Caesarean Recovery

Most women complete their six-week caesarean recovery period without any problems. But, for many, it is only years later that the problems start to manifest. It’s not surprising that a lot of health insurance company refuse to cover the effects of a caesarean even if nothing untoward has happend for years.

Nearly two decades on from my first caesarean, as I embark upon my Menopause, I am now discovering the real side-effects.

When the abdomen is cut to liberate the baby, the scalpel goes through at least seven vital acupuncture meridians. In my case, both incisions cut clean through the point that is related to bladder alarm. Compound this with the fact that, after my first operation, my bladder was put back incorrectly so that part of it was folded over and remained like that until my next c-section over three years later. It’s not surprising that I keep suffering from recurrent bladder infections really.

The scar itself is quite neat although it is not level and goes up slightly at one side. It is not tender, although I am aware of a slight feeling of tethering underneath when I massage it. The fascia has definitely been compromised. However, it is the lack of sensation that is most peculiar. A sort of numbness that makes me feel quite sick when I get my bikini line waxed.

In Oriental Medicine, scars are thought to disrupt the normal flow of energy (Qi or chi) and Blood in the meridians (energy pathways). Not all scars are problematic, but they are viewed as potential organ-meridian disturbances. Scars on the lower abdomen (as well as the neck, face, head and spine) can have profound implications due to the energetics of these areas.

My practitioner needed to reactivate some of the vital points that had been cut and the only way to do this was to push very fine needles into my abdomen on either side of the scar. Their trajectory was angled to try to access the required points without actually going through the scar. The goal is to release any trapped energy and begin to restore proper circulation to those key points.

As I lay there, with needles around my scar, up my abdomen, in my legs and my hands, I could feel the energy moving from my pelvic area to my kidneys. It was sort of like pins and needles inside me. The area around and under the scar itself just felt quite peculiar and the bubbling in my intestines signified that some form of energy was being released!

I have had acupuncture before and always feel energised afterwards but this was different. My abdomen didn’t feel so uncomfortable and it was as if the bladder valve had been released so I didn’t have the urge to pee so often. I had taken my first dose of a second course of antibiotics two hours before, so that could have had an impact, but the next time I visited the toilet, that horrible rending sensation as I attempt to void the last of the urine had disappeared.

I think acupuncture is really going to finally help my caesarean recovery.