Whether your recent pregnancy was a wonderful and magical time in your life, a time you'll truly always cherish, or a series of difficulties you're still trying to process, we want to help you rebuild your physical, mental, and emotional energy after birthing. Pregnancy as pathology as presented by medicine in the 20th century is pure confusion; while not an illness, recovery after the energy expenditures of pregnancy is still advised.
Our Perinatal Massage Specialists will facilitate your preparation for the present and future demands of being a Mommy to your newborn, whether first baby or fifth, as well as being ready for your return to work, if you're returning to a job at some point. You want to be prepared, and we can definitely help you to be!
Our Maternity Care Specialists travel to your house or apartment when it's most convenient for you based on your availability. Some women choose not to leave the home in the weeks following delivery. Even if you aren't opting to stay at home, we can save you the extra time, gas, and effort of traveling when it's not absolutely necessary.
IN-HOME SERVICES OFFERED:
Postpartum Massage ✓
Infant Massage ✓
Lactation Counseling ✓
Infant Massage In-Home Mini-Classes for Parents ✓
Right now, you probably don't want to waste any of your energy sitting in a car and spending time traveling, if you have the choice. Many women avoid traveling in the weeks immediately following birth, and instead opt for in-home services. Most Moms don't really want to be separated from their newborn for any stretch of time. For breastfeeding Moms it's a practical reason; even when not breastfeeding, staying at home with the baby is often the easiest and safest option. Moms and babies already have to go to the pediatrician together, and there are ob-gyn appointments just for the mother, but those are required. While tele-health is an option for Lactation Care, an in-person session is always preferable.
Why then opt for additional trips out of the house to see a Lactation Consultant or travel for a Postnatal Massage session if you don't have to? Tradition, as well as reason, suggests this may not be the best idea; there are many meta-systems and schools of thought on the matter; interestingly, even with different understanding and historical cultural concepts, most agree on this forty day period. In fact, many traditions worldwide suggest that postpartum women should not leave the house for forty days, unless necessary. This practice stretched from India to Italy, Mexico to China, in the ancient world.
FSA AND HSA APPROVED. Insurance may also cover these services; please check your individual health care plan details!
What Makes Our Postnatal Massage Sessions Different?
Mountainside On-Site Massage Therapy™ provides Certified Prenatal and Perinatal Massage Therapists. Our postpartum therapists are caring people chosen for their aptitude, positive attitude, educational background, and empathy. Some of our postpartum LMTs were personally trained by Carole Osborne with Body Therapy Associates™, while others learned under other respected teachers such as Leslie Stager RN, creator of Bodywork for Women's Health™. And, we even have certified lactation therapists on-staff who can help you with breastfeeding issues with in-home lactation counseling, having been trained by the Healthy Children Project™, one of the leading research groups, worldwide, currently studying breastfeeding.
Carole Osborne is the most trusted educator of Perinatal Massage, having pioneered this modality in the States decades ago, nearly singlehandedly. Leslie Stager RN, another pioneer in women's touch therapy had this to say, "My hope is that with the use of nurturing touch, --little by little-- we can improve the way babies come into the world, the way new mothers are supported, and the way women age in our society."
And now, our experienced LMTs have become masters in their own right, expanding on the knowledge that they learned, as well as their own experience, and deliver in-home sessions unlike any other in New Jersey. Whether you've had a natural delivery or Cesarean birth, whether breastfeeding or not, we can help. You need not leave home; we come to you.
We also have therapists available who provide Ayurvedic Postnatal Massage, as well as infant massage, and infant massage classes for parents in the home (by Certified Infant Massage Teachers trained personally by Tina Allen of Liddle Kids Foundation™).
Breast Massage is also available as part of a postpartum session. Besides the fact that it can help with postpartum issues such as breast engorgement, sore nipples, and clogged ducts, the practice is also health-promoting for women of any age, and at any phase of life. (details on Lactation Care, Breast Massage, and Ayurvedic Postnatal Massage below)
How Do Our Mobile Therapists Help You Make the Most of Your Postpartum Experience?
We take care of everything; we understand that at this time,
you may be glowing and radiant about your newborn baby, truly ecstatic, yet at the same time may feel less-than-great, for a variety of valid reasons. This can be frustrating, because as a new Mom,
you require all your energy you can muster to properly care for your infant, even with family, and/or hired help, assisting you.
