Originally published on May 21, 2024 by Vital Physiotherapy & Wellness, now part of the Bravella Health network. Original author: Vital Staff.
One of the most common myths we hear about cesarean births is, “Since I didn’t have a vaginal delivery, I don‘t need to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist!”
This myth leaves women and all those who are postpartum and who would truly benefit from support, left feeling disempowered, helpless and weak! Every Body, regardless of how you birth, both deserves and requires support postpartum.
As you are probably used to hearing from us by now, the pelvic floor is part of your core SYSTEM! Regardless of how you deliver, the entire system (the pelvic floor, the inner abdominal muscles, the inner back muscles, and the breathing diaphragm) goes through massive changes Both during pregnancy and birth.[2]
Most of the changes to the pelvic floor, abdominals and inner core system are related to your pregnancy. Regardless of the method of delivery, pregnancy requires the pelvic floor muscles to work harder to support the pelvic organs and growing baby for 9 (really 10) months, the abdominal wall stretches to make room for the growing baby, the diaphragm is raised from its regular resting position in the chest and the back muscles work over time.[1]
Second, a Cesarean section is major abdominal surgery![3] Several incisions are made through various depths of tissue that, once fully healed, benefit from stretching and massaging to help them regain full mobility and flexibility.[4,5] Your doctor and pelvic floor physiotherapist can support you with this!
Cesarean sections are not always planned, and are often urgent or emergency procedures. This means that you still go through labour and potentially some stages of pushing before the decision is made to perform a cesarean birth, which can impact the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding tissues. However, even if you haven’t gone through labour and pushing, pregnancy itself has effects on the pelvic floor![1]
References
- Hage-Fransen MAH, Wiezer M, Otto A, et al. Pregnancy- and obstetric-related risk factors for urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, or pelvic organ prolapse later in life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2021;100(3):373-382. doi:10.1111/aogs.14027
- Hodges PW, Sapsford R, Pengel LHM. Postural and respiratory functions of the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourol Urodyn. 2007;26(3):362-371. doi:10.1002/nau.20232
- Sandall J, Tribe RM, Avery L, et al. Short-term and long-term effects of caesarean section on the health of women and children. Lancet. 2018;392(10155):1349-1357. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31930-5
- Shin TM, Bordeaux JS. The role of massage in scar management: a literature review. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38(3):414-423. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02201.x
- Wasserman JB, Steele-Thornborrow JL, Yuen JS, Halkiotis M, Riggins EM. Chronic caesarian section scar pain treated with fascial scar release techniques: a case series. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016;20(4):906-913. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.02.011
