Feeling areas of numbness and/or oversensitivity are completely normal immediately post-c-section. Your nerve endings were cut during the operation, and your body is trying to figure out how and where to heal. What most moms don’t know is that areas of numbness or oversensitivity months or years after a C-section are common but not normal. We need to help give your brain the right information to heal properly. 

Desensitising your scar will help your brain normalise those areas of numbness and oversensitivity. This can be done on your own at home with common household items. We are going to stimulate the nerves on your tummy, starting at your belly button and working all the way down to your scar site. You are going to start with soft textures and slowly work your way up to rougher textures. You use the items listed below and do small circles all over your tummy, starting at your belly button and working your way down to your scar site. 

There is not a set amount of times you need to do this - let what you can handle be your guide. Below I have listed the items you can use (NB to go in this order). Start with item #1, and when you feel you can handle the level of stimulation, you progress to the next item. Some items might take 2 or 3 days; some might take weeks, and that’s okay! Let your body guide you. 

What does “handling” the level of stimulation look/feel like? Simply, this means you can feel there is a normal level of sensation as you make your circles over your tummy and scar site. 

Item #1: Soft baby blanket/toy

Item #2: Kitchen or paper towel/toilet paper crumpled up 

Item #3: Baby brush 

Item #4: Sponge/loofa (what you use in the shower) 

Item #5: Toothbrush (soft bristle) - the smaller surface area will be a more intense stimulation

Item #6: Earbud 

You can also lightly tickle your tummy and do small drum taps with your fingertips over the areas of numbness to help with the stimulation. 

Continue with this throughout the entire Crib to Core Rehab Program.