Preventing Scars During Pregnancy

/ C-Section Scar, Scar Tissue, Scar Tissue Release Therapy /

If you’ve given birth, are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, you need to know about scar tissue and scar mobilization. Why? Because it can massively impact your birth and recovery. Whenever I ask women if they had their scars worked on after a C-section or with perineal tears, they often have a blank stare or ask, “was I supposed to do that?!”.  Do not fear! It’s never too late to give some much needed TLC to scar tissue. –

Marjorie is interviewed by Girls Gone Strong’s Jessie Mundell about preventing tears and healing pregnancy scars. Check out the full interview.
Excerpts of the interview included below.

Healing Post-Pregnancy Scars: Tips from Scar Tissue Expert Marjorie Brook

Childbirth is a remarkable journey, but it can leave scars—both emotional and physical. If you’re a new mom struggling with scar tissue from a cesarean section or perineal tear, you’re not alone. In fact, managing scar tissue is a crucial step toward full postpartum recovery, and Marjorie Brook, a global expert in scar tissue release, has some amazing insights to share.

Why Scar Tissue Deserves Attention

“Scar tissue isn’t just something on the surface—it goes deeper,” Marjorie explains. “It can affect the way your body moves and functions long after the initial healing process.”

Pregnancy and childbirth are life-changing experiences, but they can also leave behind physical reminders in the form of scar tissue. While scars are a natural part of the body’s healing process, they often require attention and care to ensure they don’t lead to long-term issues. For women recovering from childbirth—whether through natural delivery or a cesarean section—understanding and managing scar tissue is critical. When scar tissue forms, it creates adhesions, which are like little internal glue spots that bind tissues together in ways they weren’t meant to. These adhesions can limit mobility, cause pain, and even disrupt the pelvic floor—a critical structure for core strength and overall health.

why post-pregnancy scars deserve attention

Scar Tissue and Natural Childbirth

During a vaginal delivery, the perineum—the area between the vagina and anus—often undergoes significant stretching. In some cases, tears or episiotomies (a surgical incision made to enlarge the vaginal opening) occur. These injuries heal with scar tissue, which can cause discomfort, tightness, or even pelvic floor dysfunction if left unmanaged.

Marjorie Brook points out, “Perineal scars can seem minor because they’re small, but they can have a big impact. Tight scar tissue in this area can lead to painful intercourse, difficulty sitting, or even challenges with bowel movements.”

Additionally, natural childbirth can cause internal scar tissue in the pelvic floor muscles, especially if there was significant trauma during delivery. This internal scarring can contribute to chronic pelvic pain and feelings of heaviness or pressure in the pelvic region.

Scar Tissue and Cesarean Sections

Cesarean sections, or C-sections, account for about one-third of all births in the U.S., making cesarean scar management a common postpartum concern. During a C-section, multiple layers of tissue are cut and stitched back together, including the skin, fat, muscles, and the uterus.

“These layers of scar tissue don’t always heal perfectly in alignment,” Marjorie explains. “This can lead to adhesions—sticky bands of scar tissue that connect tissues or organs that shouldn’t be attached.”

Adhesions from a cesarean scar can result in:

  • Chronic lower back or hip pain: Adhesions can tug on surrounding tissues and restrict movement.
  • Bladder or bowel issues: Scars near the pelvic region can interfere with organ function.
  • Fertility concerns: In rare cases, adhesions can impact future pregnancies by affecting the uterus or fallopian tubes.

The Invisible Impact of Scar Tissue

One of the challenges with scar tissue is that its effects aren’t always immediately noticeable. “You might feel fine at first,” says Marjorie. “But over time, as the adhesions tighten and restrict mobility, you may start to notice pain or dysfunction in areas that seem unrelated to the scar.”

For example, a C-section scar might lead to tightness in the lower abdomen, which can then affect posture, breathing, and even digestion. Similarly, untreated perineal scars can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction that may not appear until years later.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Addressing scar tissue as early as possible can prevent these issues from becoming chronic. Whether it’s through self-care techniques like massage or professional scar tissue release therapy, early intervention can help you recover more fully.

Marjorie emphasizes that scar care isn’t just about physical healing—it’s about reclaiming your body after one of the most transformative experiences of your life. “You’ve brought a life into the world,” she says. “You deserve to feel strong, mobile, and comfortable in your body again.”

This focus on both short-term recovery and long-term well-being makes scar tissue management an essential part of postpartum care for every mom.

Postpartum Scar Care: What You Can Do

Marjorie emphasizes that it’s never too early—or too late—to care for your scars. Here are some tips she shares:

1. Start with Gentle Massage

“Once your incision or tear has fully healed, you can begin gentle scar massage. Think of it as teaching the tissue to move freely again,” she says.

For C-section scars, using soft circular motions around the scar can help break up adhesions. Similarly, perineal scar massage can soften the area and reduce discomfort. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting the massage to ensure it’s safe.

2. Understand Your Scars

Marjorie believes that knowledge is power. “When you understand how your scar was formed and what it’s doing, you can approach healing with intention,” she explains. Learning about the layers of tissue involved in your scar can help you focus on areas that might need more attention.

3. Use Tools Like Silicone Sheets

“Silicone sheets are amazing for keeping scars hydrated and flat,” Marjorie says. These sheets help regulate collagen production and can improve the appearance of scars over time.

4. Work with a Specialist

Marjorie’s S.T.R.A.I.T Method™ is designed specifically to help people release scar tissue and regain mobility. “This isn’t just about physical recovery,” she shares. “It’s about feeling like yourself again.”

If your scar feels tight, looks puckered, or is causing you discomfort, seeing a professional can make a world of difference. They can guide you through techniques like myofascial release, therapeutic stretching, and more advanced scar therapy.

Real-Life Impact of Scar Release Therapy

Many women don’t realize just how much scar tissue can impact their daily lives until they start addressing it. Marjorie recalls working with a mom who experienced chronic lower back pain for years after a C-section. “Once we released the adhesions in her scar, her pain improved dramatically—and so did her confidence,” Marjorie says.

It’s More Than Skin Deep

Healing scar tissue isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about reclaiming your body after the intense experience of childbirth. Marjorie encourages women to view this process as an act of self-care. “Your body has done something incredible,” she says. “Now it’s time to nurture it.”

》A B O U T   M A R J O R I E   B R O O K

marjorie brook lmt author headshotMarjorie Brook, LMT is a massage therapist, author and international educator. For over 25 years, she has specialized in scar tissue release and massage therapy. She works from the fundamental belief that your body is intuitively aligned with the thoughts you think, the emotions that you feel and the things that you do. She founded Brooks Seminars in 2007 after working as a decade as a nationally recognized massage therapist with a private practice on Long Island. She is the creator of the Scar Tissue Release and Integrated Therapies (S.T.R.A.I.T Method™) and offers continuing education courses on this method all over the world. Her articles have appeared in magazines such as Massage Today, American Fitness and Massage World. She’s approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, the Massage Therapy Association of Alberta and the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia.

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