Nurturing the Mother

Nurturing the Mother Hello! I'm Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist, Postpartum Doula & creator of The Cesarean Recovery Guide.
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I am here to support and empower you in pregnancy, postpartum and especially post csection. Nurturing the Mother is the result of an evolution of care. Through the years I, Janelle Fontaine, have grown my practice from being a massage therapist to the general public to narrowing my skills in supporting birthing folks in pregnancy and postpartum. After the birth of my first son, I saw the need for postpartum support and became a postpartum doula. Being a postpartum doula allowed me to support birthing folks in a different way. It gave me the insight and tools to empower parents to be the parents they want to be. The next layer has been the addition of The Cesarean Recovery Guide. Seeing clients after their cesarean, I noticed a need for reconnection to self as well as a deep interest from clients to know what to do with their scar and abdomen. That’s when The Cesarean Recovery Guide was born - a guide meant to empower a client’s healing journey with self paced learning of hands on massage therapy. What drives all this is my belief that if a parent is supported, they can care for themselves and for their child. And the question that keeps pushing the evolution of Nurturing the Mother is - how good can this get? So join me, lean in to the support, and let me nurture you so you can be the best version of the parent you and your family needs.

03/09/2026

When you’re healing after a C-section, these 3 pillars can lay the foundation for an effective recovery. Here’s a breakdown:

1️⃣ COMPRESSION:
Using a postpartum compression garment helps reduce swelling, support your abdominal muscles, and provide stability as your body adjusts post-surgery. It can also improve mobility by giving your body the support it needs as you heal. It is recommended that compression is applied over the scar for the first 8 weeks but can be used in more strenuous situations (eg. long walks, wearing baby in a carrier, chores around the house etc) for 6 months post op.

2️⃣ CORE RECONNECTION:
The effect of pregnancy and a cesarean on our core and pelvic floor is undeniable. Oftentimes we are left feeling weak and disconnected. By prioritizing strengthening the core and pelvic floor, it decreases a your chance of low back, hip or pelvic pain. Strengthening can start with simple breath awareness post op. Core breath and exhaling with movement to support abdominal muscles are an easy practice to get into.
Oftentimes, a referral to a pelvic floor physiotherapist can be incredibly helpful at identifying areas of tension or weakness.

3️⃣ REST:
After a cesarean, like any major surgery, rest is paramount to ensure proper recovery. Think of it, you possibly laboured (some people don’t labour before a cesarean), had major surgery, are recovering from major surgery, are possibly breastfeeding your baby and are caring for your baby. All of the above requires quite the energy output.

When these three pillars come together, they create a comprehensive approach that supports your entire body in healing, so you can feel stronger and more connected to yourself again. Ready to go deeper? My Cesarean Recovery Guide gives you the detailed steps and support you need for each part of this journey. 💖
c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing

Does your cesarean scar ever feel tight or uncomfortable? It may be worth exploring scar mobilization. 😯Here are 4️⃣ sig...
03/08/2026

Does your cesarean scar ever feel tight or uncomfortable? It may be worth exploring scar mobilization. 😯

Here are 4️⃣ signs that your scar might benefit from gentle massage or mobilization:

✨ It feels tight when you stand , exercise or stretch
✨ You notice a pulling sensation near your pelvis
✨ There’s tenderness or numbness around the scar
✨ You’ve experienced changes in posture or discomfort elsewhere

Scar mobilization can support recovery and help improve overall movement and comfort. Want tips on how to start? Let’s talk!

Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

03/07/2026

We need to gently retire the idea that six weeks is the finish line.

A cesarean birth is major abdominal surgery. The uterus is incised. The abdominal wall is opened layer by layer. Muscles are separated. Connective tissue (fascia — the web that holds everything together) is cut and repaired.

At six weeks:
• Skin may look healed
• You may be cleared for exercise or intimacy
• You may be told “you’re good to go”

But tissue remodelling (the process where collagen reorganizes and strengthens) continues for months. Scar maturation can take up to 12 months. Sensation changes, pulling, numbness, and core weakness are common well beyond the six-week mark.

How DIY or professional massage therapy fits in:

🌿 Supporting circulation during early healing
🌿 Helping with adhesions later on (adhesions = areas where tissues stick together as they heal)
🌿 Encouraging comfortable mobility
🌿 Supporting your nervous system while you recover

Early recovery focuses on rest and gentle support. Scar mobility work usually begins once the incision is fully closed and cleared by your provider.

Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

[ c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing ]

✨ Hear from your peers! ✨See what other health care professionals are saying about their experience in the Cesarean Mass...
03/06/2026

✨ Hear from your peers! ✨

See what other health care professionals are saying about their experience in the Cesarean Massage & Rehab for HCPs course and how it’s transforming the way they support clients after birth in treatment rooms.

