MOTHERING AND CAREGIVING.
Healing After an Abdominal Birth. "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in"- Leonard Cohen.
Birth is an everlasting emotional experience, unique for each person. How birth unfolds can leave lasting traces upon us, woven into the story of how we become parents/ carers. This experience is more than how a baby arrives in the world, birth in its unique physiology represents a potent transformation for mothers in their physiological, psychological and emotional becoming, shaping person and the mother. Birth experiences can feel varied, from distressing experiences, to joyous and many emotions in between. Abdominal births (caesarian sections births) can occur for many reasons, and are either planned or unplanned. Healing from a abdominal birth requires care as an abdominal birth is a major abdominal surgery, Considered approaches for healing after an abdominal birth require attention to the physical, psychological and emotional, acknowledging that healing is more than just about time frames.
Some suggested resources and approaches for beginning healing after an abdominal birth are offered below.
01. Care for the scar/ abdomen. Once the scar is closed. Gentle massage and light touch.
02. In the first six weeks physical recuperation can begin gentle breathing and practicing awareness of the pelvic floor light awareness of the deep muscles of the abdominal wall.
03. Rest where needed and possible. This maybe most comfortable lying on the side.
04. Emotional care maybe began by observing and labelling each emotion and noticing where it lands in the body.
Healing after abdominal births requires consideration of the whole person & whole body.
31. March. 2025.
References and Further Resources are listed below.
For distressing births/ births that felt traumatic. Make Birth Better resources https://www.makebirthbetter.org
Scar Management and Resources Specialist Scar Management Physiotherapist Hannah Poulton YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/@ScarRecoveryHLPTherapy/videos
