Supporting Postpartum Recovery With Massage Therapy
Postpartum is a big time for a mama. She’s learning or relearning how to care for a brand new baby while experiencing crucial changes to her mental and physical self. And yet, even with all this happening, women often feel pressure to “bounce back” as quickly as possible. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that since she’s been growing a baby in her body for nine months, it will take some time for mom to adjust.
We think this is exciting—change is good!
Even though postpartum moms have just experienced one of the biggest changes a person can go through, they often neglect taking care of themselves. It’s extremely important for women to centre their postpartum recovery—it should be a time of healing, adaptation, and baby snuggles. Unfortunately, many moms feel they need to spend the postpartum period jumping back into the frenzy of life and setting aside their own care.
Victoria Loughran, one of Holistic’s Registered Massage Therapists, is especially passionate about postpartum care. Through her own postpartum experiences and continuing education becoming a postpartum Doula, Victoria knows the importance of making mamas feel heard and taken care of.
Why Is Postpartum Recovery So Important?
A mom’s life inevitably becomes busier once she has children, so it’s understandable that women sometimes struggle to take the vital time to heal. Pregnancy and birth impact a woman’s body in every way, but if you leave the recovery process up to time, it’s likely you’ll be experiencing the effects for years afterward.
A neglected postpartum recovery makes it harder to do your best as a mother. It’s truly invaluable to take a step back, prioritize your needs, and heal slowly and steadily. Pushing yourself and rushing back into a fast-paced life can lead to burnout and other long-term consequences.
How Can Massage Therapy Help You Postpartum?
One thing moms can try to help with postpartum recovery is massage therapy. The postpartum time is filled with connected mental and physical shifts; if a mom is struggling mentally her physical health can be affected and vice versa. Massage therapy treats people as a whole, caring for both the body and the mind.
The benefits of a postpartum massage include:
Increased relaxation
Decreased stress and tension in the body, especially in the shoulders, neck, and back
Improved mobility
Increased circulation and muscle relaxation, which lessens pain and tension
A renewed ability to manage everyday life as pain and stress are decreased
The Importance of Core Breathing
Core breathing is often encouraged in massage therapy, and it can be a helpful tool for mamas. Slow, intentional breaths help slow down your heart rate and activate your parasympathetic nervous system. This takes your brain out of “fight or flight” mode and allows your body to relax.
Many moms practice chest breathing, which does not let the body fully utilize the power of the breath. Core breathing oxygenates the body more deeply, gently strengthens a mom’s abdominal muscles following pregnancy, and helps her heal more quickly.
New mom or not, let’s try some core breathing now. Get into a comfortable position, maybe cross-legged or lying on the floor. Rest your hands on your rib cage and breathe in through your nose. Feel your ribs and stomach expand under your hands and fill your lungs with air from the bottom up. Find length in your breath. Now, tighten your abdominal muscles and exhale slowly for about four seconds through a slightly-opened mouth, feeling your stomach fall and your lungs empty. Repeat.
What Can You Expect From an Appointment With Victoria?
When Victoria treats a postpartum mom, she treats her entire self, not just her tight shoulders and sore back. She understands deeply that mental and physical factors inform one another and that good postpartum recovery is key for a woman to be the best mother she can be.
During an appointment with Victoria, she will also take the time to equip you with stretches to maintain the benefits of massage. Following a consistent stretching and treatment plan can help moms heal more quickly and effectively.
Massage therapy is a perfect way for moms to focus on their own needs, and Victoria specifically emphasizes making them feel nurtured, centred, and heard. In this way, she treats the mental alongside the physical, allowing the mind to quiet down from its frantic to-dos and worries.
If you’ve been looking for a sign to put yourself first, this is it. Victoria loves any and all opportunities to support new moms! Reach out to her today and let her support you as you continue your postpartum journey.