Bodywork and massage for pregnant and post-partum women
Pregnancy and the birth process place intense demands on a woman’s body. It’s not surprising that often things feel “not quite right” after pregnancy and birth. Manual therapy can help, particularly after you've given birth.
Post-partum
The most important time to get hands-on therapy is after you've had your baby.
Focused manual therapy 3 months or more after giving birth can release tension and stress caused by pregnancy and birth process. Whether you've had a traditional delivery or a C-section, pregnancy and birth increase pressure in the abdominal and pelvic cavities and the diaphragm. The connective tissue and ligaments of the abdomen and pelvis are stretched. Delivery may cause additional disruption to tissues. As the body heals after birth, the connective tissue starts tightening up. Sometimes over months it becomes too tight or unbalanced. Women might feel "something's not the same," continued bladder issues, a stitch in their abdomen or side, sciatic-like or nervy pain, or hip or leg issues.
Both postpartum massage and postpartum manual therapy are options after giving birth, but they have very different purposes. Postpartum massage focuses mainly on your relaxation and typically uses broad, sweeping strokes. The therapist will usually use oil to facilitate gliding over the skin and provide a relaxing and healing environment. You can do this almost as soon as you feel like it after birth. Manual therapy on the abdomen or visceral manipulation - the kind done at District Rolfing - is a more specific approach which targets specific areas of tension and adhesions in the wrapping around the pelvic cavity and organs, with the aim of restoring movement or energy flow. Visceral manipulation is done with light pressure and no oil. Unlike some traditional forms of abdominal bodywork, it is pain-free. The goal isn't how you feel during the session, but later. The work is often slow as we wait for the body to release; you may feel subtle sensations and relaxation of specific tissues during the session but often people only feel the results the next day or later.
This kind of manual therapy is usually most beneficial at least 3 to 6 months after giving birth. It's never too late - some women come in years after having persistent issues post-partum and get significant relief. Abdominal massage can be done any time after the body has completely healed from the birth itself (typically at least 3 months), it can be beneficial to receive even if years have gone by. Often the issues associated with stress during pregnancy are not evident until much later. One issue can often produce results, but for best outcomes 3-5 sessions are recommended.
Most women who have given birth would benefit from this work, even if they don't feel anything particularly "wrong." People often don't notice areas that have been chronically tight for a long time, and women after childbirth are no exception. They may not realize that areas of the abdomen or pelvis no longer feel the same, are more tense, or do not move after giving birth. Typically, even someone who does not have major issues after giving birth will still feel more relaxed and at ease after abdominal massage
Therapeutic abdominal massage or bodywork is particularly recommended if these issues are noticed or if other chronic aches and pains arise that were not present prior to the pregnancy, even months or years later. Tension in the abdomen, for example, could cause unexplained back, shoulder, hip, or knee pain. Women who have separation of the muscles of the abdomen (diastasis recti) or stress incontinence may also benefit.
Focused manual therapy 3 months or more after giving birth can release tension and stress caused by pregnancy and birth process. Whether you've had a traditional delivery or a C-section, pregnancy and birth increase pressure in the abdominal and pelvic cavities and the diaphragm. The connective tissue and ligaments of the abdomen and pelvis are stretched. Delivery may cause additional disruption to tissues. As the body heals after birth, the connective tissue starts tightening up. Sometimes over months it becomes too tight or unbalanced. Women might feel "something's not the same," continued bladder issues, a stitch in their abdomen or side, sciatic-like or nervy pain, or hip or leg issues.
Both postpartum massage and postpartum manual therapy are options after giving birth, but they have very different purposes. Postpartum massage focuses mainly on your relaxation and typically uses broad, sweeping strokes. The therapist will usually use oil to facilitate gliding over the skin and provide a relaxing and healing environment. You can do this almost as soon as you feel like it after birth. Manual therapy on the abdomen or visceral manipulation - the kind done at District Rolfing - is a more specific approach which targets specific areas of tension and adhesions in the wrapping around the pelvic cavity and organs, with the aim of restoring movement or energy flow. Visceral manipulation is done with light pressure and no oil. Unlike some traditional forms of abdominal bodywork, it is pain-free. The goal isn't how you feel during the session, but later. The work is often slow as we wait for the body to release; you may feel subtle sensations and relaxation of specific tissues during the session but often people only feel the results the next day or later.
This kind of manual therapy is usually most beneficial at least 3 to 6 months after giving birth. It's never too late - some women come in years after having persistent issues post-partum and get significant relief. Abdominal massage can be done any time after the body has completely healed from the birth itself (typically at least 3 months), it can be beneficial to receive even if years have gone by. Often the issues associated with stress during pregnancy are not evident until much later. One issue can often produce results, but for best outcomes 3-5 sessions are recommended.
Most women who have given birth would benefit from this work, even if they don't feel anything particularly "wrong." People often don't notice areas that have been chronically tight for a long time, and women after childbirth are no exception. They may not realize that areas of the abdomen or pelvis no longer feel the same, are more tense, or do not move after giving birth. Typically, even someone who does not have major issues after giving birth will still feel more relaxed and at ease after abdominal massage
Therapeutic abdominal massage or bodywork is particularly recommended if these issues are noticed or if other chronic aches and pains arise that were not present prior to the pregnancy, even months or years later. Tension in the abdomen, for example, could cause unexplained back, shoulder, hip, or knee pain. Women who have separation of the muscles of the abdomen (diastasis recti) or stress incontinence may also benefit.
Before getting pregnant is another great time to get Rolfing or manual therapy
Before pregnancy, a 10-series of Rolfing structural integration or targeted individual sessions can help your body get in shape and ready for the process of pregnancy. |
If you’re planning to get pregnant, it’s a great idea to work out any issues you’ve been having before hand. A body that is preoccupied compensating for old injuries and patterns has less resiliency and adaptability to take on the new changes of pregnancy. You can address this either with structural work or by addressing areas that have been giving you problems for a while. This will help your body adapt to the changes of pregnancy and childbirth. This is a great time to undertake a 10-series or targeted sessions.
District Rolfing and Structural Bodywork offers several options to help prepare the body for pregnany and recover from pregnancy and birth.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, myofascial techniques address routine discomfort. |
Pregnancy isn’t the time to try to create structural change in the body – the body is is adapting rapidly from day to day already! Bodywork during pregnancy should focus on supporting this transitions and easing tensions it creates. Particularly during the third trimester, gentle myofascial work can help women feel more at ease.
If you have some aches and pains that need attention that aren't related to your pregnancy, it’s still safe to receive bodywork during pregnancy. Some work may be contraindicated – in particular, direct abdominal work is not allowed. Let your therapist know you are pregnant.
If you have some aches and pains that need attention that aren't related to your pregnancy, it’s still safe to receive bodywork during pregnancy. Some work may be contraindicated – in particular, direct abdominal work is not allowed. Let your therapist know you are pregnant.
Bodywork for those caring for infants and toddlers
Lifting infants and toddlers puts stress on your body which bodywork can help you prepare for. |
Taking care of a baby puts your body into new and unusual positions – you bend over to pick up or change the baby, bend down to pick them up, hold them in your arms. The amount of bags and stuff you need to carry increases. Rolfing and Rolf movement can help your body adapt to these new demands. Postural therapy exercises which help the body reset itself also help. Caregivers may seek either a 10-series or postural therapy at any time, although they may find it most useful as the child begins to be larger and heavier.