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.

1 in 3 people give birth by cesarean section in North America.And here in BC, that number has climbed to over 40%.After ...
04/21/2026

1 in 3 people give birth by cesarean section in North America.
And here in BC, that number has climbed to over 40%.

After surgery, people leave the hospital with clear instructions on:
✔️ keeping the incision clean
✔️ watching for signs of infection

But when it comes to actual recovery...
❓how the scar heals
❓how the tissue changes week by week
❓what sensations are normal
❓when and how to safely begin working with the scar

There’s often very little guidance available to families until they find me.
That gap is exactly why I created The Cesarean Recovery Guide.

It’s a week-by-week roadmap (16+ weeks) that walks you through:
– what’s happening beneath the skin
– how healing evolves over time
– when scar work is helpful + how to do it yourself
– and how to support your body safely and intentionally through recovery

This guide is about understanding your body and scar's needs.

✨ Link in bio to learn more.

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 Robyn from .mom.strong & myself, Janelle from .ca for our next Nurturing Talks on Friday April 24th at 11am PST and...
04/20/2026

Join Robyn from .mom.strong & myself, Janelle from .ca for our next Nurturing Talks on Friday April 24th at 11am PST and join the conversation.

Robyn is a Registered Massage Therapist and prenatal and postpartum athletics coach. Listen in as Robyn shares how an RMT and athletics coach 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 Robyn 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 🫶

I just had a C-section… now what?First, take a breath.Recovery doesn’t happen all at once and care evolves as your incis...
04/20/2026

I just had a C-section… now what?

First, take a breath.
Recovery doesn’t happen all at once and care evolves as your incision closes and heals.

Massage and touch after a cesarean aren’t one-size-fits-all. What’s appropriate early on looks very different from what supports healing weeks later. That’s normal.

In the beginning, the focus isn’t “working on the scar.”
It’s desensitizing around the scar, rest, and physical support in caring for yourself and your newborn.. helping your nervous system and tissues feel safe again.

As healing progresses, care can gently shift toward:

✨ restoring movement through the abdomen

✨ reconnecting with the core

✨ supporting the scar so it doesn’t stay guarded or restricted

This is where the pillars to cesarean recovery matter:
Rest, compression, core connection, and scar tissue mobility — each one playing a role at different points along the way.

Keep in mind: timelines vary.
If you experienced complications, such as an infection, week zero begins again once you’ve been cleared and your incision is completely closed. Check with your primary care provider to be sure.

You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
There are skilled practitioners who can support you in person, and there are gentle, at-home techniques you can do yourself as your body allows.

My Cesarean Recovery Guide offers a clear snapshot of what kinds of tools are recommended when — including desensitization, massage techniques week-by-week, and practical guidance you can use at home, at your own pace.

Link in bio or comment ME and i'll send you more information.

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 ]

04/19/2026

4 things that meaningfully support C-section scar recovery (that most people aren’t told):

1️⃣ Early protection ≠ long-term guarding
Supporting the incision in the first weeks is helpful. Staying guarded for months can change how your core, hips, and breath work together. Recovery includes slowly letting the body trust movement again.

2️⃣ Scar comfort can affect the entire abdominal wall
Tension or numbness at the incision may shows up as rib restriction, pelvic heaviness, or back discomfort later. This is about how tissues communicate, not just the scar itself.

3️⃣ Breath patterns often change after surgery
Many people unknowingly stop using their diaphragm fully. Restoring rib and belly movement may support circulation, digestion, and coordination through the abdomen.

4️⃣ Feeding and holding positions shape your healing outcomes
Hours a day in protective, curled positions may create predictable neck, shoulder, and abdominal strain. Small adjustments to how youre feeding your baby or lounging early can change how the body feels months later.

Question: Were you told what to watch for in the months after your C-section — or just cleared at 6 weeks and sent on your way?

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 ]

We hear “six weeks” so often that it starts to feel like a finish line. But cesarean recovery does not wrap itself up in...
04/18/2026

We hear “six weeks” so often that it starts to feel like a finish line. But cesarean recovery does not wrap itself up in one appointment. Healing continues quietly for one to two years, and that timeline is normal. 🌿

Your incision may close in a matter of weeks, but the deeper layers take much longer to rehabiltate. Nerves wake up slowly, sensitivity changes, scar tissue remodels, your core relearns how to support you. None of this follows a perfect curve.

