C-Section Incision Care: How to Care for Your Scar

After a C-section, your abdomen is held together by a low, horizontal incision — typically just above the bikini line — closed with dissolvable stitches, staples, or glue. How you care for it in the first weeks shapes how smoothly you heal, how comfortable you feel, and how your scar settles.

Keep the wound clean and dry

• Wash gently with plain water and a mild soap — let it run over the incision in the shower rather than scrubbing it.
• Pat the area dry with a clean towel (or let it air-dry) after bathing.
• Leave the dressing on exactly as long as your hospital team advises; don't peel it off early.
• Wear loose clothing and soft, high-waisted underwear so nothing rubs or presses on the scar.
• Keep the area dry and avoid lotions, creams, or powders on the wound until it's fully closed.

Support your abdomen while you heal

• Support your scar with a pillow or cushion when you cough, sneeze, or laugh.
• Use a pillow over your abdomen when you get out of bed, and roll onto your side first instead of sitting straight up.
• A snug (not tight) abdominal binder can help some women feel more comfortable — ask your provider first.
• Avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby for the first several weeks.

Manage the pain safely

Some pain and soreness around the wound is expected in the first week or two. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are usually safe to use while you heal — and ibuprofen is generally considered compatible with breastfeeding — but check with your provider for the right dose and timing. Ice packs and gentle movement can also help, and rest is the most effective medicine.

Signs of infection to watch for

• Redness, swelling, or warmth that spreads or gets worse rather than better.
• Pain at the wound that intensifies instead of fading.
• Pus, blood, or fluid leaking from the incision, especially with an unpleasant smell.
• A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
• Heavy or worsening vaginal bleeding, or pain that feels deeper than the wound.

Trust your instincts. If something looks or feels wrong, a quick call to your doctor or midwife costs nothing — and catching an infection early makes a big difference to your recovery.

Scar care in the weeks and months after healing

Once your incision has fully closed and your provider has given the go-ahead, gentle scar massage can help the tissue soften and become less sensitive. Use a little oil or lotion and massage along the line of the scar in small circles, a few minutes a day. Keeping the area moisturised and protected from the sun also helps the scar settle. Scar tissue continues to remodel for months — a C-section scar that's still changing at six months is normal, not a problem.

Emotional recovery after a C-section

A C-section is major surgery, and it's completely normal to feel a mix of emotions about it — gratitude, grief, frustration, or numbness. Many women wish their birth had gone differently, and that's not something to talk yourself out of. Naming it to a partner, a friend, or a professional matters, and your provider can help if the feelings are heavy or lingering. Physical healing and emotional healing run on the same clock: slowly, and with support.

C-sections are major abdominal surgery, and your body needs patience. Give yourself the same grace you'd give anyone healing from surgery: rest, help, and time.

Frequently asked questions

Track your healing day by day

MatraBloom's recovery tracker helps you log your pain, your scar's progress, and your energy — so you can spot a problem early and show your provider exactly how you've been doing.

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