Kick off 2026 with these virtual & in person offerings for Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage and Rehab for Health Care Professionals

📍 March 8th & 9th | Online | Via Zoom

📍 June 7th & 8th | Online | Via Zoom

📍 September 26th & 27th | Vancouver

📍 October 4th & 5th | Online | Via Zoom

Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

[ c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing ]

Worried about touching your belly or scar after a C-section?You're not alone — and you're not wrong for feeling that way...
03/05/2026

Worried about touching your belly or scar after a C-section?
You're not alone — and you're not wrong for feeling that way.

But what if we got curious instead of cautious?

What might happen if you placed your hand gently over your clothes? Not to force anything, just to notice.

Sometimes, the story we expect isn’t the one we get.
You might find that touch feels… okay. Or even good.
And if it doesn’t? That’s valid too — and there are ways to build from there.

Not sure how to begin?
The Cesarean Recovery Guide walks you through exactly that — step by step, week by week — helping you reconnect with your abdomen, understand your scar, and support your healing through simple, effective touch.

👋 Start where you are. No pressure. Just presence.

Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

[ c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing ]

I’m honoured to be speaking at an upcoming RMTAO webinar  🎤 I’ll be joining the Registered Massage Therapists’ Associati...
03/04/2026

I’m honoured to be speaking at an upcoming RMTAO webinar 🎤

I’ll be joining the Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of Ontario to teach on cesarean recovery: an area that impacts a large portion of postpartum clients and is still often under-addressed in clinical education.

Cesarean birth is major abdominal surgery. Many people are navigating recovery while caring for a newborn, often with limited guidance focused on their own healing. This is where RMTs play an important role.

In this webinar, we’ll explore:
✨ how RMTs can thoughtfully support people after cesarean birth
✨ when it’s appropriate to begin abdominal and scar-area work
✨ what meaningful, realistic homecare can look like
✨ the four pillars of cesarean recovery
✨ products and tools that may support healing

The focus is practical, and evidence-informed, so you leave with clarity and confidence in how to start supporting this population.

Registration details, including pricing and early bird options, are available through RMTAO. (Link in my bio!)

🔗 Link in bio for full details and to register

This session is open to RMTAO members, and members of the public. All RMTs are invited to register!

Let’s continue to raise the standard of care around surgical birth and recovery.

Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

[ c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing ]

03/03/2026

No one really warns you that the day of, or a couple of days after surgery your belly can feel tight and pressurized, like someone inflated you from the inside some say. It can sit under your ribs, make it uncomfortable to take a deep breath, and sometimes even creep into your back or shoulder. And you’re lying there thinking, “Is this normal? Did something go wrong?”

After abdominal surgery, it’s very common for the digestive system to slow down for a few days. Anesthesia does that. Pain medication does that. Even the simple fact that your organs were gently moved during surgery plays a role. The medical term is post-operative ileus. The real-life term is: things feel stuck.

When things feel stuck, pressure builds. And pressure likes to travel upward. The diaphragm (the big breathing muscle under your ribs) often tightens after surgery, especially when you’re guarding or breathing shallowly because you’re sore.

This is where DIY or professional massage therapy can actually make sense.

We’re aggressively trying to move gas around. Gentle abdominal work (around the incision until it is fully healed) can encourage natural bowel motility. Working with the ribs and diaphragm can make breathing easier and reduce that upward pressure. And when your nervous system shifts into a calmer, rest-and-digest state, your gut literally functions better.

There’s research in post-surgical populations showing abdominal massage can help reduce bloating and support the return of bowel function. In clinic, what I see is people leaving feeling less tight, less guarded, and more comfortable.

Your body just had major abdominal surgery and birthed a baby, you're a rockstar!

Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

[ c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing ]

Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage and Rehab for Healthcare ProfessionalsThis immersive 2-day, in-person training is...
03/03/2026

Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage and Rehab for Healthcare Professionals

This immersive 2-day, in-person training is built for healthcare professionals who want to confidently support people through cesarean recovery from a whole-body, evidence-informed perspective.

Over two days you’ll balance theory with hands-on practice, including working with people who have had a cesarean.

We’ll cover:
✨ awareness of conception, pregnancy, postpartum, loss & trauma
✨ understanding cesarean births & key clinical considerations
✨ scar tissue science & abdominal anatomy
✨ assessment, treatment techniques, positioning & homecare
✨ pillars of cesarean recovery

✨ products that support recovery
✨ practical strategies for integrating this work into your practice

🔗 Link in bio for full details + registration — spots are limited and early bird pricing won’t last.

Let’s elevate the care we offer and confidently support those recovering from cesarean birth.

🤝Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

[ rmt registered massage therapy, rmt, c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing ]

This comprehensive two-day course offers an in-depth exploration of cesarean birth, recovery, and rehabilitation through...
03/02/2026

This comprehensive two-day course offers an in-depth exploration of cesarean birth, recovery, and rehabilitation through a balance of theory, hands-on learning, and clinical application. Designed for healthcare professionals and bodyworkers, the training supports practitioners in confidently and compassionately caring for mothers following cesarean birth.

