01/10/2021
✨The 3 benefits to postpartum massage ✨
1: Massage Therapy Relieves Muscle Tension
“The shoulders, upper back, chest, and neck muscles have an unprecedented amount of muscle tension from cradling and feeding your newborn, and can create numbness and tingling in the hands, if not corrected. If you were doing an exercise at the gym that caused tension, you would either stop doing that exercise or change your body positioning. Obviously no one would advocate for you to stop holding your baby, so using massage therapy to release these tight muscles will help relieve muscle tension or soreness and allow the body to come into better alignment. A massage therapist specializing in postpartum massage or postnatal massage can teach you good ergonomic positioning as well as give at home care like helpful stretches too. One favorite stretch is to your pectoralis (chest) muscles in a door frame by holding onto the sides and leaning forward. Simple and effective! Massage also improves oxygen and blood flow to muscles which speeds the recovery process of the overall well being of your body
2:Massage Therapy Provides Lymphatic Drainage
The lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like your circulatory system does so it needs to be stimulated by activities such as massage therapy and exercise. Because exercise is initially limited during the postpartum period, receiving lymphatic drainage massage can be very beneficial as it is a key part of your immune system. Many clients who have received an IV during labor and delivery return home more swollen than during their pregnancy. Specific lymphatic massage techniques can help reduce swelling, pain relief and flush the excess fluid by stimulating the flow of lymph. This will also assist with the removal of any chemicals, such as epidurals, oxytocin or other painkillers, from the body. Some massage techniques will naturally stimulate the lymphatic system
3: Massage Therapy Can Help You Get Better Sleep
Studies have shown greater quality of sleep attributed to receiving bodywork, possibly due to the fact that massaging helps the body release serotonin. Massage therapy can also decrease levels of postpartum depression or anxiety, stress reduction, stress hormones, which all contribute to poor sleep. Since you’re probably not getting much sleep with a new baby in the house, the sleep you are getting should be good quality. Just one massage session can bring substantial relief to new parents, but I suggest once a week for the first month and once a month thereafter. In some cultures, postpartum massage is done every day for 40 days for the new mom and baby!
While postpartum recovery is the main focus, it is important to remember that partners and caregivers can also have muscle tension, lack of sleep, backaches or other soreness due to their role in caring for the new addition. Massage Therapy is a fantastic asset at this time for all involved throughout the recovery process. Happy healthy parents create happy healthy children. The benefits of postpartum massage are incredible, so make sure to work massage therapy into your postpartum recovery healing time.”