The top benefits of postpartum massage for new mums

Nine months of pregnancy and childbirth can take a toll. After all of that, it’s only natural for mums’ bodies to need a little TLC. 

This is where postpartum massage enters the picture. This is a treatment designed specifically to help new mothers recover and even realign their bodies to their pre-pregnancy states. 

They differ from regular spa massages in that sense. A postnatal message is tailored specifically to address the unique physical challenges brought on by childbirth and motherhood. 

There are many postpartum massage benefits. Want to learn more about them? Read on!

1. Quicker recovery

Many actually use postnatal massage for womb recovery. This is because it can significantly speed up the healing process for the areas of your body most affected by pregnancy and birth. 

The massage is designed to improve blood circulation in new mums. This leads to increased delivery of essential nutrients and oxygen to the tissues, along with more efficient removal of waste products. 

This can support tissue repair for mums who’ve undergone C-sections. It can also help those who’ve delivered vaginally by supporting the recovery of your pelvic floor muscles. 

There are even techniques that can encourage your organs to return to their original positions, often through improved alignment.

2. Pain relief

Discomfort can be a natural companion to pregnancy and childbirth. You have to carry your baby for months, straining muscles in the back and shoulders. Then there are the positions you have to maintain for long periods afterwards if you breastfeed. 

Postnatal massage can actually help with the muscle pains from this. It works to release the tension in your muscles and address muscle knots. 

The best practitioners of the treatment can even show you tricks for improved posture to reduce your pain during this period. While results will obviously vary, some mums have found that a single massage is often enough to ease some of their discomfort.

3. Reduction of swelling and water retention

Oedema or swelling is a common experience post-pregnancy, along with water retention in the lower extremities. Swollen feet and ankles are among the top complaints for new mums!

This is because during pregnancy, your body increases blood and body fluid production to account for your baby being “hooked up” to your system. Once you give birth, though, that surplus fluid is no longer needed. 

The excess fluids need to be eliminated from your system to bring down swelling. Postnatal massage for water retention achieves this by using lymphatic drainage techniques.

They basically encourage your body to process and flush out the excess fluids faster. The rhythmic motions of the therapist stimulate the lymphatic system, which manages the fluid levels of the body. 

The result is often a notable reduction in puffiness for mums after a postpartum massage session. Most also experience a reduction in the discomfort that often comes with the oedema.

4. Breastfeeding support

Believe it or not, you may also be able to turn to postnatal massage for breastfeeding support! The first reason is one we already mentioned earlier. 

Specialised massage sessions can relax your chest and shoulder muscles. These are typically used during feeding sessions and can develop serious tension over time. 

But the massage can go even further. Some breast and upper body massage therapists may even perform specialised techniques to improve milk flow. 

Some specialists can also help you reduce pain in your breasts from engorgement or blockages. Given how common blocked milk ducts are, this is a serious boon to breastfeeding mothers.

5. Emotional wellbeing

The benefits of postnatal massage aren’t restricted to the physical. There are also things to be said for its potential in improving a mum’s emotional health. 

It’s perfectly normal for new mothers to experience mood fluctuations or anxiety after childbirth. Some even suffer from postpartum depression. 

Massage can serve as therapy to help with problems like that. Some massage therapies have been found to increase serotonin and dopamine levels. These are the “feel-good” chemicals in your body.

At the same time, massage therapy can reduce cortisol levels. Since cortisol is the “stress hormone”, this naturally leads to a reduction in anxiety or negative feelings.  

Massage can thus be one of the ways a new mum helps her body regulate postpartum hormones and feelings. It’s also an easy method of self-care. You can only care for your little one if you care for yourself too!

6. Improved sleep quality

New mums often suffer from disrupted sleep patterns. Late-night feedings and restless babies certainly won’t help! 

Luckily, postnatal massage may offer some assistance here as well. It promotes deeper and more restful sleep by releasing endorphins. 

Like the serotonin we mentioned earlier, these are “feel-good” chemicals. They can help you get a more restorative sleep in between the feedings.

7. Restored body posture

We already touched on this earlier, but it’s worth discussing in detail. Pregnancy’s toll on the body can lead to some postural changes that aren’t easily lost. 

Your centre of gravity shifts when you’re pregnant, after all. This causes the body’s musculature to shift too in new ways, usually resulting in strain. 

By getting a postnatal massage to identify the changes and gently lead your body into correcting them, you can reset your posture after childbirth. This should help you to avoid further problems that may arise from the shifts, such as chronic pain and back issues.

Get more advice from your fellow mums!

Ultimately, taking care of yourself is an important part of your new life as a mother. It even affects how well you can care for your baby. 

Postnatal massages are just one of the many treatments you can use to help you here. With physical and emotional benefits, they can help you find your footing even faster in new parenthood. 

If you want more information on things you can do to make recovery easier, why not see our postpartum recovery guide? You’ll find additional resources and support for your parenting journey.

And of course, you can always join our Mummy Guru community. In it, you’ll find other mums with loads of proven tips for you. We mums have to share the wealth of wisdom with each other!