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. 115: Friday Free Talk, Eating + Drinking during Labor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:02
Studies show that, on average, 80% of laboring people don’t eat the entire time they are in labor and 60% don’t drink during labor! YET, 95% of them would have chosen TO eat and drink during labor if they had been given…
Ep. 114: How to Cloth Diaper with Bailey Bowman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:12
Today’s episode is so timely! At the time of recording, I had no idea that we’d be in the middle of a global pandemic when it aired, but here we are. The decision to cloth diaper is on more people’s minds than ever befor…
Ep. 113: Friday Free Talk: Pro-Plan or No Plan? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
Which team are you on? Would you believe me if I said I’m team middle? I am! I do’t think the power is so much in having a written out plan as there is in having already given thought to how you want your birth to unfold…
Ep. 112: Hormones 101 with Dr. Maggie Luther [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:38
Help people balance their hormones to get their energy back. She loves her incredible perception to help women heal & listen to your body and then respond to that message. She helps women relearn how to tap into their gu…
Ep. 111: Friday Free Talk, Alcohol in Pregnancy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:54
In my endless scrolling on social media, I inevitably see an expecting parent jokingly say they wish they could have a glass of wine or a glass of beer. I never know if I should write in that it’s A-OK to have something…
Birthing in the COVID-19 Pandemic with Pediatrician, Julia Brown, MD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:47
In this episode, HeHe is joined by Julia Brown, MD to discuss COVID-19 and newborns/infants! Julia is a local pediatrician at one of the top 5 birthing hospitals in Massachusetts and is sharing what parents need to know…
Ep. 108: Friday Free Talk: What to Expect at Triage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:40
If you don’t know..you might not get to the hospital and go straight to Labor and Delivery. Sometimes you do, but sometimes you don’t. When you get to the hospital, you will most likely be asked to go to a smaller exam r…
105: Exploring Sensuality & Yoni Eggs with Ann Marie Paul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
Today, HeHe is joined by Ann Marie Paul, a spiritual activator for divine feminine wisdom. She teaches the ancient art of Yoni Eggs which opens up a woman to her own bodies wisdom and sensuality. She is leading us today…
104: FFT: Overcoming Fear & Birth Trauma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:16
Are you a mama that wonders if your birth is "normal"? Do you look back on your birth and think "Things didn't go... like I thought they would." Maybe you know your birth was traumatic and you're trying to navigate that…