Postnatal massage is an increasingly popular complementary therapy designed to aid a new mother's recovery after childbirth. It is a full-body massage performed within the first 12 weeks postpartum, offering both physical and emotional benefits. If you’ve just had a baby, taking time for self-care may seem impossible, but postnatal massage might be just what you need to jumpstart your healing journey.
Introduction
After giving birth, much of the focus shifts to the new baby, often leaving the mother feeling overlooked. Postnatal massage addresses this by providing targeted care to help the body recover from the intense experience of pregnancy and childbirth. It helps alleviate physical discomfort, reduces stress, and promotes emotional well-being. While the definition of postnatal massage may not seem like anything special, receiving one can benefit your mood and speed up healing.
Benefits of Postnatal Massage
Postnatal massage offers numerous benefits, including:
Muscle Relaxation and Pain Relief
Postnatal massage relaxes muscles, increases circulation, and lowers stress hormones, bringing both physical and emotional relief. It can relieve pain, especially in areas that are prone to getting sore like the arms, shoulders, and back. Massaging the chest area also opens up the shoulders and relieves breast pain. This is achieved through methods like acupressure and foot reflexology, as well as traditional massage styles like Swedish or Jamu massage.
Stress Reduction and Emotional Well-being
Life changes significantly after childbirth, making stress reduction crucial. Massage therapy can help increase dopamine and serotonin levels (the body’s happy hormones) and reduce cortisol (the stress hormone). Massage offers specific benefits for your health during the fourth trimester. A postnatal massage works not only on a physical level, but on the emotional state of the mother. Regular postnatal massage can decrease discomfort and help a mother to feel relaxed and cared for during this intense time of their mothering journey.
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Improved Sleep
Exhaustion is common after giving birth. Massage can help ease fatigue, support relaxation, and improve sleep quality. It’s common to feel exhausted after giving birth and especially as you take care of your newborn. Massage can help ease fatigue, support relaxation, and improve quality of sleep.
Decreased Swelling
During pregnancy, body fluids increase by about 50%. After pregnancy, a postpartum massage can help increase circulation and lymphatic drainage so that the body can effectively process excess fluid and restore balance. Massaging can help to redistribute water within the body and encourage the draining and circulation of excess fluids.
Breastfeeding Aid
Postpartum massage has been shown to increase a lactation hormone known as prolactin, which increases milk production. A 2019 study found that breast massage is an effective way to reduce pain, blockages, and other lactation issues in new mothers.
Hormone Regulation
The postpartum body experiences constantly fluctuating hormones. Postpartum massage can help regulate these hormones, which has a knock-on effect on mood.
Mental Health Benefits
Many new parents experience the “baby blues” or even postpartum depression. Getting a massage can help to decrease stress contributing to these anxious and depressed feelings. The post-delivery emotional rollercoaster stems in part from significant hormonal changes. Postpartum massage may help with postpartum depression by lifting your mood through the release of endorphins. Massage can also increase dopamine and serotonin levels, helping to boost your mood.
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Potential for Improved Mother-Infant Bonding
Studies have shown that massage therapy can have a positive impact on both the mother's and the newborn's well-being. By decreasing the mother's depression and cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum, the newborns of massaged mothers also experience lower cortisol levels. This may contribute to improved performance on neonatal behavioral assessments, enhancing interaction and bonding between mother and child.
Safety Considerations and Potential Risks
Postnatal massage is generally safe and beneficial, but there are some risks to consider:
Consultation with Healthcare Provider
For women who have experienced a traumatic birth or had a C-section, it is best to consult their doctor before having a massage. After a C-section, healthcare professionals may recommend avoiding the abdominal region.
Contraindications
Postnatal massage contraindications include eczema, rash, high blood pressure, potential for blood clotting, and other conditions that limit massage for the general population. Additionally, Postpartum Preeclampsia may occur in some, usually within 48 hours post-delivery, although there have been cases extending 6-8 weeks post-delivery.
Abdominal Separation
Sometimes pregnancy causes diastasis (separation) between the right and left rectus abdominis muscles. In this case, advise your client to bring the muscles together when doing abdominal exercises. This can be accomplished by wrapping a towel or belt around the midsection.
