Holistic Healing Tips for Your Cesarean Birth: What They Didn't Tell You At Discharge.

You're pregnant. You're preparing to give birth. You're in labor (or maybe you didn't get that far), and then suddenly a cesarean is your reality. Within 48-72 hours in most places, you're released to go home with minimal instructions on long-term post cesarean care for yourself. Oh, and did I mention you have a newborn to care for as well?

Caring for yourself as a new Mother can be difficult anyway.

In this blog post, you'll hear from two of my former clients that have their own personal cesarean birth experiences, and backgrounds in holistic healing. I am so excited for them to be able to share their experiences and what they have learned for other Mothers who may be struggling to find information on caring for themselves during this challenging postpartum period.

Priscilla's Story:

Homeopathic remedies for extra help with healing.

"You're a good little healer," my OB said, checking out my T-section scar at my 4-week follow up appointment. I smiled, thinking about the homeopathic remedies which had helped me recover.

Before this birth, I had never even heard of a T-section, or an inverted-T incision. I'd prepped diligently for a VBAC, but my intuition steered me to give birth in a birth center rather than at home. Even though this baby was in the head-down position, it turned out that she was still somehow malpositioned against my bladder. In the moment, this looked like back-to-back contractions without any breaks, which were preventing me from emptying my bladder, which was preventing me from dilating. Despite the amazing support I received (thanks Bethany!), things weren't progressing, and baby's heartrate was starting to suffer.

When I agreed to a C-section, they couldn't get the catheter in. After the first cut across the bottom of my abdomen, the OB discovered my completely full bladder and realized he would need to make a second incision up into my belly to get the baby out. The two cuts formed an upside-down "T," and I needed both stitches and staples to hold me together.

Not surprisingly, this recovery was tougher than my first. But homeopathic remedies helped my incisions heal quickly and allowed me to stop the pain meds long before they were gone. I'm 10 years older than I was with my first birth, but I feel like my belly is healing more easily this time around. Here's what I did.

First, to take the edge off the "shock" of my intense birth experience, I took one pellet of Aconite 200c (just one). Then, each time I filled up my water bottle, I dropped in one pellet each of Arnica 200c, Calendula 200c, Hypericum 200c, and Bellis perennis 200c. Each time I took a sip, I was getting extra support from those remedies. I continued this for about a week. I impressed the doctors with how well I was healing despite my "advanced maternal age."

This kit has all of these remedies plus several others which are handy to have during birth and pregnancy. They're safe during breastfeeding and won't interact with any meds.

I've since added Miranda Castro's Healing Cream for Scars and my belly continues to look better and better.

If you want to learn more about using homeopathy to support your family's wellbeing, check out my book, Homeopathy Basics! I wrote it especially for busy moms, so it's a quick read.

Kat's Story:

10 ways you can boost your body’s healing.

by Kat Garner at T.H.R.I.V.E. With Dr. Kat

When I was preparing for my baby’s arrival, I envisioned a peaceful home birth. I skipped the cesarean chapters in my books, afraid that reading about surgery might “attract” those thoughts into my reality. I wanted to avoid high-intervention medical management of what I view as a natural process.

But as life often does, there were other plans. My baby was post-term (42w3d) and breech, and I was faced with the difficult decision to accept a cesarean. It was hard to let go of the vision I’d held so passionately but what helped me cope was recognizing that this intervention was necessary to meet my baby safely and that I had exhausted every possible natural way to get my baby to flip (for three days doing acupuncture with moxibustion, acupressure, frozen peas, homeopathic Pulsatilla, shining a light into my balky, Spinning Babies)!

Recovery tested me in ways I never expected. It wasn’t just about healing my incision—it was about tending to my baby, my body, and my unmet expectations. As a naturopathic doctor, I am trained in several holistic modalities, including nutrition, botanicals, homeopathy, and mind-body techniques. I consider myself a sensitive soul and believe that unprocessed emotions can linger in the body. Naturally, I did not accept that I’m just going to take a slew of pain meds, avoid baths, and avoid lifting anything heavier than my baby as the only care I need to take (okay…sensitive but sassy). Here is how I went about healing and I invite you to reach out if you have any questions.

1. Caring for my cesarean scar became an important step in my physical healing:

• Castor Oil & Hypericum Oil: Applied topically (never ingested), these oils sooth inflammation and support tissue healing.

