Postnatal Massage: A Mother’s Healing Journey Through Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
What Is Postnatal Massage and Who Is It For?
I think the most important thing to define here is that postnatal massage is relevant to any woman that has fallen pregnant.
You Are Postnatal for Life – Even After Miscarriage
Once you have been pregnant you will forever be postnatal. Even if you have a miscarriage at 8 weeks your body has already gone through some really profound and life-transforming changes.
The Importance of Postnatal Massage in your motherhood Recovery
Postnatal massage is an essential part of our recovery. Many cultures around the world still place bodywork front and centre when caring for the mother after birth.
Yet in traditional Western culture we have, of course, decided that actually it’s much more important that we massage the baby — which to me is just bonkers!
Why Mothers Need Massage Just as Much as Babies
Now don’t get me wrong, the benefits of baby massage are fabulous. It helps a baby to understand how their body sits in space, which as they grow supports sitting, crawling and walking. It helps them to shift into a rest and digest state. Skin-to-skin contact with another caring human is one of the best ways to help the physical body feel safe so that the brain can relax. It supports circulation and encourages blood to flow into the parts that need help most. Often with babies we tap into digestion to help relieve wind, constipation and reflux.
The Benefits of Baby Massage – And Why Mothers Deserve the Same Care
Now I’m going to bullet point those things again. But before you read it, close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Then ask yourself the question: what do I need? Then read the list.
Go ahead… close your eyes…
What do I need?
To arrive in my new body and understand the changes that have happened
To build body awareness to support functional movement as I rock, carry, feed and hold my baby
Contact from a human that cares and understands my experience
To feel safe so that my brain can just switch off
To support my hormone production and move stagnation in my digestive system and/or womb space
I wouldn’t mind betting you said yes to at least four of those things.
What Mothers Truly Need After Pregnancy and Birth
So why do we put ourselves behind baby massage? Is it because we crave connection with other mums? Possibly — and that is fine. Is it to nourish our babies? I’m not so sure. Most babies I know cry or sleep through at least a third of a baby massage session. And most of the movements you can practice after bath time at home.
Why Investing in Postnatal Massage Supports Your Baby Too
What would you do if you had a 45-minute postnatal massage? You might cry because it feels so nice to be touched by someone that doesn’t want anything from you. You might go to sleep and wake up feeling deeply refreshed. I’m also 99% sure that you will get more of a massage than your baby will — and as a result of that, your baby will receive more attentive, intuitive care from you. So ultimately, they benefit too.
Because here is the thing. When you feel worthy, you make others feel worthy too. And what better gift can we give to our family — to our children, our husband, our parents, even our friends — than them knowing that you are 100% invested in them. That they are worthy of all of your love, care and attention.
How Postnatal Massage Changed My Healing Journey
I thought I would share here three things that have shifted since I have had monthly massages.
Reclaiming Self-Worth Through Postnatal Massage
For me the biggest piece here is self-worth. After about six months I started to take more time to do the things that fill me up. I have had more 30-minute walks alone on the beach. I’ve asked my husband to do more at home because I know that I can’t do it all and I’m done pretending that I can. I have also been able to set clearer boundaries with my children around time for me. And I no longer feel guilty for taking an hour while they are with my mother or my husband, because I know ultimately I am better able to hold their emotions and practical needs when I have this time.
Supporting the Return of My Menstrual Cycle With Massage
My periods returned.
I started to have the massages with the intention of supporting the return of my cycle, when beatrice was almost 18 months old. I was hoping to receive womb massage, but I could not find a practitioner in Northumberland. I hope to become a womb massage therapist later this year. So I used body massage with Rachel at Life Holistic Therapies and used her sound healing singing bowls on my womb space. The vibrations worked their magic in three months — that’s three massages. How powerful is that?
Receiving Deep Nourishment Beyond Physical Touch
I found a place to nourish myself deeply so that I don’t need my family to help — and this is a BIG part of massage. The massage I get, the love I receive, the space I have to share before and after, is ALL part of this.
My massage with Rachel is way beyond her massaging my muscles. She listens to my words. I guide her to the parts of my body that have been calling for support. And we both understand the deeper meaning attached to those messages.
For example, a pain in my right toe could also be to do with the fact that my brain is in a state of overwhelm. It is definitely also connected to a very tight right glute muscle that cannot fully lengthen, and subsequently causes discomfort in the left front side of my pelvic floor. Rachel understands that nothing is a coincidence. And the time she allows for me to share deeply with her also means I am learning to speak my truth, not bottle things up — which in turn allows a physical release and results in less tension in my body.
Holding Women Through Pregnancy, Miscarriage and Motherhood
And for me, as I hold women with massage in pregnancy, after miscarriage, and into motherhood, my intention is to hold you completely. To listen to the words you are saying. To know that a pain in the arch of your foot could be related to your womb space — reflexology teaches us the inside arch corresponds to the womb. It could also be because your gait (the way you walk) has changed during pregnancy and you need support with releasing tension in your leg, along with some gentle exercises to remind your brain of the pattern your foot needs to follow when walking. Thus also alleviating pelvic floor dysfunction that manifests as leaking when you jog across the road while shopping.
Postnatal Massage in Northumberland -
For Mothers who have lost, for mothers who are just landing, for mothers who have been postnatal for years!
Postnatal Massage is for you. It might look different for each individual woman. It could be a 45 minuet head, neck and shoulder massage. It might be a 90 minuet full body massage. It could be very specific around the right leg and lower back into the left inner thigh to heal pelvic floor tension and dysfunction. It could be a gentle rocking and wrapping in a closing the bones ceremony. Postnatal Massage in Northumberland is for any woman who has ever been pregnant and needs a safe space process all that becoming a mother has brought.
