5 Healing Benefits of Postpartum Bodywork
Postpartum bodywork speeds healing and supports long-term health for new mothers.
Bodywork is often considered a treat, but is this the case for postpartum bodywork for new moms? Moms’ bodies go through a lot during pregnancy and birth. Their bodies are extended, stretched, and pushed to support new life. After having a baby, many things within the body go back with proper rest and nutrition, but postpartum bodywork can help provide additional support to speed up recovery and get the body back to functioning properly and feeling good.
Benefits of Postpartum Bodywork
Postpartum bodywork helps promote proper alignment, speed up healing, brings stability to the body, improves bonding with baby, and supports mental health for new moms.
Promotes Proper Alignment
Postpartum bodywork for new moms can help restore organs to their pre-pregnancy position and align the body, so it can rebuild and strengthen in the correct manner. Postpartum bodywork can aid in the prevention of urinary tract infections, digestive issues, pain with sex, and painful menstruation because the body is properly aligned and can function at an optimal capacity. Sex after having a baby should not be painful. Peeing after having a baby is not normal. These are both signs that the body is not in proper alignment.
Speeds Up Healing
Postpartum bodywork helps with circulation and movement of blood and oxygen in the body and with the movement of lymph. By improving the internal transportation system, toxins can be moved out and nutrients can be moved in to support and speed up healing in the postpartum body.
Helps with Stabilization
Postpartum bodywork that focuses on the pelvic floor helps prevent long-term musculoskeletal problems including lower back pain and prolapse. When the pelvic bones and muscles are brought into proper alignment after birth, this can give stability to the body and promote long-term health.
Encourages Bonding
Postpartum bodywork can help moms feel good in their body and can release hormones to help with bonding. Touch that feels safe and good promotes an increase in the release of oxytocin in the body which helps in mom’s bonding with baby, in breastmilk production, and in her overall feeling of being good.
Supports Mental Health
Postpartum bodywork helps calm the nervous system so it can function at an optimal level. When the body is stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted, which can be the case for new parents, then the body goes into stress mode and creates stress hormones to prepare the body for fight or flight. When these stress hormones kick on, happy hormones needed to create breastmilk, aid with rest and digestion, and help moms feel good shut down. In opposition, when a new moms feel safe, relaxed and calm, happy hormones kick on and the body is able to rebuild. The body’s systems will create happy hormones which help mom feel good, bond with baby, and produce breastmilk. Postpartum bodywork can help moms feel safe and cared for which helps the nervous system function at an optimal capacity.
Types of Postpartum Bodywork
There are many types of postpartum bodywork and the important thing is to find what feels best for you and your body. Here is a quick overview of some different types to consider or look into, so you can find a good fit.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses specifically on bringing function to and eliminating pain from the pelvic floor. A pelvic floor physical therapist that specializes in postpartum care can help with alignment and bringing strength back to areas that may have been weakened during pregnancy, such as the core, so you will have a strong foundation to work from.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is “a holistic care treatment that uses gentle hands-on, light touch to encourage unwinding of fascia and restricted tissue and promote movement of the cerebrospinal fluids in and around the central nervous system” (Mothering Life). The goal with CST is to help the nervous system function at its best, so it can enhance the body’s ability to heal in the postpartum.
Massage
There are many types of massage that can help with supporting the nervous system for new moms. Maya Abdominal Massage helps with proper alignment of the uterus and abdominals after birth. Abhyanga Lymph Massage supports the movement of lymph in the body to help with getting rid of toxins and hormones that are no longer needed in the postpartum. Gentle, therapeutic massage can promote relaxation and help move blood and oxygen to promote healing in the body.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can help with hormone regulation, promotes healing in the body, and encourages the movement and flow of energy throughout the body for overall health and well-being.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care can help with proper alignment in the postpartum. A practitioner that is experienced in working with the postpartum body can help with postpartum pain or dysfunction in the body.
Bodywork for Babies
Postpartum bodywork can also be hugely beneficial for babies. Bodywork on babies has many of the same benefits: it improves alignment, can help with latching for breastfeeding, improves circulation and healing, and helps babies feel safe in their bodies. Massage, chiropractic work, and craniosacral therapy are some bodywork modalities for babies; however, it is important that you find a practitioner who is trained to work with babies and support their developing bodies and systems.
Postpartum Bodywork Services in the Mountain Area
As mentioned, there are many different bodywork practices and we have just named a few in this blog. In addition to working with a practitioner who is specialized in postpartum bodywork, there are also postpartum bodywork practices you can do at home for your care, including self-massage, using castor oil packs, c-section scar tissue remediation, and sitz baths to name a few.
The Origin Family Services Directory provides a list of practitioners in the Front Range Mountain Areas that provide services and care to support new families for both specialized and in-home care.
Importance of Postpartum Bodywork
Postpartum Bodywork can help moms heal and recover quicker after having a baby. It can support long-term health by setting the body up for success, so it can heal and strengthen properly. It can also promote healthy bonding, aid in rest, and increase a mother’s milk supply. When looking at the benefits, it is clear that postpartum bodywork is not just a treat for new moms, but essential to their health and well-being.
Danielle Hughes is the Founder of Mothering Life, a Craniosacral Therapist and an INNATE Postpartum Care practitioner. She focuses on supporting moms, so motherhood can be the celebration that it is meant to be.