C-Section Recovery Haywards Heath - Comprehensive Postnatal Recovery After Caesarean Birth
ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO RECOVER AFTER YOUR C-SECTION?
You came home with your baby, your scar healed on the surface, and at six weeks your GP signed you off. But months or even years later you may still feel that something isn’t quite right.
Persistent scar tightness or sensitivity. A tummy that doesn’t feel like yours. Back pain you didn’t have before. Leaking when you cough or run. A core that won’t switch on. Many women are told these symptoms are “normal” after a caesarean, but they’re not. They’re common, and they’re treatable.
At The Health Hub in Haywards Heath, C-section recovery is led by Jodie Pargeter, our specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist, and Corinna Towler, Physiotherapist and certified RESTORE Caesarean Scar Massage Specialist. We bring together everything your recovery needs: scar therapy, LymphaTouch Pro, pelvic floor rehab, diastasis assessment, clinical Pilates and a safe return to exercise, under one roof.
ASSESSMENT | DIAGNOSIS | TREATMENT | RESULTS
WHY C-SECTION RECOVERY DESERVES SPECIALIST CARE
One in four UK births is by caesarean. It’s major abdominal surgery, through seven layers of tissue including skin, fascia, muscle and peritoneum, yet most women are sent home with little more than wound care advice and a 6-week GP check.
What this leaves behind is significant. The scar continues to heal and remodel for up to 18 months, often forming adhesions deep beneath the surface. The abdominal wall may have separated during pregnancy (diastasis recti) and won’t reconnect without rehab. The pelvic floor was loaded for nine months and needs reactivating. Posture, breathing and movement patterns have all shifted.
Without proper care, these issues don’t just go away. They can lead to ongoing pain, leakage, prolapse, reduced confidence, difficulty returning to exercise, and a sense of disconnection from your own body.
Specialist physiotherapy-led recovery changes that.
COMMON CHALLENGES AFTER A C-SECTION
If any of the following sound familiar, you’re not alone, and we can help:
- A scar that feels tight, raised, painful or pulling
- Numbness or altered sensation around the scar
- The scar feeling “stuck” to deeper tissue
- An abdominal gap or doming when you sit up (diastasis recti)
- A tummy that still looks or feels pregnant months on
- Difficulty feeling or activating your core
- Pelvic floor weakness or leakage
- Heaviness, dragging or pressure in your pelvis
- Lower back, hip or pelvic pain
- Pain or discomfort during intercourse
- Loss of confidence returning to running, lifting or sport
- Feeling generally disconnected from your body
Some of these can appear early on. Others develop months or years later as the demands of motherhood: lifting, carrying, broken sleep, returning to work and exercise, expose issues that were hidden at first. It’s never too late to address them.
OUR INTEGRATED C-SECTION RECOVERY APPROACH
Most C-section recovery is treated piecemeal: scar massage in one place, pelvic floor physio somewhere else, return-to-running advice from a personal trainer. At The Health Hub, your recovery is delivered by one clinical team using a fully integrated approach.
A complete C-section recovery plan with us can include:
- RESTORE scar therapy – the leading specialist method for caesarean scar mobilisation, delivered by two RESTORE-trained physiotherapists
- LymphaTouch Pro – advanced negative pressure therapy combined with mechanical vibration to soften scar tissue, reduce adhesions and stimulate lymphatic flow
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation – internal and external assessment with a tailored programme to restore function, strength and control
- Diastasis recti assessment and treatment – using diagnostic ultrasound where appropriate to visualise deep core activation
- APPI Clinical Pilates – clinically guided 1:1 Pilates to progressively rebuild core strength and movement quality
- Postural and movement retraining – addressing the changes pregnancy and birth have made to how your body moves
- Return-to-exercise and return-to-running planning – safe, graded loading to get you back to what you love
- Mummy MOT® postnatal assessment – the gold-standard postnatal check that sets your whole rehab in context
Not every patient needs every element. Your plan is built around your body, your goals and your stage of recovery.
