Healing After C-Section and Understanding the C-Section Shelf with Janette Yee

Healing After C-Section and Understanding the C-Section Shelf with Janette Yee

Author: HeHe Stewart April 23, 2025 Duration: 1:02:08
In this episode of The Birth Lounge podcast, host HeHe and guest Janette Yee, a perinatal athletic therapist, discuss the often-overlooked aspect of C-section recovery and the importance of surgical rehabilitation. They dive deep into the phenomenon known as the C-section shelf, exploring its causes, preventive measures like compression garments, and the vital role of scar massage in recovery. Janette shares her expertise on the seven layers involved in a C-section, the significance of early movement, and the impact of mental health on physical healing. The episode also touches on helpful resources, including the C-Summit, and emphasizes the importance of seeking support and practicing self-care during the postpartum period. Whether you're immediately postpartum or years out from your C-section, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable steps for a smoother recovery.   00:00 Introduction to Surgical Rehabilitation for Moms 01:00 Launching the Doula Business Accelerator Program 02:28 Success Stories and Business Growth Tips 04:26 C-Section Awareness and Prevention 05:47 Understanding the C-Section Shelf 07:02 Interview with Janette Yee: C-Section Recovery 10:28 The Layers and Cuts of a C-Section 21:20 The Importance of Compression Garments 24:23 Managing Swelling and Compression Techniques 32:13 Understanding Compression Garments 33:30 The Importance of Reducing Swelling 35:12 Wearing Belly Bands: Duration and Benefits 36:36 Preventing the C-Section Shelf 37:07 Scar Tissue Management and Movement 40:57 The Role of Pelvic Floor Therapy 45:08 Long-Term Recovery and Scar Massage 49:17 Lymphatic Drainage and Swelling 52:49 Mental and Emotional Healing 57:32 C-Summit and Final Thoughts   Guest Bio: Janette Yee is a Perinatal Athletic Therapist whose goal is to completely redefine the current state of public C-section healthcare. She treats pregnancy like the ultimate endurance sport, and C-section like a season ending injury - from which every woman can recover, safely and simply.     After 20+ years as a manual therapist and exercise professional, she now provides her services 1:1 and via online programs. She is best known for her tireless and passionate education in C-section recovery; for her groundbreaking Cesarean Recovery programs, and as a women’s health innovator on Instagram and TikTok (@ askjanette).   Through her social media platforms, free workshops and professional lectures, Janette is an internationally recognized advocate for perinatal healthcare.   Janette fills her days with mandatory playtime with her kids aged 7 and 10, while returning to her high school passion: competitive swimming. One of her greatest achievements is having her 15-year rugby career recognized with a team induction into the Rugby Ontario Hall of Fame.   SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with HeHe on IG  Connect with HeHe on YouTube    Connect with Janette on IG  Connect with Janette on YouTube   BIRTH EDUCATION: Join The Birth Lounge here for judgment-free childbirth education that prepares you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!   Download The Birth Lounge App for birth & postpartum prep delivered straight to your phone!   Get HeHe's free class to help you avoid a c-section and reduce your risk of tearing!  LINKS MENTIONED: Business Accelerator for Doulas Get Janette’s c-section shelf mini workshop   Check out the c-summit here! 

Hosted by birth and newborn expert HeHe Stewart, The Birth Lounge Podcast creates a thoughtful conversation around the many paths through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. This podcast moves beyond simplistic advice to explore the wide spectrum of normal experiences, offering evidence-based insights alongside real stories from parents. HeHe, who founded Tranquility by HeHe Maternity Concierge, guides these discussions with a blend of professional knowledge and deep empathy, aiming to demystify the process and empower your choices. Each episode serves as a gathering place-a safe space where clinical expertise meets lived experience, covering topics that span education, family dynamics, physical fitness, holistic health, and parenting young children. You’ll find a supportive resource here, one that acknowledges the variables and nuances of bringing a child into the world and navigating the postpartum chapter. Tune in for honest dialogues that honor different perspectives, providing companionship and reliable information for your own journey. The goal is to leave you feeling more prepared, less alone, and confident in your unique path through parenthood, all within the supportive community of this podcast.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 432

The Birth Lounge Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 136: An Inside Look at Obstetrical Violence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:19
Have you ever heard the term “obstetrical violence” and wondered what it meant? Or maybe you envisioned this blatant act of disrespect or an assault of sorts. These are both examples of obstetrical violence, but is anoth…
Ep. 135: Friday Free Talk: Don't Stop Pushing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Inside The Birth Lounge, I teach my Secret Sauce to Pushing. Part of that formula is based on your baby's position in your pelvis! I actively advise against what's called 'directed pushing,' where birthing people are tol…
Ep. 133: Friday Free Talk: Your Responsibility in Labor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:03
Everyone in the birth room has a job—your provider, your nurse, your partner, and you…but, what does your job really look like? Probably different than you think if your goal is to have your dream birth! Deep breathing a…
Ep 131: Friday Free Talk: The 7 Slippery Slopes of Birth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:38
Do you really need childbirth education classes? Wondering if you can get all the information you need for a good birth by reading books and taking a one-hour online course? This largely depends on how you define 'good b…
Ep. 129: Friday Free Talk, Nubain/Staidol is the Magic Pill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:18
Its ironic because Nubain isn't a pill at all--it's an IV narcotic! Do you know your pain relief options during labor? Like, really know them? There are so many more options than just unmedicated birth and epidural birth…
Ep. 127: Friday Free Talk: Expanding Your Ideas of Birth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:34
One of the best ways to empower yourself is to dive in head first. Go searching for various birth stories, for various birth approaches, for various pain relief options. Do your research and, in that, you will find your…
Ep. 126: Plagiocephaly, One Mom's Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
Today on The Birth Lounge Podcast, I am joined by Rebekkah Tran, mom of twins, to share about one of her twins’ journey with Plagiocephaly! Rebekkah is sharing the first signs that she noticed, what her first action step…