all that is tolerable for the first, possibly second week. When the mother is ready, a few coughs can be very effective to help activate the pelvic floor. This can all be done while lying in bed. With a pre and post pregnancy pilates specialist or physical therapist, the mother can soon begin very simple pelvic stabilization exercises that will help activate the pelvic floor. All of these exercises are done lying supine. There should also be communication between instructor and mother to how quickly she will progress onto the stability work.

Once again, education is the key to the future of women's health. We can learn from our mother's, our sisters, friends, and educators now that the information is out there. It is just up to us to plug in! How exciting that there are answers to our questions and we're not alone when we need help the most!