After a healthy, uneventful pregnancy, I walked the path of an unplanned cesarean delivery. I entered the operating room in shock and left the hospital feeling confused. How did this happen? What does recovery from major abdominal surgery entail? Was there anything I could do to help my baby get some of the benefits of a vaginal delivery? Would I ever be able to giggle again without feeling pain? What about breastfeeding? The questions felt endless.

I had taken a “moderately granola” approach to my prenatal care and birth choices, preparing for an unmedicated, physiological birth and taking a daily herbal tincture (plus evening primrose oil and endless dates) as my “due date” approached. Although my son’s birth turned into a heavily medicalized experience, I wanted to take a more holistic approach to healing from my C-section.

It was incredibly challenging to find resources on belly birth recovery outside of the basic postpartum and post-op directives: rest, take painkillers, and keep the incision clean. How could I aid my body in shedding all the fluids it retained post-op? What about nourishing recipes after losing so much blood? Are there low-tox options for cleaning and moisturizing my incision site? What about natural pain relief? And which of these things are safe while breastfeeding? It seemed like the “natural” postpartum recovery and birth healing information was almost exclusively for those recovering from vaginal deliveries.

Through deep dives on the internet and with the professional care around me, I began to piece together what a comprehensive, natural approach to recovery could look like—from my midwife, therapist, doula, chiropractor, pelvic floor PT, energy healer, and lactation consultant. I felt incredibly lucky to have the time and resources to seek out this support. Now I’m eager to share what I’ve learned.

This space is one I created to share more holistic and spirit-centered C-section information with other belly birth moms—and the people who love them. Whether you planned for a belly birth or not, the healing after a Cesarean delivery can be mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Processing our feelings around how our babies entered the world is just as important as healing our physical womb tissues.

All birth is sacred, all birth is powerful, and every path to motherhood is precious. It is my deep, sincere hope that the information and resources you find here make your healing journey easier and your appreciation for your body greater.

-Alexis