This time of wonder in your life comes rarely. You don't want to miss the experience because you're tuning out because you hurt too much, on every level. Definitely live each day and remember babies grow quickly and be present in every moment! Postpartum Therapeutic Massage can help you to do so by improving your sleep quality, positively affecting energy levels, combating postpartum depression lethargy, and removing residual muscle tension elicited by the stress of not sleeping enough and the entire birth experience, generally, just to name a few benefits.
The Many Ways Postpartum Massage Can Help On The Path To Recovery
Initial postpartum difficulties vary, depending on the individual. Please, know that it is normal to experience issues! Even the same woman can, and usually does, experience a different, yet sometimes somewhat overlapping, set of issues during, and after, each successive pregnancy. The postpartum experience, a unique journey of self-healing and inner-growth, is also a time you grow closer to your infant as she learns, continuing the catharsis that began during pregnancy. Most woman experience physical pain or discomfort, limitation of movement, cognitive differences, body image difficulties, or other various emotional issues during their postpartum phase.
These may, or may not be, clinically diagnosed conditions, and these can include pain and discomfort, sleep quality issues, postural issues, swelling and water retention, and more. Cramps and pain in the lower abdomen and mid-to-lower-back are most common, as is sciatica, leg cramps, and tail bone pain.
Postpartum pain may result from the recently (amply!) stretched ligaments that supported the uterus; thankfully these are easily able to do this! In its anteverted state in the third trimester, a time when the uterus grows heavy and the pregnancy draws to a close, the round ligaments, and many lesser-known ligaments, stretch unbelievably. Uterine scarring from where the placenta was once attached can also cause pain, as well as pelvic floor stretching, which can result from pushing during labor.
While natural birth has a quicker recovery time than a C-section birth, most women choosing vaginal delivery experience lasting pain in the pelvic ligaments, and trauma to the tailbone is not uncommon.
Postnatal Massage performed during the first two weeks after giving birth can also help the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy position, which fosters a sense of integration and well-being. Abdominal massage, specifically, can also be a quite helpful part of a plan for addressing diastasis recti, a common condition occurring in over 85% of new Moms, safely restoring core strength. Without any interventions, diastasis recti may become a long-term issue, lasting well beyond the postpartum period.
Also, your intestines and reproductive organs are now shifting back, having been
displaced by the growing baby. Lower back pain often results. You may also experience lower back pain resulting from a spinal block or epidural injections. This is also fairly common. Healing takes time, and many women are acutely aware of these changes and feel the gradual process of improvement.
Some find
the postpartum period extremely painful, while others are lucky enough to experience only mild discomfort. This range is normal, and varies quite a bit. Postnatal Massage at your home can help you cope with these issues whether it's felt like a long trek or an easy journey, as can living a balanced life before and after pregnancy, as concerns other aspects of your life.
Eat right (whatever that means for you, at this point), get quality sleep in sufficient amounts (with an infant...this may be challenging!), take your prenatal vitamins, spend time in nature, get some exercise like walking, and remember to do Hatha Yoga poses or other effective stretching modalities. Of course, there comes a time once your baby is born when you can't venture outside to the park or do much yoga, but you'll be better prepared if you use your prenatal time to mindfully practice a lifestyle of wellness and joy.
Carrying a newborn around in your arms might not seem so challenging, as infants don't weigh all that much, but all that lifting can lead to back pain. And, breastfeeding Moms often suffer from headaches, as well as neck, shoulder, and upper back pain, both from postural changes associated with the added weight of
fuller breasts, as well as from sitting in unusual positions for extended periods of time in order to breastfeed, or even more commonly, straining the neck looking down adoringly to watch the baby feed.
Without Postpartum Massage, the tension will just build
day after day, until one day you might just realize that your mobility is limited and your shoulders are burning with agony. Regularly scheduled sessions can help you regain your correct posture, and
can aid with improving muscle weakness, and help blood and lymphatic circulation.
Postnatal Massage Sessions can begin any time after delivery, when conducted at your home, and there are no complications.
If you've had a C-Section, you should wait at least two weeks before scheduling an appointment for Postnatal Massage, and you will want to consult with your
Ob/Gyn or Midwife first.
While still inside of you, the
growing baby occupied a good amount of space, and weighed quite a bit.
This had placed extra strain on the lower and
mid-back. Therapeutic Post-Natal Massage can relieve pressure on
the pelvic joints, as well as other ligaments and muscles that were affected
by the added weight and shifting posture. Postpartum Massage
can help a new Mom keep fit and strong after her pregnancy, feeling great all the while.
Quite a bit goes on in the body after birth, including numerous changes to the immune, metabolic, endocrine,
cardiovascular & pulmonary, neurological, sensory, integumentary, gastrointestinal, urinary/renal, reproductive, and
musculoskeletal system. Understandably, it's easy feeling overwhelmed.
