Why Pelvic Floor Healing is Essential After a C-Section?

One question I often hear is, "I had a C-section, so why do I need to heal my pelvic floor?"

Even if you didn’t have a vaginal delivery, your pelvic floor muscles undergo significant changes during pregnancy. The weight of your growing baby and uterus stretches and compromises these muscles, often making them more lax than usual. Additionally, changes in posture throughout pregnancy, such as standing with your pelvis tucked under to accommodate your growing belly, can lead to tightness and altered muscle tone in your pelvic floor. These changes can result in pelvic floor dysfunction, including symptoms like urgency, frequency, urinary leakage, and pelvic pain.

It’s also important to note that if you pushed during labor before your cesarean birth, your pelvic floor muscles were still actively engaged. Moreover, cesarean scars can affect nerve function in the pelvic floor, potentially leading to issues such as pelvic pain during sex, urethral burning, or a constant urge to urinate.

After birth, it's crucial to restore proper function to your pelvic floor muscles as part of your core. This is where a pelvic floor physical therapist can make a significant difference. They can help retrain your pelvic floor and core muscles, ensuring they work together effectively as you care for your family or engage in exercise routines.

Seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist postpartum is highly recommended. If you’re looking for a specialist in your area and need a recommendation, feel free to reach out—I’m here to help!

Looking for Help?

Check out the c-section recovery video above.

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This was written by Amanda Fisher, pelvic floor physical therapist of Empower Your Pelvis, located in Kansas City (Overland Park, Kansas and Lees Summit, Missouri).