Nurturing the Mother
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Hello! I'm Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist, Postpartum Doula & creator of The Cesarean Recovery Guide.
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.
10/03/2026
A lot of people who are planning for their upcoming vaginal birth skip the c-section part of their prep because they don’t think it will happen to them.
Avoiding it doesn’t change your chances. 1 in 3 people across Canada will have a c-section. 41% of people in BC have a c-section. Of that 41%, 60.3% are UNPLANNED cesareans.
Reading about cesarean birth, knowing your options, even writing preferences for it does not manifest that kind of birth for you. But it does mean you won't be blindsided by the possibility. It means you can still be an active participant of your birth, AND it means you are more prepared for what recovery looks like. It won't be 6 weeks and wash your hands clean. You will be so much more prepared for the first 2 years being postpartum after a c-section.
You are worth knowing what to expect, and what kind of tools and resources are available to you, that will help support your cesarean recovery journey.
To start your planning, look no further than my Cesarean Recovery Guide. Comment GUIDE for more info.
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 ]
10/01/2026
☕️ Nurturing Talks! 🍂 Here’s who I’m chatting with this month!
Join us live on Instagram as I chat with some inspiring folks who support people in pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood.
Mark your calendars 🗓️ Fridays at 11am PST
October 2nd - Melanie Simmons - Registered Midwife from Melanie Simmons, Registered Midwife
October 9th - Dr. Hailey Miller - Pelvic Health Physical Therapist from Dr. Hailey Miller | Doctor of Physical Therapy in FtW TX
October 16th - Naomi Miller - Scar Endo Awareness & Advocacy Scar Endometriosis Awareness & Advocacy
October 23rd - Kiri Bird - Advocate for Perinatal Mental Health Movement In Her Circle | Perinatal Mental Health Movement
October 30th - Ann Morris - Birth & Postpartum Doula, Educator, Mentor from Ann Morris CD(DONA)
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 🫶
These are the hills I will die on as an RMT with a focus on cesarean recovery, do you agree or disagree?
Let me know in the comments 👇
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 virtual 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! ✨
09/29/2026
Nobody wants to plan for an unplanned cesarean, but here's what I've learned after years of working with c-section mamas: information is power and can help you make informed choices about your birth and recovery rather than being overwhelmed in the unknown.
Knowing what a cesarean involves doesn't mean you're manifesting one. If your birth takes a turn, you're not blindsided in the recovery room, and you'd know that your scar goes deeper than the surface. You'd know that numbness, tightness, and pulling are common and that there are things you can do about them. You'd know that your core needs specific attention after abdominal surgery, and that recovery doesn't have a finish line at six weeks.
So if you're pregnant and hoping for a vaginal birth, still read about cesarean recovery. Still learn about scar massage. Still understand what your body might need on the other side of surgery.
Prepare for the birth you don't want, as much as for the one you do and come out the otherside prepared for the unexpected.
09/28/2026
Join Melanie Simmons from Melanie Simmons, Registered Midwife from Pomegranate Community Midwives & myself, Janelle from Nurturing The Mother ✨ C-section recovery for our next Nurturing Talks on Friday October 2nd at 11am PST and join the conversation.
Melanie is a registered midwife providing postpartum midwifery support. Listen in as Melanie shares how a registered midwife provides support to birthing families postpartum.
Can’t make it on Friday? Catch the replay!
In the meantime, if you have any questions for Melanie 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 🫶
09/28/2026
This weekend I taught 5 amazing practitioners how to support folks who have had a cesarean through cesarean massage and rehab. And now they’re out in the world ready to support YOU.
If you’re looking for a practitioner in Vancouver, Port Moody, Kelowna, British Columbia or Saltcoats, Saskatchewan look no further.
Allison Hayes, RMT Alli Hayes - Vancouver, BC Local Health Clinic
Colleen Bestwick, RMT .rmt - Vancouver, BC Wild Juniper Massage Therapy
Darla Ricka, RMT - Port Moody, BC
Phoenix Miller, RMT - Kelowna, BC
Lori Bender, RMT - Saltcoats, SK Laketown Wellness
You’ll be in good hands. ✨
As you can tell by the big smiles, we had an amazing weekend! ☺️
Up next is the October Virtual Cohort which starts next weekend. Want to join us? DM me for details.
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 🫶
09/27/2026
This is the last course of 2026 and there are still last minute spots available. 🤎 Held on Zoom, join us from anywhere!
If you have been thinking about adding cesarean recovery care to your practice, October 4th and 5th is your last chance this year to make it happen.
Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage & Rehab for Healthcare Professionals is a two day virtual course held on Zoom, designed for RMTs, bodyworkers, rehab professionals, and postpartum support providers who want to confidently support clients recovering from cesarean birth.
October 4th & 5th, 2026
9:30am to 1:30pm PCT each day
Virtual via Zoom
Plus a follow-up Q&A, Integration and Business Mastermind on October 19th, 10-11am PCT, included for all participants.
After this, the next opportunity to train is 2027. If that feels too far away, this one is for you.
Link in bio to register or DM me with any questions. 🤎
🫶🥹 this is what it's all about
Hi, I'm Janelle, a Registered Massage Therapist and the founder behind Nurturing the Mother.
I created this space because I kept watching c-section mamas leave their appointments with more questions than answers, and I knew there had to be a better way to reach them.
So I built it. The Cesarean Recovery Guide, the Is My Scar Normal project, the continuing education course for healthcare professionals, and this little corner of the internet where c-section recovery finally gets the attention it deserves.
Whether you just had your cesarean or it's been years and something still doesn't feel right, you are in the right place. And if you're a practitioner who wants to learn how to support this population with confidence, I have something for you too.
I'm so glad you're here. 🤎
A recipe for cesarean recovery 👩🍳
✨ Patience & Self Compassion - recovery takes 1-2 years so slow and steady is the name of this game.
✨ Support - family, friends, postpartum doulas, massage therapists 👋, pelvic floor physios… call in the village!
✨ Rest - take it slow. Healing (and caring for a newborn) takes energy. Rest is paramount in the early weeks
✨ Pictures of Your Scar - to track progress and changes and to see how amazing you are at healing
✨ Compression - ASAP. With an ab wrap, compression underwear or tights/shorts
✨ Core Connection - slowly start reconnecting to your core and rebuilding strength
✨ Scar Tissue Mobility - getting that scar moving through self massage will go a long way. Start once the incision is fully closed and no scab is present
✨ Trust your Unique Journey - don’t compare yourself to others. There are SO many factors that affect healing that we can’t compare ourselves with others. Your healing journey is unique to you.
If you want a more detailed version of this, check out The Cesarean Recovery Guide. A week by week guide that supports you through your cesarean recovery so you’re not left questioning what to do next.
Want the guide? Drop a ✨ below and I’ll send you the link.
In the meantime if you have questions, reach out. I’m always happy to support.
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