After birth, so much of your focus goes to your baby — and understandably so.
But if you’ve had a caesarean, your recovery needs a little extra TLC. It’s easy to forget that your body is healing from major abdominal surgery! Your scar deserves care too.
In the clinic, we often see women navigating newborn life while quietly worrying about and trying to manage discomfort, numbness, or tightness around their scar.
Whether your caesarean was planned or unexpected, caring for your C-section scar is an important part of recovery — not just for how it looks, but for how it feels: your comfort, your confidence, and your ability to move freely again.
And while every scar and every woman’s healing journey is different, there’s so much you can do to support recovery and help your body heal beautifully.
When to Start Scar Care
Once your incision has closed and the scab has fully healed, gentle scar care can begin.
The earlier you start (ideally within the first 12 months), the more influence you can have on how the tissue softens and integrates — but even years later, it’s never too late to make a difference.
Around 12–18 months, a scar becomes more “mature,” meaning it’s less responsive to change, but regular touch, movement, and hydration can still help improve comfort and mobility.
⚠️ Always check with your healthcare provider or women’s health physio before starting scar massage or using new products, especially if you’ve had any wound complications or infections.
Danni’s Real-Life Scar Healing Routine
After her third caesarean, our founder and Principal Women’s Health Physio, Danni, shared her own recovery process for a real, honest look at healing while juggling a newborn (and two energetic boys running around).
0–2 Weeks Postpartum: Gentle Connection
Step 1: Sensation recovery
Before a shower, use a soft washer or cloth to lightly brush across your lower abdomen (above the incision). This helps your nerves and brain reconnect — promoting healthy sensation return and reducing that “numb patch” feeling many women notice.
Step 2: Skin care + gentle massage
After a shower, apply your favourite healing oil or cream (I loved Dr Jart+ Hydrating Essence and Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream) and use slow, sweeping motions above the scar. The goal isn’t pressure — it’s comfort, familiarity, and reintroducing self-touch.
Step 3: Tubigrip support
A double-layered Tubigrip offers light compression from under your bra line to below the incision. It helps you feel supported — not restricted — as your tissues recover.
2–6 Weeks Postpartum: Building Confidence
Step 1: Dry brushing
Swap the soft washer for a dry brush and use gentle, upward strokes before your shower. This encourages lymphatic flow and stimulates nerve recovery across the lower abdomen.
Step 2: Skincare + massage
Post-shower, apply a hydrating essence or cream (I loved Dr Jart+ Hydrating Essence and Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream) and use upward strokes over the scar and lower tummy. If your scar feels tight, imagine you’re helping it move freely again — think comfort over perfection.
Step 3: Compression shorts
From two weeks onward, I transitioned from Tubigrip to medical-grade SRC Recovery Shorts. Research shows that early compression can support the abdominal wall, promote scar healing, and provide gentle stability — especially if you’re also managing abdominal separation (DRAM).
Beyond the Early Weeks
Once your scar is comfortable to touch, your physio might introduce light cupping or silicone scar sheets (I’ve tested and loved SRC scar sheets, Yung Bod and Bare Mum scar strips) to improve tissue mobility and help optimise healing. Movement and breathwork also play a huge role — reconnecting your deep core and pelvic floor helps support healing from the inside out.
A Few Key Takeaways
- You don’t need a complicated routine — just consistency and care.
- Early gentle touch helps restore sensation and confidence.
- Compression can provide comfort and support healing.
- Every scar (and every mum) is different — seek personalised guidance from a women’s health physiotherapist.
- It’s never too late to start. Even years later, your scar can benefit from movement, hydration, and massage.
Need Help With Your Recovery?
If your scar feels tight, tender, or “stuck,” or you’re not sure where to start, our Women’s Health Physiotherapists can help. We assess your scar, abdominal wall, and pelvic floor to create a plan that supports your healing — and your confidence. Because your body deserves the same care you give your baby.
