Congratulations on the birth of your child! Having your own little one around the house can definitely bring joy to you and your family’s lives. But it does come with several side effects that can be challenging, especially as you recover and take care of your baby at the same time. If you’re looking for a way to unwind by yourself, post-natal massage can be just what you need. Here are five reasons why you should consider getting a post-natal massage after giving birth.
Helps Ease Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression
Have you ever heard of the baby blues? It’s a period of depression that a mother can experience after giving birth. The most likely cause is a shift in her hormones. A mother’s hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, progressively rise as she goes through her pregnancy. Giving birth will then cause these hormone levels to drop down, which can trigger the “baby blues.” Outside factors can also trigger postpartum depression, such as the mother’s physical health condition after childbirth, financial issues, or simply feeling overwhelmed over the life changes that come with becoming a parent.
This bout of depression can last as short as a few hours or as long as a couple weeks. But if a mother’s depression lasts for much longer and with more severe symptoms, then she may have developed postpartum depression.
Whether you’re experiencing the baby blues or postpartum depression, a post-natal massage can help ease some of your symptoms. A good massage can help balance your hormones, which can ease the symptoms of depression. This can help you slowly get back on your feet after you’ve given birth.
Improves Breastfeeding
Some new mothers may struggle with producing enough milk to feed their newborn baby. There are many reasons why this could be the case, such as hormonal issues, certain medications, or lack of glandular tissue in the breast. While baby formula is a great way to make up for any natural breast milk that the mother can’t produce, there are ways to improve breast milk production. Certain post-natal massages, such as back and breast massages, can help produce a hormone called prolactin. This helps the mother produce more milk for her baby.
Lessens Pain
A new mother’s body is under a lot of stress. She is, after all, responsible for taking care of her newborn baby while recovering from childbirth herself. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for new mothers to experience aches and pains in the back, shoulders, arms, and legs. These pains can be for a variety of reasons, from sore muscles to pressure on certain nerves. A professional post-natal massage can loosen any tense muscles, relieve any inflammation, and get rid of any soreness in a mother’s body.
Decreases Swelling
Pregnant women experience an increase of around 50% in fluid volume. This is because pregnancy causes the adrenal glands to produce more aldosterone and cortisol, which control your body’s ability to retain fluids. This causes swelling in the legs and feet, which can be uncomfortable for the mother to experience.
One of the more well-known benefits of massage is that it can help with swelling by encouraging better blood flow and increasing lymphatic drainage. Regular post-natal massage can help you return to your normal fluid levels.
Results in Better Sleep
Taking care of a baby is a 24/7 job. A newborn has to be breastfed 8-12 times per day – at most, that’s once every other hour! Because of this, a mother must make the most out of every minute of sleep she can get. The problem is that her body may have a hard time trying to get quality sleep after pregnancy and childbirth. A professional post-natal massage can help improve sleep quality, making sure that the mother is well-rested enough to keep taking care of her baby.
