Nurturing the Mother

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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.

02/08/2026

Looking for a practitioner near you who has trained under me by completing my course Nurturing The Mother: Cesarean Massage & Rehab for Health Care Professionals?

Find a complete directory in my link in bio sorted by geographic locations!

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 ]

02/07/2026

A note to the new mom recovering from her C-section... 💕

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 ]

02/07/2026

02/06/2026

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 ]

02/05/2026

It is true... time helps wounds close.
But many people notice that even years after a C-section, their scar doesn’t feel the 'right'

There may be pulling, tightness, numbness, or sensitivity. Sometimes it shows up right away. Sometimes it shows up much later, once life gets busy again.

This usually isn’t because healing didn’t happen. It’s often a result of deeper tissues healed in a protective way and never got the support they needed to move with ease again.

Scar tissue responds very well to DIY or professional massage therapy.

That’s why what happens early in recovery can influence how a scar feels long term.

If you’ve had a C-section (recently or a while ago) The Cesarean Recovery Guide outlines what supports healing beyond the first 6 weeks. I give you the tools to take charge of your 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 ]

02/04/2026

✨ 2026 is here and it’s time to get pumped about this year’s continuing education! ✨

If you’re looking to expand your knowledge in ways to support birthing folks, look no further.

❄️ Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage and Rehab for Health Care Professionals 2026 schedule is here ❄️

LIVE VIRTUAL

🌸 March 8th & 9th | Online | Via Zoom 💻 NEXT VIRTUAL 📝

☀️ June 7th & 8th | Online | Via Zoom

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

IN PERSON

📍February 7th & 8th , East Vancouver BC 🔔 ONE SPOT LEFT 🔔

📍May 23rd & 24th , Guelph ON

📍September 26th & 27th , East Vancouver BC

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, in-person or online training designed for health care professionals who want to show up more fully for this often-overlooked population.

✨ 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.

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

✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

02/03/2026

Why does pushing yourself harder during your c-section recovery often backfire?
Pushing ≠ healing.

Most people I support in the treatment room didn’t ignore the calls of their recovery on purpose.
They were trying to keep life moving.

Kids still needed things.
The house doesn’t stop.
Your body looks okay from the outside, so it’s easy to assume you should be fine, right? wrong.

Early on, pushing can feel productive.
“I’m moving.”
“I’m managing.”
“I'll slow down later today"
"i'll book that scar massage appointment next month"
"I'll see a pelvic floor physiotherapist next pregnancy"

But later can be when scar issues show up loudly.

Tightness that won’t release.
Pulling or numbness that lingers.
Discomfort that doesn’t make sense months down the road.

Those can be signs your body needed more downtime at the beginning.

Gentle care now could look like:
→ improved mobility later
→ fewer problems down the road

If you’re in early recovery or about to have your baby, this is your reminder:
going slower now can save you from working harder later. Hustle & bounce back culture is a lie anyways 💗

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 ]

02/02/2026

☕️ Nurturing Talks ❄️ Here’s who I’m chatting with this month!

Join us live on Instagram as I chat with some inspiring folks who work to support people in pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood.

Mark your calendars 🗓️ Fridays at 11am PST

February 6th - No Talk 🤓📖 Taking a course on The Menopause Essentials ✨🌹

February 13th 9am PST - Kaili Ets - Baby Therapist Sleep • Feeding • Development • Regulation from

February 20th - Sam Kojder - Pregnancy & Postpartum Certified Personal Trainer from

February 27th - Cindy Rogers Maitland - International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) & Craniosacral Therapist from

So come join us 💕 we can’t wait to have you.

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

✨ Have questions? My DMs are always open 🫶

01/31/2026

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 ]

01/29/2026

Manual lymph drainage (MLD) can be helpful in managing certain things that come up when healing from a cesarean.

Some of those things include:

💦 Swelling immediately following a c-section - often after a cesarean there’s a lot of fluid present within the body

💧 Abdominal swelling later in healing after a cesarean - sometimes even months after a cesarean there can still be lingering areas of swelling. MLD helps clear these areas

🩹 After a complication post c-section - complications after a cesarean can happen, some complications, like re**us sheath hematoma, respond really well to MLD

🌴 General relaxation - MLD is a technique that is very calming for the nervous system. Our body heals best when we are in a parasympathetic (restful) state.

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 ]

01/28/2026

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 ]

01/27/2026

The fourth trimester doesn’t get nearly enough airtime.

We talk about pregnancy.
We talk about birth.
And then somehow expect people to just… carry on as usual.

From an RMT perspective, the first 12 weeks postpartum are a time where the body and nervous system are doing a massive amount of behind-the-scenes work — often quietly, often invisibly.

Tension, fatigue, sensitivity, emotional swings, feeling disconnected from your body... these are signs that something big just happened.

Support in the fourth trimester is embodied in creating conditions at home where the body can settle, reintegrate, and find its new "normal."

If this season feels slower than you expected — that makes sense.

Question for you:
What surprised you most about your body in the weeks after 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 🫶

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

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Vancouver, BC
V5Z3N8

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+16043141727

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http://www.nurturingthemother.ca/

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