Mama Massage

We are all unique in our beautiful, natural shapes and sizes, yet many of us shy away from discussing our tummies particularly post-partum. The general trend is to eat when we can, sleep when we can, cover up with a large floaty top and pretend the midriff doesn’t exist, which is creating a silent pandemic amongst new mothers.

Less women than ever are being checked thoroughly by the GP on their 6 week check-up, or seeking help for abdominal separation and scar tissue relief. This can lead to pelvic floor issues, back pain and even the delayed processing of childbirth trauma.

It's time to change that. Embrace your tummy! Rub your ribs and celebrate your scars!

Why celebrate our abdomen?

Why should we embrace our bellies? Because working on the abdomen benefits all body systems - digestion, respiration, nervous, lymphatic, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, skeletal, muscular, energetic and even emotional.

For the 18 million women each year (20% of all births) who undergo a C-section, tummy massage can be transformative. As a massage therapist and pilates teacher that specialises in postnatal pilates and abdominal massage it still shocks me how little this therapy is offered to new mothers and how effective the treatment can be in offering relief, healing and helping to move through childbirth trauma.

I myself had a profound abdominal massage session where parts of my body started to vibrate and sing, I saw vivid colours and had a dreamlike vision. Then out of nowhere the tears flowed. I felt for the first time my body was given space and I was able to move through the emotions I had been holding for so long. Afterwards I felt like a cloud had lifted. I could walk pain free! My lower abdomen started to feel alive again. The niggling back pain, GONE!

Still to this day I utilise the practice regularly on myself and support hundreds of women who are walking the same path massaging our way through motherhood.

"For the 18 million women each year (20% of all births) who undergo a C-section, tummy massage can be transformative"

DIY Massage

For as little as 5 minutes a day you could massage yourself back to wellness. Massage increases scar tissue mobility and elasticity, reduces muscle restriction and numbness, improves sensation around the scar, enhances the healing process and its appearance, and reduces pain. Not only that, it’s a fantastic way to help new mothers move through the trauma of childbirth.

3 Healing Practices

1 PROTEIN POWER
Your body uses protein to build and repair skin tissue. We can generally digest and break down between 20-30 grams per sitting. So, a regular eating schedule including protein right foods can aid healing and also balances blood sugar levels. It’s easy to just focus on feeding the kids and pick while we cook but this can cause havoc to our gut. Skipping meals can lead to ghrelin spikes and overeating later which then have an effect on your body's natural sleep cycle and ability to heal and repair. Yes we need to rest to heal, but good nutrition and protein are also key.

TRY THIS - Try adding a high protein and fibre snack around the time of your afternoon energy dip. Mix this up with a mushroom latte instead of your coffee and not only will you be lowering ghrelin levels, you’ll be lowering cortisol too!

2 SOUND HEALING
Sound is a strong epigenetic modifier. It has been proven that a mantra aimed at balancing chakras has the same scientific validity for altering the expressions of certain genes and correcting mutations that would alter the cause of an illness. Yes, that's right. Sound can actually switch genes on and off! So what does this have to do with your feminine cycles? Well, our sweet little organs have a HUGE role to play in the complex chemical dance our bodies do every month. In particular, the liver. This organ is responsible for the regulation of sex hormones, cortisone and other adrenal hormones. If the liver is unhealthy or sluggish, it cannot effectively regulate and remove hormones like oestrogen. Which can lead to symptoms like, bloating, digestive issues and is directly linked via the lymphatic system to the pelvic area.

TRY THIS - Now that we understand the connection and the principle here is where the magic happens.

Every cell and molecule within us vibrates to its own frequency. We can be entrained by other frequencies and we can create frequencies. If you can replicate the liver’s natural resting tone and frequency you can give it a jump start. Here’s how to do it: lie down. Place your hands on the right side of your ribs and hum a low ‘HAAAAAW!” sound. Play around with tone and pitch and notice when the liver starts to vibrate back. Do this for 2-3 minutes.

3 MASSAGE
If you struggle to fully release your hip flexors this is a great way of getting them to release. This technique can also stop scar tissue from forming and draw tension and swelling away from the ovaries and groin. If you are a person that struggles to ‘feel’ your lower abdominals kicking in then this is a great go-to exercise.

TRY THIS - Start lying down with knees bent. Find the ridge of your hip bowl - the diagonal line from hip bone to pubic bone. Then, placing fingertips parallel to the ribs slowly glide upper layers of skin away from your leg while you stretch out your leg and straighten it. Repeat this three times working from hip to pubic bone. Repeat exercise, but this time with the leg turned out and drawing fingertips diagonally across towards the belly button.

Maiwenn is mother to one boisterous boy, a pilates teacher and holistic massage therapist with online self massage courses. When she is not roaming the French countryside trying to find her next wheel of cheese you can find her online or on a yoga mat.