WHEN CAN I START C-SECTION RECOVERY TREATMENT?
Most C-section recovery work begins from 6-8 weeks postnatally, once your wound has fully healed and you’ve had your GP check. By this point, scar therapy is appropriate, pelvic floor work can begin, and diastasis recti can be properly assessed.
However, it’s never too late. We regularly see women whose C-section was many years ago and who still experience tightness, leakage, diastasis or back pain. The body is remarkably responsive even years after surgery, and meaningful change is possible at any stage.
If you’re not yet at 6 weeks but want to start preparing, we can offer guidance on early scar care, gentle movement and what to expect, ahead of beginning hands-on treatment.
YOUR C-SECTION RECOVERY JOURNEY
Every patient’s recovery looks different, but a typical journey at The Health Hub follows this shape:
Session 1: Assessment
A full one-hour initial appointment, often as a Mummy MOT®. We discuss your pregnancy, birth and recovery, assess your scar, pelvic floor, abdominal separation, posture and movement, and explain everything we find. You leave with a clear understanding of what’s going on and a tailored plan for next steps.
Sessions 2-4: Active treatment
Hands-on scar therapy using RESTORE techniques, LymphaTouch Pro where indicated, and the first stages of pelvic floor and core rehabilitation. You’ll be given self-care techniques, home exercises and clear guidance on safe daily activities: lifting your baby, carrying the car seat, getting on and off the floor.
Sessions 5-8: Progression and integration
As your scar softens and your core reactivates, we progress your rehab through clinical Pilates, functional movement and graded loading. If your goal is to return to running, the gym or sport, we build a clear pathway towards it.
Beyond: Maintenance and confidence
Some patients see us periodically beyond the active phase to fine-tune progress, address any new niggles and maintain the work we’ve done. Others move on to independent training with everything they need.
Most women notice meaningful changes within the first 2-4 sessions, in scar softness, mobility, comfort and confidence.
TWO RESTORE-TRAINED SPECIALISTS, ONE INTEGRATED CLINIC
The Health Hub is one of the only clinics in Mid Sussex with two RESTORE Caesarean Scar Massage Specialists on the team. That matters in three real ways:
- Capacity – appointments are easier to book and waiting lists are shorter
- Choice – you can choose the practitioner whose style and clinical interests best fit your needs
- Continuity – if one specialist is on leave or fully booked, the other can continue your care without losing momentum
It also means our wider women’s health offering: pelvic floor work, diastasis assessment, clinical Pilates, LymphaTouch Pro, sits inside the same clinical team. Your recovery plan doesn’t get fragmented across providers.
YOUR C-SECTION RECOVERY TEAM
Your C-Section recovery team at The Health Hub.
Jodie Pargeter
Physiotherapist,
Acupuncture Physiotherapist,
Women’s Health Specialist,
Restore C-section Scar Specialist
APPI Pilates trained
Jodie is Co-Founder of The Health Hub in Haywards Heath and a highly experienced Chartered Physiotherapist with over 20 years in NHS and private practice. She leads our specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapy service, supporting women through pregnancy, postnatal recovery and long-term pelvic health.
Jodie has a particular clinical focus on antenatal and postnatal physiotherapy, pelvic floor rehabilitation, diastasis recti assessment, and C-section scar treatment using RESTORE Scar therapy. She combines hands-on physiotherapy with tailored rehabilitation plans to help women feel strong, confident and in control of their bodies.
Trained in APPI Clinical Pilates, Jodie integrates clinically guided Pilates into her treatment programmes to support safe return to exercise, running and sport. She also uses diagnostic ultrasound scanning to assess deep core activation and optimise recovery.
Having studied in Australia and worked alongside leading sports physiotherapists, Jodie brings a holistic, movement-focused approach to every patient she sees, delivering expert, evidence-based care for women across Haywards Heath and Mid Sussex.
