Prenatal and Postpartum massage: Are you missing out on something?

Prenatal and Postpartum massage: Are you missing out on something?

26 Apr 2016 | 3 min Read

Baby Chakra

Author | 501 Articles

While pregnancy is one of the most beautiful journeys you might have undertaken as a woman, it changes you and your body in quite a few ways. Carrying a baby inside you changes your center of gravity and puts a lot of stress on your back, neck, abdominal muscles, and shoulders. Pregnancy also loosens your ligaments, hence your pelvic joints become less stable, and it also changes your posture by pulling your pelvis forward. Add to that the extra weight you’re carrying and you may find yourself with an aching lower back.

 

A prenatal massage may help you bear with this stress and the aches of pregnancy a bit better. A good massage helps relax tensed muscles, eases sore spots, improves blood circulation and mobility, and can just make you feel good! Since going out to get a massage may not be the most convenient thing to do for you now, consider those who offer services at home and which are trusted. 

 

The picture is original and belong to the author. Reproducing them in any form without the permission of the author will not be allowed.

 

Before you get started, take a close look at your symptoms which you seek relief from. They may be headache, backache, muscle cramps in legs, swelling in legs, or even fatigue. For each of this symptoms, a specific massage helps. The general aches and pains of pregnancy can be dealt with, by releasing your body’s natural anti-pain chemical serotonin, which is stimulated by massage. You should ask for a masseuse trained in prenatal massage who will customize the session as per your needs and your changing body.

 

As much as you need to take care of yourself during pregnancy, it is equally, if not more, important to look after yourself along with your newborn after giving birth. After childbirth, your body faces new challenges. Soreness from delivery, engorgement of breasts or sore nipples, general fatigue, among others. To help you with postnatal recovery, opt for masseuses who provide postpartum massage focussed on alleviating the strain and regaining health. Research says that it includes stretching the back, lengthening the muscles, and balancing pelvic rotation. In addition, deep work and trigger-point therapy help release strain built up over the months of pregnancy. 

 

The postpartum period is usually of six weeks when the uterus shrinks back to its normal size. However, your ligaments can take up to two years to return to its place. Postpartum massage is a wonderful chance for you to work with your body and strengthen it not just physically but emotionally as well. It decreases stress hormones and promotes endorphins which make us happy—especially beneficial to new moms coping with the radical physical and psychological change from pregnant woman to new mother, a great way to combat postpartum depression. It is a pleasant experience also because it gives you an opportunity to take time off your schedule that is otherwise centered around her baby to relax, be pampered and just spend some time with yourself. 

 

The pictures is original and belong to the author. Reproducing them in any form without the permission of the author will not be allowed

 

Now that you know the benefits of a massage  and know how to get one done at your convenience, book a massage session as soon as you can sneak some time off your baby! 

 

Source for banner image: neurolinkphysio

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