When Should You Start Post-Natal Massage?

When Should You Start Post-Natal Massage? A post-natal massage is a great way to help your body recover after giving birth. In this blog post, we will cover what a post-natal massage is, why you should get one, and how to choose the perfect therapist for you.

What is A Post Natal Massage?

A post-natal massage is a bodywork technique that is specifically designed to assist your body in recovering and restoring itself after giving birth.

It uses a combination of basic massage techniques along with specific applied pressure points on the lower back, hips, sacrum, and coccyx. These points are vital for directing the flow of qi around your body, specifically in the lower abdominal areas. This can aid in helping your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state as well as regain tone to abdominal muscles.

Post-Natal Massage Benefits

1. Relieves Tension in the Lower Back and Hips

A key benefit of a post-natal massage is that it helps release tension, aches, and pains in the lower back and hips. It does this by providing a direct medium for stimulating acupressure points in these areas as well as releasing tight muscles. This will help relax tension in the lower back, alleviate pain, and restore proper posture.

2. Restores Abdominal Tone After Childbirth

Childbirth can cause changes in abdominal tone. This means that your muscles can lose their tonicity or ability to contract effectively after childbirth.

This can cause a loss of support in the abdominal wall, resulting in a postural distortion, which can leave you feeling uncomfortable and have an impact on your general posture. Results of various studies have shown that massage therapy may be useful for restoring abdominal tone as well as improving posture after childbirth.

3. Improves Circulation

Massage is linked to improved circulation throughout the body. It can help your body remove waste products in the lymphatic system while also keeping your blood vessels healthy and open. This can help promote healthy circulation, which can in turn help prevent varicose veins, swelling, and other circulatory issues.

4. Improves Postpartum Physical Recovery

The first weeks after giving birth can be very physically challenging for mothers. It is very common for many to experience fatigue, loss of appetite, bloating, bleeding clots from the uterus, hemorrhoids, and more as their bodies return to normal post-birth functioning. It is for this exact reason that it is highly recommended for mothers make every effort to get as much rest as possible.

5. Improves Post Partum Depression

Postpartum depression (also known as antenatal anxiety disorder) can be a very common issue for new and expecting mothers. It is thought that stress during pregnancy can cause major hormonal changes, and this can result in dramatic changes in behavior, sleep patterns, and moods months after giving birth.

This is the reason new mothers need to make sure they are properly managing their stress levels while they are pregnant as well as after childbirth.

6. Reduces Blood Clotting

A post-natal massage has also been shown to reduce blood clotting which can help women who have just given birth overcome the effects of post-natal blood clotting.

7. It Reduces the Risk of Post Natal Depression

Recent studies have shown that pregnant women who received weekly prenatal massages suffered less from post-natal depression. This is thought to be because massage can greatly reduce stress levels and increase relaxation.

8. Increases Oxytocin Levels

Oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, is a vital hormone for creating a bond between mothers and their babies. Studies have shown that post-natal massage can help increase your oxytocin levels which can help improve breast milk production, skin elasticity, and blood circulation.

9. Decreases Risk of Breast Cancer

Massage can help to decrease the risk of breast cancer. Studies have shown that massage therapy may be useful for improving immune function and reducing stress levels. This can slow down the development of cancers such as breast, colon, or prostate cancer.

10. Improves Immunity

Massage therapy has also been shown to improve your immunity which may help treat infectious diseases. It is thought that regular massage sessions can improve white blood cell counts while also helping to get rid of toxins in the body.

When should you start post-natal massage?

Many women will opt to start a post-natal massage as soon as possible after giving birth. Some women, however, may feel uncomfortable with the idea of having a massage while they are still pregnant.

If you are thinking of getting a post-natal massage after giving birth, be sure to check with your doctor first. If everything is alright, then you can simply book an appointment with a local therapist.

The best thing to do is to find out what works for you. Start doing some research and interviewing a few therapists. It will be very important to find the therapist that is best for you and your specific needs. This can even help with post-natal depression; certain therapists have specialized in this area and have found ways to help women who are suffering from depression while they are breastfeeding.

What To Expect During Post-Natal Massage?

If you are getting a post-natal massage, then you can expect some soreness in your back and hips, lower back pain, and even a little discomfort in your abdomen. This is normal after giving birth. You may experience some cramping as well as sore muscles.

You should also keep hydrated throughout the massage. Water or another drink is fine to drink during or after your massage. You should take necessary precautions to make sure that you are comfortable throughout the whole session by wearing loose clothing that is comfortable enough for your skin type and taking off any jewelry that may scratch against your skin or cause blisters.

When Should You Start Post-Natal Massage? – Conclusion

Post-natal massage is a great way to help you restore your body’s natural balance and health. It can also significantly improve your general well-being, alleviate common discomforts after childbirth, and reduce the risk of post-natal depression. It is important to seek advice from a qualified medical practitioner about how often you should get a post-natal massage after giving birth.