Benefits of Post Natal Massage

New mothers always ask this question. "When can I go back to my pre-pregnancy figure?" 

New mothers need to recuperate from childbirth and body changes. Special meals are cooked for recuperation from childbirth whereas to recuperate from body changes, we would engage a masseuse to provide post -natal massage.
 
Post-natal massage is a traditional treatment which has been handed down several generations and even practiced today and its usually done in the comfort of your own home. The stress from childbirth and time spent caring for your newborn is taxing on our body. Therefore, post-natal massage not only gives nurturing and emotional support to help  mothers gain back their lost energy, it also brings body back to its pre-pregnancy condition by retaining muscles and connective tissue. 
 
Other benefits of Post-natal massage include:
1.       Provides relaxation for the exhausted body
2.       Relieves aches on shoulders and neck from carrying or feeding your newborn
3.       Realign the body weight to its original distribution
4.       Helps reinstate the uterus to its original state
5.       Eliminates excess body fluids, reduce fluid retention
6.       Tones the over stretched areas of skin, especially over the abdomen
7.       Promote blood circulation within the body
8.       Exfoliate dead cells and regenerate skin renewal
 

For mothers who delivered naturally, they can start their post-natal massage as soon as they are comfortable and ready. However, for cesarean section delivery, mothers are encouraged to wait for at least 2 weeks after delivery or when incision is properly healed before they could start their massage.
 
This post-natal massage starts with massaging the breasts which promotes milk supply and also helps  clear any blocked ducts. Followed by full body massage, using hot oil with lemon, lemongrass and eucalyptus. The hot oil used  helps to reduce water retention, burn fats accumulated during pregnancy and  to dispel wind that was developed during labor. Finally, jamu paste is applied onto the stomach wrapped over by bengkung (a cotton cloth of 15 meters).  This wrap helps to reinstate the uterus to its original state, shrinks the tummy and helps to reduce weight. In order to see the effects of a flatter tummy, the wrap has to be on for at least 10 hours and must be done consecutively for at least 5 days.