GENTLY DOES IT
Movement after a Caesarean Section birth.
By Sally Parkes BSc
PREGNANCY & CHILDREN: SPECIAL REPORT
Most women I have met through many years of teaching pregnancy yoga want to have a natural birth. And I would agree that as long as there are no existing medical conditions to prevent this, then natural is best for the mother and baby. However, birth can often present us with surprises and challenges that we, the birthing mother, never anticipated, and so we are often led down the route of a medicalised birth and in some cases this will mean birthing your baby via Caesarean Section.
If you have had a similar experience, or teach yoga to mothers who have been through this kind of birth experience, it is important that you do not underestimate the impact that a C-section birth, whether elective or emergency, can have on the body. It is major surgery and so f or the first 10 weeks new mums need to take as much rest as possible; so it is wise to take any help that is offered to g et the various chores done that come with being a new mother. Being mindful of how you move throughout the day will also help. For example, having a changing table as opposed to changing baby on the floor, rolling to the side and using your arms to move from lying to sitting, and using a feeding pillow can all make a huge difference to the stress placed upon the scar tissue. Ensuring you receive proper nutrition, which includes more calories than you would normally eat and good quality fats, will also help cell renewal, all of which will accelerate healing.