Massage Proven Effective For New Mothers

Women in tribal societies resume normal activities almost immediately after birthing. To get back into shape quickly, these women employ a number of natural techniques, including massage, abdominal binding, herbal treatments, diet, and steaming of the perineal region. All of these methods help the new mother to regain her strength, heal faster, and ease her way in subsequent births.

Massage is a sensuous, relaxing, and loving treatment that has the added bonus of being especially good for you. It is one form of "medicine" most people delight in taking! Massage is a wonderful way to reduce stress and promote general well-being.

While you are pregnant, your body is undergoing stress-producing changes. Massage pleasantly and effectively eliminates many of the adverse effects of stress and the accompanying discomforts. Let's look briefly at some of the physiological changes that occur during a massage and see how they benefit your health and the health of your developing baby:

Massage will help prepare you for an easier delivery. Self-massage to the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) promotes flexibility and elasticity. It might actually help you avoid an episiotomy.
Massage stimulates glandular secretions, stabilizing your hormonal levels and making their side effects less severe.
Massage to the legs can control varicose veins, and the draining effect of massage facilitates reduction of edema (swelling) of the extremities.
An increase in general circulation offers a rise of blood to all areas of your body, including the placenta. This brings greater nutrition to the tissues of the body and enhances waste product removal.
"Lazy" red blood cells lining the vessel walls are reintroduced into circulation, thus increasing the red blood cell count. This is of particular importance to those women with anemia. A rise in the red blood cell count also helps to eliminate fatigue, since more oxygen-carrying hemoglobin is released into the bloodstream.
The lymphatic system circulates faster and more efficiently. The result is more energy and less fatigue.
The strain on the muscles of the lower back, abdomen, and shoulders can be greatly reduced through massage. As your pregnancy advances to its final trimester, this relief will be most welcome.
Muscle tone can increase with regular massage. Muscle spasms and knots are easily released, and muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints enjoy greater flexibility. This is most advantageous during labor.
Massage sedates the nervous system, producing much-needed rest and relaxation. In utero, your baby feels the same way. Frazzled nerves are lovingly soothed, and insomnia can be relieved.
Massage accompanies childbirth nearly everywhere in the tribal world. Noted anthropologist George Englemann, who studied tribal customs, wrote in 1884, "There is hardly a people, ancient or modern, that do not in some way resort to massage and expression in labor, even if it be a natural and easy one."2 The elder women of the Nama Hottentot tribe of South Africa massage the expectant mothers several times a week in preparation for childbirth. Pregnant women of Uganda receive treatment to make their bones supple for an easy delivery. Women of Kiribati (formerly the Gilbert Islands) receive "shampoos" by expert massage practitioners to train their muscles to bear contractions.

The massage techniques you will be using are derived from Swedish massage, Shiatsu acupressure, and foot reflexology. Mother Massage also includes herbal remedies, nutritional information, and exercises and postures as part of its holistic scope of pregnancy health care.

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