• Scar Massage: Once my scar was fully healed and I was cleared by my care team, I began gentle scar massage. With guidance from a pelvic floor physical therapist, I worked to release tension, improve circulation, and gain confidence in bringing mobility to this area.

2. Homeopathy played a big role in easing

both physical discomfort and emotional

healing:

• Arnica Montana: Reduced bruising, swelling, and post-surgical trauma.

• Hypericum: Eased nerve pain and promoted healing.

• Bellis Perennis: Supported deep tissue trauma and abdominal soreness.

• Sepia: Balanced my emotions during moments of overwhelm and disconnection.

• Staphysagria: Helped process emotions over the birth I’d planned but didn’t have. Also indicated for incision pain.

3. I turned to food & supplements as a

key part of recovery:

• Warm, Nourishing Meals: Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, I avoided raw or cold foods in the early weeks. Soups, broths, and cooked vegetables supported digestion and rebuilt energy.

• Protein & Vitamin C: Foods like bone broth & eggs provide complete amino acids. Buffered vitamin C powder helps boost collagen

production (increased tissue healing!).

4. Herbal tinctures & teas were key to rebalancing the hormonal and emotional side of recovery. Consult your local herbalist and/or

naturopath for safe, indicated herbs and

effective dosing.

• Daytime and Nighttime support: Iregularly took two formulas to help reduce postpartum rage, postpartum blues, and to enhance natural sleep. These included adaptogens and were

alcohol-free.

• Tea blend: Pregnancy and Lactation-safe herbs to replenish tissues and enhance healing such as rose hips, oat straw, red clover, and fennel.

5. Post-surgery constipation can be extremely uncomfortable, but natural solutions can help

(always consult before adding):

• Increase fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

• Stay hydrated to keep things moving by adding a squeeze of lemon juice to water with a dash of Redmond’s Real Salt. Coconut water is an excellent hydrator with naturally occurring ions

• Natural stool softeners such as prunes or flaxseed helped tremendously. For additional support, consider herbal teas with ingredients like dandelion or magnesium citrate supplements or even gentle tummy massages

6. Pain management doesn’t have to rely solely on medication, but for some it’s necessary to

avoid suffering. Consider these natural approaches alongside or in lieu of medications:

• Homeopathic remedies for gas: Carbo veg or Nux vomica can ease post-surgery gas/bloating

• Use a warm compress or heating pad (avoiding the incision area) for relief from cramps or muscle tension. I love a good castor oil pack!

• Incorporate breathing exercises or mindfulness practices to calm your body and mind

7. Journaling:

Write your thoughts down daily or as often as they surface. Writing helps process emotions that can feel overwhelming or difficult to articulate. It fosters clarity, uncovers the origins of emotions, and eases tension. Suppressing

emotions can lead to stress patterns that may manifest physically. Try “stream-of consciousness” writing for a mental detox to acknowledge feelings and declutter emotions. Gratitude journaling is another valuable tool, helping you focus on positive moments, which supports emotional resilience and healing.

8. Support Groups:

I found solace in connecting with others through Postpartum Support International (PSI) and online communities. Additionally, I am fortunate to have family to call during the late night tears. Lean on those who offer to help.

9. Reframing My Story:

Calling my cesarean a “belly birth” empowered me to see my experience as strong and beautiful—not a failure (Thank you, Dr.Q with Cultivate Health, for that terminology). Ask

yourself, “How can I share my story with myself and others that feels empowering?” You did, after all, grow and birth a baby!

10. Integrating red light phototherapy

I later discovered this tool for scar healing and wish I’d started it sooner. RLT has been shown to accelerate wound healing by stimulating collagen production and enhancing blood circulation to damaged tissues. This makes it beneficial for treating injuries, surgical wounds, and certain skin conditions.

I have these and more in my free e-booklet! This is something I’m happy to share with anyone. It is a downloadable .pdf and covers more challenges I encountered (like baby wearing & lactation) and resources (products, support groups, etc.).

You deserve a holistic approach and whether you planned your belly birth or not, you’re not alone in your recovery. Reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram for the booklet and follow @thrivewithdrkat on all the socials for more holistic ways to thrive!

From Bethany:

I want to say thank you to Priscilla and Kat for being willing to put time into sharing their hearts for this blog post. Please show them some love by following them on social media or utilizing their resources if this blog has been helpful for you!

Until Next Time! ♡

Bethany