Mother Matters by Dayna M. Kurtz

Author:Dayna M. Kurtz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: motherhood
Publisher: Familius
Published: 2018-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Maternal Massage Therapy

Hands-on Healing

Touch is the mother of the senses.

—Helen Fisher, American anthropologist

Some may consider massage a luxury. Here’s the reality: therapeutic touch can have healing effects on the body, and this can translate into healthier, more enjoyable living. In the weeks and months following the birth of a baby, when daily life is infused with the additional stressors of sleep deprivation, hormonal adjustments, and the learning curve of infant care, a massage can serve to enhance maternal well-being and make the day-to-day routine more manageable. Massage is a proven way to relieve and reduce stress in new mothers (Deligiannidis and Freeman 2014, 85–95). Simply put, massage makes a mom better, and that makes a better mom.

Simply put, massage makes a mom better, and that makes a better mom.

In cultures around the world postpartum massage is the norm. In India, it is not uncommon for an experienced midwife, or Dai, to provide a postpartum massage. Using oils such as sesame, coconut, or olive, women can enjoy the restorative benefits of a traditional massage, often followed by a warm bath. In Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, a 2016 report confirmed that 95 percent of women who gave birth in a university hospital there received an Urut Malayu. This traditional postpartum wellness ritual, similar to a Swedish massage, was given within the first six or seven weeks after giving birth (Fadzil, Shamsuddin, and Puteh 2016, 505).

In Western nations, massage is among the most common of the complementary or alternative therapies used in pregnancy (Hall, Griffiths, and McKenna 2011, 818). While less frequently used in the postnatal than prenatal period, the practice offers mothers and their babies a wealth of physical and psychological benefits.

In cultures around the world postpartum massage is the norm.

Massaging The Mama-Body

Getting to Know My Body Again: Darcy’s Story

After giving birth to Malcolm, I felt like I was in someone else’s body. I had a scheduled C-section after we found out that he was breech. It was my first major surgery. When I came home from the hospital, my whole body ached. Everything felt sore. Just walking around was effortful, let alone carrying Malcolm. I knew C-sections were common—women had them every day—but for me, for my body, the effects felt so overwhelming. My whole mid region throbbed. In my mind, I believed that I would heal, but I wondered and worried about how long it would take and whether I would be able to care for Malcolm in the meantime. I had pain medication from my ob-gyn; it helped a little, but I felt like I wanted something more.

When I was pregnant, my mother gave me a gift certificate for a prenatal massage. At the time, the massage therapist told me that I might consider seeing her after I gave birth as well—that it could be helpful for pain management and relaxation. I called her and she was able to come to my home for a massage treatment. What a difference! Having her healing hands on my recovering body felt so comforting.

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