Why You Still Hurt After a C-Section (Especially at 2 AM When Google Isn’t Helping)
April is Caesarean Awareness Month so let’s take a moment for you, mama.
You didn’t fail. You didn’t take the “easy way out.”
You had a baby… and major abdominal surgery at the same time.
Then you were sent home with a newborn, a healing body, and vague advice like “just rest” or “go for a walk” as if that was enough.
And yet, your body still doesn’t feel right… Your back aches. Your core feels disconnected. Sex feels different. Clothes fit weird. And you’re still bracing every time you stand up, wondering if this is just how it’s going to be now.
You’re doing everything you can to take care of a tiny human while quietly asking, “Why doesn’t my body feel like mine anymore?” “Is this normal?” “Shouldn’t I feel better by now?”
C-section recovery is emotional, confusing, and completely overlooked. And after working with hundreds of women in your exact shoes, I can tell you—this is all more common than you think. You’re not the only one still feeling off. You’re not crazy for wanting real answers. And no, you don’t just have to “wait it out.”
If you're still sore, still unsure, and still waiting to feel like yourself again, this blog post is for you.
Let’s get into it.
“I Didn’t Push, so My Pelvic Floor Is Fine… Right?”
I hear this one all the time: “But I didn’t push, so my pelvic floor is probably fine, right?” Not exactly.
Pregnancy alone places a ton of pressure on your pelvic floor! Just from carrying the weight of your baby for months.
Then you add in surgical trauma, limited movement, and the buildup of scar tissue after a C-section? Yeah, your core and pelvic floor still need support.
Just because you didn’t push doesn’t mean you don’t need to rehab ;)
“I Feel Like I Should Be Doing Something… but I Have No Idea Where to Start.”
You just had major surgery. They stitched layer after layer of you back together, then sent you home with a newborn and a “take it easy.”
You’re expected to rest… but also breastfeed around the clock.
Heal… but also hold your baby for hours because that’s the only way they sleep.
Move your body… but not too much.
Care for a whole human… while trying to feel like a functioning one yourself.
And somewhere in there, you’re supposed to “bounce back”...excuse me, what?
You’re not broken. You’re in the messy, overlooked middle of one of the hardest transitions a woman can go through. And no one handed you a roadmap.
So yeah, you’re tired, sore, frustrated… and craving real answers!
Let’s Bust a Few Myths While We’re Here:
“Rest and walking are enough.”
Rest is important, and walking is a great place to start. But neither will rebuild deep core strength or address the scar tissue that can limit how your body moves and feels. Recovery needs more than time… it needs intention. If you’re still feeling off, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. It’s because no one gave you the full plan.
“Scar massage is weird and unnecessary.”
I get it—touching your scar can feel uncomfortable or intimidating at first. But scar tissue left alone can lead to tightness, limited mobility, and even pain during movement or sex. Gentle scar mobilization can improve circulation, reduce tension, and help your core and pelvic floor function better.
It’s one of the most underrated tools in your recovery toolbox.
“It’s too late for me.”
Absolutely not. Whether you're 6 weeks or 6 years postpartum, it is never too late to start healing. I’ve worked with women who felt stuck for years—until they were finally given the tools and support to reconnect with their body. You haven’t missed your window. Your body is still capable of change.
So What the Heck Can You Do to Start Healing?
If your body still feels off and you don’t know where to start, here’s what I recommend:
Start with your breath. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing (360 breathing) reconnects your core and pelvic floor gently, and helps calm your nervous system. It’s the foundation for everything else.
Begin gentle scar mobilization. This can reduce pulling, improve circulation, and help your core function better. If you’re not sure how to do it, grab the free guide below—I’ll show you exactly how.
Ditch the pressure to “do more.” You don’t need an intense routine. You need intentional movement and a body that feels safe and supported. Strength will come—this is the first step.
Mobilize the scar. Scar tissue can pull on surrounding muscles and fascia, affecting everything from posture to digestion to sex. That’s why I made you a free guide at the bottom of this blog ;)
You’re Not Asking for Too Much. You Just Deserve Better Support
You want to lift your baby out of the crib without wincing. To roll out of bed without bracing for pain. To walk through Target, carry the car seat, and maybe even get back to your workouts without your body constantly reminding you that something still isn’t right.
More than anything, you just want to feel like yourself again.
Not a patient. Not a project. Not someone quietly waiting for things to “go back to normal,” wondering if they ever will.
You want strength. Not just physically, but the kind of strength that lets you feel confident in your body again. You want energy. You want to move through your day without second-guessing every movement or symptom.
And yes, you deserve all of that.
Healing after a C-section isn’t about “snapping back” to some version of who you were before. It’s about building forward. It’s about rising up with the right support, the right strategy, and a body that finally feels like home again.
That journey starts small. It starts with intention, and it can start right now.
The Free Guide Every C-Section Mom Should’ve Been Given at Discharge
Download my free C-Section Scar Mobilization Guide! Inside, I’ll walk you through gentle, step-by-step strategies to improve scar mobility, reconnect with your core, and get started on a smarter recovery.
