Childbirth is a long and tiring process for women. That’s why new mothers often ask for a massage to relieve fatigue. However, the question is, can mothers do massage after giving birth?
Is this relaxation method safe or even dangerous? Check out the following information, come on!
Can mothers massage after giving birth?
Massage is known to have many health benefits, from relaxing the body and mind to healing body aches.
Well, there is good news for new mothers. You can do massage after giving birth, you know!
Before that, make sure you hire the services of an experienced and certified massage therapist. The goal is that the massage is done effectively and does not cause tendonitis due to procedure errors.
Also, choose the right time to do the massage so that your body is ready. According to the Institute for Integrative Healthcare, postpartum massage should be done at the following times.
You have gone through a period when the body has the potential to expel clotted puerperal blood.
The skin and abdominal muscles are already in good shape.
You can already do your daily activities. Even if there are complaints, only mild complaints and do not disturb the overall body condition.
Get a massage six weeks postpartum. If you want it faster than that, consult a doctor first.
The benefits of massage after giving birth that you can get
The benefits of massage for new mothers are not much different from other types of massage.
Citing information from the American Pregnancy Association, here are some of the benefits you can get.
Reduce stress
Stress after giving birth cannot be underestimated. The reason is, these conditions can affect the mental health of the mother.
Two out of three mothers reported experiencing baby blues syndrome. This condition occurs because mothers experience frustration and anxiety after giving birth.
In severe cases, the mother can even experience postpartum depression. Therefore, you need to be cared for after giving birth so you don’t get stressed.
Massage can relax muscles, improve blood circulation, and reduce levels of the hormone cortisol in the body. That way, your body can relax and be free from stress.
Especially after struggling for nine months of pregnancy plus the delivery process, your body must have done a lot of hard work.
Reduce soreness and cramps
Your task was not finished after giving birth. On the other hand, your role as a mother increases because you have to breastfeed the baby and take good care of it.
Plus, bleeding during the puerperium often makes the stomach feel cramped and uncomfortable.
Massage can help reduce soreness in the mother’s abdomen, lower back, and hips after giving birth.
In addition, massage can also relax muscles in other parts of the body, for example the arms and shoulders, which usually feel sore and stiff from carrying a baby for a long time.
Not only by relaxing the muscles, the soreness after giving birth can also subside because the production of endorphins increases when the body is massaged. This hormone is useful for relieving pain.