How Caesarean Scars affect the body?

A Caesarean section is a major abdominal surgery, and while many women recover well on the surface, the impact of the scar can go much deeper than we often realise.

1. Physical Effects
Adhesions and restricted mobility:
As the body heals, scar tissue forms not just at the skin level, but also through the deeper layers—muscles, fascia, and sometimes even the uterus. This can lead to adhesions: thick bands of scar tissue that can tether internal organs and limit movement. Many women report a pulling sensation, tightness in the abdomen, numbness or reduced flexibility long after the wound has closed.

Altered posture and muscle imbalance:
The healing process can lead to protective postures—curved shoulders, a tucked pelvis—that affect core function and spinal alignment. Over time, this can contribute to lower back pain or pelvic instability.

2. Sensory and Nerve Issues
Numbness and hypersensitivity:
It is common to experience numbness around the scar for months or even years. For some, the area may feel hypersensitive to touch, making intimacy or even clothing uncomfortable. This is due to nerve endings being severed and regenerating imperfectly.

3. Emotional and Psychological Impact
Disconnection from the lower body:
Women often describe feeling disconnected from the area of the scar—emotionally and physically. This can influence body image, intimacy, and the sense of "ownership" over their postnatal body.

Stored trauma:
The body can hold onto the memory of a difficult or emergency birth. Unprocessed emotions may be stored in the tissues around the scar, contributing to tension, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm.

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