New mom? Don’t let blue be your colour!
Having a baby is not an easy task and has an impact on your body and mind. You may feel tired, worried, stressed and anxious.
Besides, you will be suffering a lot of physical and mood changes. If you feel this way, don’t worry, you are not the only one and there are ways to treat it. There are treatments available that may help you during this process like postpartum massage and manual lymphatic drainage. After birth your hormones and your body are out of balance, postpartum massage and MLD help you to restore your physical and psychological well being, in addition, speeding up your recovery.
So, why don’t we start on the basics…
What happens after delivering my baby?
After having a baby, many women may experience the ”Baby blues” (postpartum depression). It is a phase in which you may feel depression and/or postpartum psychosis. This condition affects 10 to 15% of mothers. Also, you may notice some issues in your body. For example, stretch marks, vascular problems (varicose veins) or muscular pain in your body. But don’t worry, as I said before, massages help you to recover and feel better faster.
What is a postpartum massage?
In a few words, a postpartum massage is a style of massage performed all over your body, using special essential warm oils. It is done within the 40 days after your baby was born. Your therapist will take your medical history and create a tailored treatment according to your needs.
This kind of massage has many benefits for your general well being. It is light and relaxing. Postpartum Massage has been used for centuries in many cultures for mothers and babies.
Can I have a postpartum massage after having a cesarean delivery?
If you had a C-section, first, ask your GP before scheduling a postpartum massage. Then, talk to your therapist and if both, doctor and therapist, consider it is safe for you, you can start your massage sessions. The reason why, It’s because you need to wait till your scar tissue is healed enough. On the other hand, postpartum massage will help you to continue recovering and also speeds healing.
When should I ask my GP before a postpartum massage?
Moms with certain conditions need the permission of your GP before scheduling a massage session. Massages increase blood circulation and this may affect some people. That is the case of:
- People with recent surgery or injury (Cesarea).
- High blood pressure patients.
- Women who presented preeclampsia (because some symptoms tend to continue, such as: high blood pressure, protein in the urine or limbs swelling).
- People who had blood clots before.
What are the benefits of postpartum massage?
Some of the most important benefits of postpartum massage are:
- Benefits your mood.
- Speeds up your recovery.
- Improves milk production/ breastfeeding.
- Speeds up healing.
- Pain relief.
- Stress reduction.
- Relaxation.
- Reduces swelling.
- Improves circulation.
- Improves body shaping (helps to restore your body to its pre-pregnancy condition).
- Helps to reduce sleeping disorders.
- Reduces anxiety and depression.
- Encourages hormone balance.
- Improves your overall health.
When can I start my postpartum massage sessions?
You can start your massage sessions as soon as you feel comfortable, most of the time, it is recommended within the first 40 days after birth. Just remember that some cases need to talk to their GP first.
In short
Postpartum massage has many benefits for moms. A study made in 2016 showed that moms who received a massage the next day after delivering reduced stress and anxiety in a significant way. Think about what a postpartum massage can do for you! So, Why don’t you start yours?
We hope this information is useful for you. If you have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. If you like this blog, please share!
We are always happy to help.
References
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/first-year-of-life/postpartum-massage/
https://www.healthline.com/health/postpartum-massage#benefits
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/benefits-postpartum-massage#2