One of the biggest side effects of a surgical birth are the C-Section adhesions you are left with.
Adhesions are filmy, sticky, tentacle like internal fibrous scar tissue structures that begin to grow immediately after surgery, these adhesion fibers are a way for the body to heal itself.
The unfortunate thing about adhesions that result from having a C-Section are that they can attach themselves to your organs such as your uterus, ovaries, intestines, bowels, and other organs. When this happens it can cause intense chronic pain, infertility or even bowel obstruction.
C-Section adhesions are not a problem for every woman; in fact I've had two c-sections myself and have never had a problem with adhesions. But they can and do become a problem for many people.
A good example of how adhesions can cause problems was when a family member of mine had his appendix removed when he was 13 years old. Strangely enough when he was 76 he had an obstructed bowel which the doctors told him was the result of adhesions that had entangled his intestines from the appendectomy he had at age 13.
The interesting thing about adhesions is that they continue to grow for several years after surgery.
Surgical adhesions can cause pain as well as blockages. Once they attach themselves to your organs they can grow like a vine choking a tree. They can even grow to a point where they have their own blood vessels and nerve endings. They can cause so many different pains in so many different ways that they are hard to diagnose.
Unfortunately, if you think that you have adhesions as a result of having a c-section, your OB/Gyn will often treat your pain as it relates to his expertise. For example, doctors will treat a pain in the gastro intestinal area as though there was a problem with your intestines and send you to a GI doctor. When the pain is asymptomatic or in multiple areas, they get stumped, this can lead to exploratory surgery where they don't even know what they are looking for.
So what can you do now if adhesions are causing your pain and discomfort?
Because adhesions are hard to detect with the usual CT Scan, MRI, or X-ray, medical personnel cannot get a good diagnosis and usually have to begin a series of healing by process of elimination, which can take a very long time.
- Post surgery massage therapy has also been advocated and claimed to work which makes sense to me just as moving around does for preventing the adhesions from sticking.
- Avoid C-Section Adhesions with Yoga Exercises. Yoga is ideal for just about anything connected to healing and achieving that overall feeling of peace, but it can also help relieve C-Section adhesions.
Yoga poses and stretches, like the forward bend, the cat/cow stretch, the cobra pose and side twists will strengthen and tone muscles and can keep your incision flexible while also keeping it from getting tight and uncomfortable.
- Stretching for C-Section Adhesion Pain Relief. Daily stretching is another way to soften adhesion fibers. Pelvic tilts are gentle but effective exercises that are excellent for stretching the areas of the adhesions that need the most attention.
Never stretch too rigorously. Take care to stretch gently and move slowly. If something hurts or doesn't feel right, don't do it.
Things that can help prevent adhesions from Occurring in the first place
First of all YOU must be your own best advocate with your doctor. If you are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant, you owe it to yourself and your baby to educate yourself on childbirth and the possibility that a C-Section could occur.
Discuss everything with your doctor. Remember that you are in charge of and have responsibility for your own health. The doctor is there to assist YOU with your health goals, not the other way around.
- Inquire with your doctor about using adhesion blockers. This is barrier material that doctors can use to help reduce the effects of adhesions.
For example, use of a material called Seprafilm, an adhesion barrier, has been shown to reduce internal adhesions after open abdominal surgery. This is something you should talk to your doctor about.
- Closing up the peritoneum. This is a surgical technique that helps minimize tissue injury and contamination of the wound, but it's also been found to reduce adhesions.
On closing the peritoneum, a study in 2005 by Stanford University has found that women who have had the peritoneum closed as part of their first c-section delivery are as much as five times less likely to develop adhesions than those who had theirs left open as is the common practice today.
This is possibly why I have not had any issues myself with adhesions as my doctor closed the peritoneum. Personally, after discussing this with my doctor, I think this may be one of the most significant things you can insist upon to help your future health in the event you must have a c-section.
- The type of incision can make a difference. A report by Mathai M, Hofmeyr GJ of The Cochrane Collaborative states that using a Joel-Cohen incision, a specific type of incision used for C-Sections can result in "... less fever, pain and analgesic requirements; less blood loss; shorter duration of surgery and hospital stay. This is another factor to discuss with your doctor as part of your preparation plan.
- Prepare and Stay Positive. Your mental and spiritual outlook plays a major role in your ability to heal. For me personally, my first C-Section took a toll on my body and my mind. My postpartum depression was high and my pain was severe. I'm convinced that if I had been prepared for having a C-Section and understood the complications and what to expect, my outcome would have been much different.
My second c-section was much better. Two weeks tops on the full recovery compared to two months and more with my first. Most of that, I believe, is simply because I knew what to expect, so the mental stress was greatly reduced.
If you are a spiritual person, you too will likely be better off than someone who did not take the time to prepare physically and mentally.
My final thoughts for you are that in the event of a c-section delivery I have helped you understand the importance of preparation and discussion with your doctor so that your C-Section becomes the miraculous joyful event that it's meant to be.
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