Postnatal Massage: A Global Tradition, Reaching Back Into Antiquity
Perinatal Massage is a practice that goes back (at least) thousands of years, spanning many cultures worldwide. In India (and here in New Jersey among many women who have relocated from India), even to this day, new Moms customarily receive forty days of Postpartum Massage Therapy. In fact, the word quarantine comes from the Italian quaranta giorni, and refers to 40 days of isolation, the same exact amount of time women were confined to the home after birthing, according to the traditions of many world cultures in the Americas, Asia, and elsewhere.
Malishwali Services and Infant Massage Instruction. Ayurvedic Oils. Indian Head Massage.
Once baby is born, Post-Natal Massage Therapy can play a serious role in recovery for the new mother, but the benefits do not stop there. Some of our Certified Postnatal Massage Therapists are also Certified Infant Massage Teachers (CIMT) taught by the legend Tina Allen herself, noted founder of Liddle Kidz Foundation, a nonprofit that has popularized the benefits of Pediatric Massage worldwide.
Infant Massage has many proven benefits. These include fostering brain development, relieving stress, helping with digestive issues, encouraging regular sleep patterns, and may help babies meet milestones faster. Of course, when family begins daily massage of the infant, parent-child bonding increases.
In Hindi, the person performing this role is called a MalishWali, and can provide infant massage to your newborn. The goal is teaching the baby's caregivers how to perform Infant Massage on their own, once the therapist leaves. This both encourages parent-child bonding, and also allows for a greater frequency of infant massage sessions, as parents and family caregivers are there every day to provide a massage at bathtime.
To that end, these CIMT therapists conduct mini-classes right in your home, bringing along baby dolls to practice on and worksheets so everyone can remember what's been taught. Multiple family members are encouraged to participate, like Mom and Dad, siblings, and any other family staying close by to help.
Some of our therapists practice Ayurvedic-style massage techniques, and observe Ayurvedic principles. Such therapists choose warming pure oils like sesame, mustard, walnut, and sweet almond, as well as employ herb-infused Ayurvedic massage oils specifically formulated for postpartum women like Sukumara Taila. These LMTs also include head massage in their sessions. Scalp Massage isn't just for the barber shop, and our highly skilled therapists deliver results that are well worth the time, having been described as better than the best head massages in Kerala. That's quite a compliment!
Postpartum Depression? The Problem. Therapeutic Massage: The Solution.™
Postpartum Depression is a clinically-recognized health issue,
yet seldom do we look into the reasons making a new mother feel depressed. Dealing with all your issues is essential; there are many, many
ways of doing so. Postnatal Massage at your home can help to
lift your spirits and ease any mental tensions you may be carrying, as well as any muscle knots or painful ligaments, both to be expected at this time due to everything you've been through, amazing and worthwhile as it was.
Stress hormone levels decrease after a session of PostNatal Massage. You
may also be deeply fatigued, staying up nights feeding baby every two hours. Taking the time out for a therapeutic massage session can help you achieve the sort
of deep relaxation that is necessary for healing and ease of mind and Spirit. You may find that you sleep more deeply. This is good, because at some phases, you won't be getting much sleep at all, and the sleep you do get must be of the highest quality.
Feeling Life's Cycles: It's All About The Hormones
Month after month, your body cycled regularly through a program of certain predefined levels of hormones, releasing an egg, preparing the uterus, then shedding the uterine lining during menstruation. And then you got pregnant. Everything changed. The body's program for pregnancy is way different. Hormones affect how we feel and think. Think back. Wasn't your pregnancy such a memorable time, a time that felt incredible? You didn't imagine it, but your hormones certainly helped you to appreciate it.
And so, after your little one is born, your hormones shift again. It's just what happens, but it's like coming off of a roller-coaster. Postnatal Massage raises oxytocin levels and can aid in making the natural process of coming back into your own cycles feel less dark and heavy. therapeutic massage can help ease the burden, for many women.
If you're able to nurse your new baby without issue, congratulations! Breast milk is superior to infant formula, perfectly formulated by your body to deliver optimum nutrition, as well as enhanced immunity, to your new baby. BREASTMILK'S THE BEST FORMULA, FORMULATED BY NATURE! If you're not able to breastfeed, that's alright also. It's not for everyone, or appropriate for every parent's life circumstances. (Look into breast milk banks if you're not providing your own milk; human milk is still better than anything else for baby, society, and the environment!)
