Post-natal Massage

14
Oct
2008

In many cultures massage is an essential part of post-natal care. In parts of the East, a woman is massaged every day for at least a month after giving birth. After each massage(What to Expect at a Massage Session) her abdomen is bound with long strips of cloth.

Massage after delivery gives the following benefits:

the abdominal muscles are encouraged to contract to their normal size and regain their tone
involution is aided (the time taken for the womb to return to its normal size)
massage helps to combat the effects of tension and tiredness
the woman feels nurtured and is restored emotionally at a time when the sudden change of hormone levels can lead to post-natal depression.

Special considerations

Do not massage scar area on the abdomen after a Caesarean section (but massage all other areas).
In the first few days following any birth it is often possible to give only gentle effleurage of the abdomen.

Massage movements

Squeeze, roll and wring the waist, hips and thighs to break up the fatty tissue, which has accumulated during pregnancy.
Perform effleurage and gentle wringing on the abdomen to induce muscle tone and to reduce any stretch marks.

All areas of the body will benefit from massage in the post-natal period. Follow sequences “Step by Step Massage” paying attention to the abdomen.

Essential oils for post-natal care

Keep using the anti-stretch mark oil described above while the body is returning to normal. The mother can still get stretch marks after the birth as her weight decreases.

Post-natal blues