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Blood Clots
If you’ve had blood clots in your pregnancy or previously, your doctor will likely have already recommended you avoid massage. Check with your doctor when it is safe to resume massage.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
While postpartum massage can help with lymphatic drainage, services specifically labeled “lymphatic drainage massage” may be too intense for people with certain conditions, so be sure to check with your provider first.
Types of Postnatal Massage
Several massage approaches are appropriate for a postpartum mom:
- Swedish Massage: A common technique used to relax and heal the postpartum body.
- Jamu Massage: A traditional Southeast Asian postpartum massage designed to relax and heal the postpartum body.
- Acupressure and Foot Reflexology: Techniques that can be included in a postpartum massage.
- Myofascial Release or Craniosacral Therapy: Deeper techniques that some women enjoy.
- Ayurvedic Massage (Abhyanga): A traditional practice that uses warm herbal oils to promote healing and relaxation.
- Uterine Massage (Fundal Massage): Performed by healthcare providers in the hours or days following childbirth to encourage the uterus to contract and prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
Preparing for a Postnatal Massage
To prepare for a postpartum massage, create a relaxing environment. If the massage is occurring in your home, this may mean lighting candles or diffusing scents and dimming overhead lighting. Arrange for someone else to be in charge of your newborn so you don’t have to worry about them during your massage. Be sure to check with your medical provider before using essential oils to be sure they are safe.
Research Findings
Massage therapy has been demonstrated to be effective during pregnancy. In a study of labor pain, women who received massage therapy experienced significantly less pain, and their labors were on average 3 h shorter with less need for medication. An underlying mechanism we have been exploring is that these effects are mediated by increased vagal activity.
In a study, the massage therapy group women versus the control group women not only had reduced depression by the end of the therapy period, but they also had reduced depression and cortisol levels during the postpartum period. The decrease in depression by week 32 of gestation in the massaged women persisted through the duration of pregnancy and the postpartum period. To have mothers less depressed during the neonatal period would likely enhance their bonding with their infants. Having more mature and more interactive newborns would also certainly enhance that process.
An alternative underlying mechanism we have been exploring is that these massage therapy effects occur because vagal activity increases following massage therapy. In our previous studies, we have demonstrated that moderate-pressure massage and not light-pressure massage elicits a significant increase in vagal activity. According to a functional magnetic resonance imaging study, massage therapy increased cerebral flow in different brain regions involved in depression and stress regulation, including the amygdala and hypothalamus. This implies that massage therapy engages hypothalamic regulation of autonomic nervous system activity, cortisol secretion and limbic activity related with emotional regulation.
Timing and Frequency
You can start postpartum massage as soon as you feel ready. Some hospitals even offer in-hospital postpartum massage services for moms in the days following their birth! A 2016 study found that a back massage one day after delivery significantly reduced anxiety in new mothers.
There is no exact timeline for how frequently you should get postpartum massages. Many new moms enjoy massages every week or two during the first few months after they give birth, but others will only receive one or two massages. Time, personal finances, and health considerations can all play into your decision about how many postpartum massages you have and how frequently you get them.
Finding a Qualified Massage Therapist
To find a massage therapist who specializes in postpartum massage, ask for recommendations from your postpartum support team. Healthcare professionals and expecting mothers frequently voice concerns that massages during pregnancy might cause complications or premature labor. This PRISMA review outlines current results on effects, side effects and contraindications of relaxation massage during pregnancy.
Contraindications and Cautions
Several factors should be considered before providing postnatal massage:
- Unmanaged High Blood Pressure: Monitor blood pressure to ensure it is within a safe range.
- Potential for Blood Clotting: Hormonal fluctuations can increase the risk of blood clotting.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Be aware of the signs and symptoms of DVT, such as edema and varicosities.
- Skin Conditions: Exercise caution when working with clients who have skin conditions.
- Hernias: Avoid direct pressure on hernias.
- Slow Rate of Abdominal Healing: Adjust massage techniques based on the healing progress.
- Ligament Laxity: Be mindful of increased joint mobility due to hormonal changes.
- Nerve Damage: Adapt techniques to accommodate any nerve damage.
- Postpartum Preeclampsia: This condition can occur within 48 hours post-delivery, or sometimes up to 6-8 weeks later.
- Infections: Infections like mastitis is also a good reason to check with your doctor before trying this.