You can feel strong in some moments and tender the next.
You can feel mobile one week and tight the week after.
You can feel emotionally steady one day and stirred up the next.
This is all part of 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 🫶

Did you ever expect that your c-section scar could help a new mom?I am thrilled to announce the first part, the photo su...
04/17/2026

Did you ever expect that your c-section scar could help a new mom?

I am thrilled to announce the first part, the photo submission stage, of an amazing project ✨ Cesarean Scars: Variations of Normal

Cesarean Scars: Variations of Normal will be an interactive reference guide that shows mothers, lifegivers and health care professionals in all communities the real range of what cesarean scar healing can look like over time.

C-section mamas, here is where I need your help. Since this project will be a collection of photos of cesarean scars at various healing stages, I am gathering photo submissions for the next part.

Ready to share? Comment SCARS to get the submission link.

Are you looking to expand your knowledge and confidence in treating mothers after a cesarean birth? Look no further. The...
04/16/2026

Are you looking to expand your knowledge and confidence in treating mothers after a cesarean birth? Look no further.

The June Virtual Cohort Registration Is Open for Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage & Rehab for Health Care Professionals

Cesarean births make up over 1 in 3 births in Canada, and most are unplanned. That means thousands of people are recovering from major abdominal surgery while learning how to care for a newborn—often with very little support for their own healing.

That’s where you come in.

Join me for a two-day, online training designed for health care professionals who want to show up more fully for this often-overlooked population.

🗓 June 7th & 8th, 2026
⏰ 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM PST
🗓 June 22nd, 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 (June 7th–22nd) for integration, questions, and connection
• Final Zoom check-in to anchor learning into practice

Investment
💳 $350 + Tax

✨ Want to join a room full of heart-led professionals learning this work together? DM me or email hello@nurturingthemother.ca for details and registration.

Let’s nurture the nurturers. Let’s change the standard of care.

✨ Registration now open
🔗 Link in bio for full details

04/16/2026

C-section scars are like icebergs.
What you see on the surface is only a fraction of what’s underneath ❤️🩹

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 ]

✨ We are just one week away from 🌸 Nurturing the Mother after cesarean birth: a massage and rehab approach for RMTs happ...
04/15/2026

✨ We are just one week away from 🌸 Nurturing the Mother after cesarean birth: a massage and rehab approach for RMTs happening Thursday April 23rd from 9am-10:30am PST.

I’m honoured to have been invited to speak at an upcoming webinar hosted by the Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of Ontario.

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, are available through RMTAO (Register by April 22nd 9am EST)

🔗 Link in Bio ⬆️

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 🫶

Join Ali from & myself, Janelle from .ca for our next Nurturing Talks on 🇨🇦 Thursday April 16th at 3:30pm PST (🇦🇺 Frida...
04/14/2026

Join Ali from & myself, Janelle from .ca for our next Nurturing Talks on 🇨🇦 Thursday April 16th at 3:30pm PST (🇦🇺 Friday April 17th at 9:30am AEST) and join the conversation.

Ali is a paediatric physiotherapist. Listen in as Ali shares how a paediatric physiotherapist can support infants and their families.

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

In the meantime, if you have any questions for Ali 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 🫶

04/11/2026

Pregnant, dreaming of all the things you’ll be doing while your baby sleeps.

Or maybe it’s all the coffee dates, brunches, hikes and adventures you’ll go on with your mini bestie in tow.

I know I’ve been there 😆

Then reality hit. I was nap trapped with a baby that woke up when I turned the pages of a book.

I spent many hours staring at the dust bunnies on the floor, the streaky windows, thinking of the food I’d like to eat in the fridge but couldn’t make it there.

Then I’d look down at this little human I made and all of the would disappear. I’d marvel at this little human that. I. Made! 🥰

Now those pregnant me day dreams make me smile. Oh how I had so much to learn.

04/08/2026

In a world that seems to think we should snap back to our pre pregnancy size and self we need to hear this:

It’s ok for you to look like you’ve had a baby after having a baby.

The thing is, many of us don’t bounce back. We evolve. Sometimes we are softer than our previous selves, sometimes stronger.

No matter what, it often takes time and that is ok.

Take the time you need to settle, grow and rebuild when the time is right.

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Vancouver, BC
V5Z3N8

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+16043141727

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