Postpartum Series: Introduction
The process of becoming pregnant, carrying a child, and giving birth is one of the most amazing things our bodies do. Bodies go through an incredible amount of physical, mental and hormonal changes. We bear more weight on our legs and feet, the weight of breast tissue increases which sometimes causes back and neck pain and our bodies create new structures it has never had before to accommodate this new life. Hormone changes allow for joints to become more flexible (in your pelvis but other joints can also be affected) and yet our body adapts amazingly with all of this.
Then, at the end of all of it we go through the labour and birth.
Labour, no matter how it happens, is an incredible process for the body to go through and it can also cause a lot of damage to body structures. No matter what the labor experience is, your body has been housing another being for quite a while and your joints aren’t stable. You may also be dealing with tearing, pelvic floor pain, difficulty using the washroom, low back pain, c-section incision(s), weak abdominals, hemorrhoids and many other physical results of labor. I didn’t even mention the emotional and mental changes!
In our society, we soon send the parent(s) home with the child to recover and start their lives together. It is a beautiful and terrifying time.
There is this unwritten expectation of ‘bouncing back’ after a pregnancy as if we are somehow able to press a button to make all our joints and muscles go back to how they acted months ago. This is not reality. Even if you’re medically cleared to work out, your body may be different forever - particularly the width of your hips and pelvis. I deeply wish that every pregnancy was followed up immediately with a visit to a physiotherapist who understands the pelvic floor and how it changes in pregnancy and labour, but until that is a reality, there are other health practitioners who can assist you in the recovery - and massage therapists are one of them!
Postpartum care is something that I’m deeply passionate about. Your body goes through an incredible amount in pregnancy and labor, then as your body is healing, you’re also sleep deprived and learning a lot of new skills. Whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping or bottle feeding, they all put strain on your arms and neck. Six to eight weeks doesn’t cut it. Believe me. There is so much more to it.
Postpartum massage is a low-risk, high reward option to allow your body to heal, allow your mind to calm, and give you a little bit of breathing room and space to connect with your body again.
In the next few blog posts, I’ll be discussing research on post-partum massage and the physical and mental benefits of including this in the months after pregnancy (for both parents, not just the one that was pregnant!).
I’m also very excited to share that I offer home visits. I don’t judge the state of your home (I’ve been there!) and I’m completely fine with interruptions. You don’t need to leave your home or find childcare for an infant to get the care your body needs.
Stay tuned for the next few blogs!
Please note that as a Registered Massage Therapist, I am not a Medical Doctor. The information above is for educational and entertainment purposes not to give medical advise. Any questions about your body or medical conditions should be addressed with a physician. Never delay or disregard personal professional medical advise based on information you have read on this website.
