Starting bellydance after a caesarean

[CharlotteDesorgher]

'How soon after a caesarean is it ok to dance? If my doctor okays it on my 8 week check could I attend a beginners class? I have danced before but not for 2 years or so. Any advice would be welcome.'

I've just had this query in from someone wanting to start beginners classes and I don't know the answer I'd welcome advice from any Bhuzzers who have experience with this...

thanks!

[Adishakti]

I haven't had a caesarean, but I did have an abdominoplasty, which involves sewing of the fascia that connects the abdominal wall (from ribcage to pelvis, vertically).

My surgeon said to wait 8wks, but I started easing back into very light dancing that did not involve my abdominal muscles at 6wks. By 8wks, I was almost back to normal. I think the most important thing is that she listen to her body, and not take on more than feels comfortable. There's no sense rushing things and doing damage to yourself.

As an instructor, you have no way to know whether or not she'll listen to her body's cues, and of course - don't want her to harm herself or the headache of legal ramifications if something goes wrong... so - if her doctor says 8wks, I'd agree with him/her. After the 8wks has passed, I'd welcome her to class and tell her to pay close attention to what her body says, and take rest or eliminate moves as is needed.

[beafarhana]

Well it would presumably depend on how well she is healing after her operation- it makes a heck of a mess of your lower abs, obviously, and some people will heal more quickly than others.

I would say that even basic posture is going to be an issue for anyone who has had abdominal surgery. She needs to be sure that she can hold her pelvis in the required position for the duration of the class (and ideally outside of class!). There may also be additional pressures on the lower abs, for example when pulling the pelvis back (e.g. in a hip rotation). If it's done gently and she builds up to it, then that may not be an issue, but sharper, more locking moves may be more of a risk for her. The risk is that the scar tissue where the abdominal muscles are remeshing, after the surgery, will be weaker than the ordinary undamaged muscle fibres, and undue pressure on the muscles which have not yet fully knit back together could create injuries, or harm the normal healing process.

Also, if the nerves in that abdominal area have been affected, she may not be receiving full sensory feedback as to what's happening in that general area, and may not actually be able to "listen to her body" in the same way she could before.

(Not based on personal experience, but my sister has had four caesarians. They shoulda put a zip in the first time- would have made the next three easier!)

Personally I would insist that she takes her doctor's advice rather than mine, before she even tries a class.

[Lauren_]

I had my C-sections before I started dancing, but I don't think I would've felt like starting a belly dance class after 8 weeks. At that point, sneezing still made me feel like my stitches were going to blow out, and my lower belly was still numb (it was nearly 2 years before I could really do a sit-up or anything!)

But I wouldn't want to tell someone facing the surgery that, especially since my experiences might not have been common, or methods might have improved since 13 years ago! (or maybe my surgeons weren't very skillful?)

I think I'd tell her that she's welcome to join my class as soon as she has her doctors' OK, but that she should also listen to her body. I'd tell her that she might find the class frustrating if she hasn't recovered the fulll use of her lower abdominals yet. So she might wait until she's not experiencing any numbness or pain around the incision site, and can cough/sneeze without pain.

[kina]

I had 3, I still have trouble with my lower abs, including not being able to isolate them effectively. My concern would be that she NEEDS these muscles in order to assist in elongating her spine (going into neutral pelvis) , and if she can't feel them how will she do that?

8 weeks seems WAY to early to me, given how difficult it was forme to heal after mine, but I know medical care and knowledge has advanced (cue rant against medical establishment who can't figure out how to help a woman have a baby naturally and will default into a c-section to avoid law suits) she should probably listen to her doctor.

[ashadanzatrice]

wow. that does seem early. hopefully i will have another vaginal delivery this time around, like i did the first - but even without them having been cut, it took some time for those muscles to regain the tone i'd want for dancing safely.

on the other hand, a very gentle start into correct posture and isolations would be a fabulous way to get strength back. i'm thinking of using my prenatal bellydance (naia) dvd as a low-key workout for the period after i have my baby.... maybe the inquiring student could look into something like that before doing a whole class? especially if she does have previous dance experience.

[shaynaz]

i had 2 csections and an ovarian cyst. If i remember correctly, the ovarian cyst took a while to heal from. I think it helped with the c section because they cut along the same scar as the cyst. My recovery wasnt as bad as the previous. I did have lower back issues because of the spinal stuff given. After my 8 week check up on my first i was back to classes and dancing. For my second kid, i got the go ahead after 6 weeks! i danced 2 days after my doc appointment! I couldnt wait to get back.

As long as her dr give a release then id say go for it!

[mamarama]

I had a caesarean about 2 1/2 years ago, and had exactly the same numbness that you are describing Lauren. It was also about the 2 year mark that I was really able to start using my abdominal/stomach muscles again, and yes I feel my posture was strongly affected too, as I would stoop so as not to feel so much discomfort.

I would follow the advice from her doctor. They usually keep an eye on how the body is recovering (ie the uterus is shrinking back to size, and the stomach muscles are contracting), and as we are all different, there may be people who have much longer recovery times. In any case, I agree that once given the ok, just easing her into it by using subtle lengthening and strengthening exercises and concentrating on posture is bound to be beneficial. Bellydancing is perhaps one of the few forms of exercise that you can really "go at your own pace".

[mamarama]

I also had an ovarian cyst removed via caesarean too. My memory of that (which is going back 12yrs) was that the area was extremely sensitive, laughing and sneezing was completely off limits, but I recovered much, much quicker than when my son was born. Perhaps age and fitness had a lot to do with it.

[CharlotteDesorgher]

Thanks guys - that's really useful feedback. I think I'm going to ask her to give me a ring and then talk through what the potential issues are so she can discuss them with her doctor when she sees him/her.