The postnatal period is a time of such mixed emotions. There is joy and elation at the arrival of your new baby, perhaps relief that childbirth is over and excitement as a new chapter in your life begins. At the same time you may feel tearful, perhaps overwhelmed with the new responsibilities of parenthood and exhausted due to the lack of meaningful sleep. You may wondering when life will return to a sense of normality! Physically your body is trying to recover from the exertion of labour and deal with hormonal changes, you may be adapting to breastfeeding and your muscles & joints may be aching from attending to your baby.

In traditional cultures, new mums were confined to bed rest following childbirth for up to 6 weeks. This gave them essential time to bond with their babies and recover themselves. Massage of the mum and baby was very much part of this healing process. Unfortunately today the pressures of our society and lack of family support nearby often means that mums return to their daily tasks and work weeks or even days after childbirth, which have a dramatic impact on their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Postnatal Massage can go some way towards meeting the support needs of the new-mum as she adapts to her “new normal”. At a basic level it provides nurturing touch to restore a sense of wellness, relieve exhaustion and give the new mum much needed time to herself. When received regularly Postnatal Massage can have many deeper benefits including:

• Relief to stiff & sore muscles
• Boosting energy & reducing fatigue
• Emotional support (e.g. depression & anxiety)
• Relieving carpal tunnel syndrome
• Soothing varicose veins reducing swelling
• Restoring digestive function

When Postnatal massage can be received will depend on your health following childbirth, aspects such as blood loss and healing will be considered. Most clients prefer to wait until after their 6 week GP check, however in some cases gentle nurturing massage is possible before then. Just ask Orla if you are unsure. The length of the post-natal period differs for everyone depending on your general health, pregnancy, type of birth, bonding with the baby etc. In reality it can take up to a year for you to heal emotionally & physically, sometimes longer.

A full & detailed postnatal consultation is performed prior to the massage covering pre-conception & pregnancy health (if the client has not been before), childbirth, recovery and physical & emotional health in the post-natal period. This is fundamental as the body undergoes dramatic changes in this period to return to its pre-pregnancy state. Orla is fully trained in pre & postnatal massage and is always alert to possible signs of infection and postnatal illness.

Positioning postnatally is key and is adapted to account for healing from the birth (e.g. caesarian, episiotomy) and breast tenderness. Depending on the health of the mum the massage can be peformed lying face down or up, side-lying, semi-reclined or even seated. Bolsters & pillows are used for comfort and alignment. Depending on the needs of the client a variety of techniques may be used such as classical Swedish strokes, deeper Hands-Free techniques, gentle stretching and mobilisation, acupressure/ Shiatsu, lymphatic drainage and energy work.

Postnatal massage can be given at one Orla's clinic settings or in the comfort of your home, in which case a futon is used. It is often the most relaxing for the mum if she can escape the home & her responsibilities for a while but equally if she is keen to have baby close by this can be accomodated at home. The massage is adapted to suit your physical and emotional needs. After-care advice is very much part of Orla's service and may include tips on regaining good posture, helping to strengthen abdominal & pelvic floor muscles and emotional health.

Pregnancy Massage is available with Orla at The Althos Clinic, Perth & at her home treatment room near Kinross. See the Clinics page for more details. Gift vouchers are also available.

To book an appointment please contact Orla on 07854 196 955 or email info@orla-beaton.co.uk