Corinna Towler
Physiotherapist,
Restore C-section Scar Specialist,
APPI Pilates trained
Corinna is a Chartered Physiotherapist with a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Southampton, building on her earlier qualification in Sports Therapy. This combined background gives her a strong foundation in injury management, movement mechanics and structured rehabilitation across a wide range of conditions.
She has completed Levels 1 and 2 of the APPI (Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute) Clinical Pilates training, enabling her to integrate Pilates-based rehabilitation into treatment programmes. This approach is particularly effective for deep core activation, movement control, lower back pain and long-term injury prevention.
Corinna has also completed the RESTORE Caesarean Scar Massage Specialist course, allowing her to support post-caesarean recovery through scar mobility work, tissue desensitisation and restoring abdominal wall function. She is passionate about helping women regain confidence and strength following C-section surgery.
With extensive experience in sports therapy, pitch-side trauma management and rehabilitation planning, Corinna combines hands-on treatment with clear, progressive rehab. Her elite gymnastics and national trampolining background give her a highly trained eye for movement quality and technique.
Corinna takes a practical, empathetic and evidence-based approach, helping patients build strength, move confidently and return to the activities they enjoy.
WHY CHOOSE THE HEALTH HUB FOR C-SECTION RECOVERY?
Patients choose us for their C-section recovery because of our:
- Two RESTORE-trained Caesarean Scar Massage Specialists on one team
- Certified Mummy MOT® practitioner for full postnatal assessment
- LymphaTouch Pro technology, rare in Sussex outside London
- APPI Clinical Pilates integrated into rehabilitation
- Diagnostic ultrasound scanning to assess deep core activation
- Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapy expertise across pregnancy, postnatal and long-term pelvic health
- Multidisciplinary clinic – physio, chiro and osteo under one roof if you need wider support
- Calm, private clinical environment, not a busy hospital outpatient department
We help patients across:
- Haywards Heath
- Lindfield
- Burgess Hill
- Cuckfield
- Hassocks
- Hurstpierpoint
- Mid Sussex
C-SECTION RECOVERY PRICING
Initial Women’s Health Physiotherapy consultation (60 minutes): £94
Mummy MOT® postnatal assessment (60 minutes): £94
Scar Massage / LymphaTouch Pro session (45 minutes): £74
Follow-up Women’s Health Physiotherapy (30 minutes): £74
Your plan is built around what you actually need. We’ll discuss the right starting point and likely number of sessions at your initial appointment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- When can I start C-section recovery treatment?
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Most C-section recovery work begins from 6-8 weeks postnatally, once the wound has fully healed and you’ve had your GP check. Earlier guidance on scar care and gentle movement can be offered before this. It’s never too late; we regularly treat women whose C-section was years ago.
- What's the best place to start?
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For most patients, we recommend starting with a Mummy MOT® or a full Women’s Health Physiotherapy assessment. This gives us a complete picture of your recovery and lets us build the right plan for you.
- Do I need a GP referral?
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No, you can book directly. If you’re claiming through private medical insurance, your insurer may require authorisation before treatment.
- How many sessions will I need?
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Most C-section recovery journeys involve between 4 and 8 sessions over 2-4 months, depending on your goals, stage of recovery and how your body responds. Some women need fewer, some need more. We’ll always be honest about what we expect.
- Can scar work help if my C-section was years ago?
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Yes. Even scars several years old typically respond to RESTORE techniques and LymphaTouch Pro. Many of our patients had their C-section years before booking, often after deciding to return to running, lift weights again, or address ongoing tightness and pain.
- Can I bring my baby?
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Yes. We have space for a pram and somewhere comfortable to feed if needed.
- Will I have an internal pelvic floor examination?
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Internal assessment is offered where it would be clinically valuable, but it’s never compulsory. External assessment is equally valid and you decide what you’re comfortable with at every stage.
- What if I had multiple C-sections?
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Multiple C-sections often result in more significant scarring and adhesions, and a longer recovery journey, but the same approach works. We’ll tailor your plan to address each scar and any cumulative impact on your core and pelvic floor.
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