Virtual Line Up (Zoom)
• March 8 & 9, 2026
• June 7 & 8, 2026
• October 4 & 5, 2026

Virtual participants are invited into a WhatsApp group mentorship space for two weeks following the course, offering ongoing support, integration, and opportunities to ask questions as they begin applying the material in practice.

In-Person Line Up
• September 26 & 27 — Vancouver, BC

The in-person course emphasizes hands-on learning, with time dedicated to practising techniques with fellow participants and with mothers who have had a cesarean.

What we will cover:
• Conception, pregnancy, postpartum, loss & trauma awareness
• Understanding cesarean birth
• Anatomy of a cesarean
• Science of scar tissue
• Pillars to cesarean recovery
• Treatment, home-care & remex
• Products that support recovery
• Marketing & visibility

Whether taken in person or online, this course offers a thoughtful, trauma-aware, and evidence-informed approach to cesarean recovery.

🔗 More info & sign up via link in bio

📧 hello@nurturingthemother.ca

Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and put c-section recovery into your own hands✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

[ c-section recovery, scar massage, core rehab, pelvic floor recovery, postpartum healing, compression therapy, scar desensitization, postpartum wellness, cesarean care plan, holistic healing ]

Join Olivia from  & myself, Janelle from .ca for our next Nurturing Talks on Friday March 6th at 9am PST and join in on ...
03/02/2026

Join Olivia from & myself, Janelle from .ca for our next Nurturing Talks on Friday March 6th at 9am PST and join in on the conversation.

Olivia is a fertility coach and menstrual educator empowering you to optimize your cycle, enhance your fertility and live cyclically. Join us as Olivia shares how she supports folks in pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood.

Can’t make it on Friday? Catch the replay!

In the meantime, if you have any questions for Olivia or myself, drop them below and tag us! We can’t wait to connect.



Nurturing Talks is a weekly series of Instagram Lives where I chat with some inspiring folks who work to support people in pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood.



Hello! 👋 I’m Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist with a focus on c-section recovery. Whether you just had a c-section or had one long ago, follow along for tips and tricks and all things cesarean healing related and out c-section recovery into your own hands✨

Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

Well hello there! 👋A great big welcome to new followers (there are many of you!) and hello to those who have been here f...
03/01/2026

Well hello there! 👋

A great big welcome to new followers (there are many of you!) and hello to those who have been here for a while.

I’m Janelle, registered massage therapist & the human behind this account. This is a space where you’ll find information and support for your cesarean recovery. Because nurturing, education and care is kind of my thing.

I am a mama of two boys, my eldest Théo is 9 and my littlest Sam is 6. They are exactly 2.5 years apart... to the day. Nope, that wasn’t planned.

Many mamas ask me how I started down this path. They’re often surprised to hear that I had two homebirths. But in my work space, I was supporting folks in their postpartum period and I was seeing more and more clients with questions about cesarean recovery.

Not having the answers, I set out to learn. Several years later, here I am showing up in my treatment room and on Instagram daily talking about cesarean recovery.

In 2023, I launched The Cesarean Recovery Guide - a week-by-week guide that is packed with valuable information like general recovery tips you should have gotten at discharge, product recommendations, hydrotherapy, the benefits of massage therapy, the science of scar tissue and so much more.

Last year, I launched Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage & Rehab for Healthcare Professionals, an in person or virual continuing education course for healthcare professionals who want to show up fully for mamas who are recovering from a cesarean. Healthcare professionals across Canada and the United States joined in to learn about cesarean recovery and how to nurture mothers during this season.

And all the while I am happily massaging my weeks away by nurturing and educating c-section mamas one on one (or sometimes one on two when they bring their babies) & in Vancouver, BC.

So whether you’re a mama who’s planning or recovering from a cesarean or you’re a healthcare professional who’s curious about enriching your practice by expanding your knowledge about cesarean recovery. Welcome. I am happy you’re here!

✨ Feel free to reach out and DM or comment anytime - I love connecting with all of you! ✨

We are only a week away from the March virtual cohort for Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage & Rehab for Healthcare ...
03/01/2026

We are only a week away from the March virtual cohort for Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage & Rehab for Healthcare Professionals.

Will you be joining us?

This live online training is for healthcare professionals or birth workers who want a deeper, clinically grounded understanding of cesarean recovery beyond incision healing and into long-term recovery for folks who have had c-sections.

🗓 March 8 & 9, 2026
⏰ 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM PST
🗓 March 20, 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 11:00 AM PST — Integration & Q&A

Where
📍 Live via Zoom

How it’s structured
• Two live teaching days
• Private WhatsApp group (March 8–20) for integration, questions, and connection
• Final Zoom check-in to anchor learning into practice

Investment
💳 $399 + Tax

If you work with postpartum clients, you’re already seeing the long-term impacts of cesarean birth. This workshop offers the understanding and tools to support recovery thoughtfully.

✨ Registration now open
🔗 Link in bio for full details

Address

Vancouver, BC
V5Z3N8

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