Evidence-based Therapeutic Massage for new moms can help increase milk flow. By reducing stress, and increasing hormones like oxytocin, studies show your available milk supply can actually increase. Besides having lactation counseling available that focuses on the baby's latch, some of our Postpartum Massage practitioners can also help you to learn more about other ways you can increase production, like staying hydrated and eating certain traditional foods, as well as foods proven to have effect based on phytochemical research.
Also, studies, including one by Dr. Nilima Rajan Bhore of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University show that Therapeutic Massage can even assist with milk letdown.
Mother's milk is the ideal nutrition for the growing baby; while modern science continually proves this to be so, in diverse ways, traditional cultures knew this to be true based on thier own systems of discovery and learning, long before. In the ancient Ayurvedic texts of India, the कशà¥à¤¯à¤ª संहिता Kashyap Samhita, specifically, we can find written, "The milk of a woman's breast provides the baby and mother with immense strength, longevity, growth, and development."
In fact, science has proven that these extraordinary health claims have merit, as new discoveries show more and more ways both baby and mother benefit: reducing a mother's risk for cancer, diabetes, and hypertension; lowering the baby's risk of asthma, obesity, diabetes, SIDS, ear infections, and digestive issues.
Breast Massage & Letdown Reflex: Let Go, and Just Flow!™
Therapists experienced in Breast Massage can also help improve your letdown reflex. Guided imagery during the breast massage encourages optimal mental and emotional associations with breastfeeding, and aims to help clear any blocks that are holding you back from being able to...let go, and just flow! Of course, the increase in prolactin and oxytocin associated with breast massage helps, but in the end it's your own letting go that can help even more.
Breast Massage is optional, however its effects are positive and worth considering. The positive effects on milk production are evident even with standard postnatal sessions excluding the breasts, however it has been our experience that breast massage, which helps improve blood circulation, encourages lymphatic drainage, and stimulates nerve endings that help signal milk production, helps most.
Breast Massage is also indicated when you are suffering from clogged milk ducts, engorgement, mastitis, have significant pain and tenderness in the breasts, or want application of oil to prevent stretch marks. A Japanese study from 2004 also showed that the quality of milk improves after breast massage, with higher levels of lipids, solids, gross energy and casein.
There are also emotional implications. Breast Massage, even when performed outside of the prenatal or postnatal period, can help relieve feelings of grief, as well as emotional blocks that are trapped in our physical body, in the form of body-memories. And, according to the Ayurvedic wisdom, the anahata chakra, or heart chakra, that governs the breasts, can become blocked with rage, anger, resentment, grief, bitterness, self-sabotage, not caring for yourself, caring for others yet neglecting yourself, a begrudging attitude, mistrust, and hopelessness. Breast Massage can help lift these blocks.
Additionally, it's practice that is supremely relaxing and can help promote breast health. And so, it's a win-win.
Lactation Counseling: Help With a Proper Latch and Much More
No woman should experience pain when breastfeeding! However, breastfeeding pain is a common issue we encounter in new Moms, all the same. Pain often means the baby's latch is not exactly right. Or, that something else might be of issue. Or, there may be multiple causes. It's a mystery that needs solving, and every case is different. Our Lactation Counselors truly want to assist you in succeeding. It's their personal mission to help your baby get enough nutrition!
They can also work with you to solve your unique puzzle and get to the bottom of why you are experiencing the issues you're encountering. These counselors utilize evidence-based techniques focusing on the latest in breastfeeding research. Counseling means that the mother is considered as a whole person, and while a proper latch is a significant component of a picture of successful breastfeeding, all social, medical, and familial aspects of her life are considered.
Lactation Counseling is helpful whether you are exclusively breastfeeding, using a manual or electric pump, or feeding breast milk and formula. Your counselor will also help guide you when it's time to wean the baby off the breast and onto solid (pureed) foods.
Lactation Counselors can answer all your questions in person, and assist you with all the issues of breastfeeding. These counselors assist you every step of your breastfeeding journey. Sore nipples, cracked nipples, inverted nipples, oversupply, insufficient supply, mastitis, as well as less common, but equally significant issues and health conditions.
4-Hand Traditional Massage Also Available
Sessions may be booked with one therapist or two. Four-hand massage is the most effective choice, as two therapists working on a single client can cover what it would take a single therapist double the time to do. This is our most luxurious option and will certainly yield the best results, for the amount of time set aside for massage therapy.
Serving
Northern & Central New Jersey: Bergen,
Hudson, Somerset, Middlesex, Union, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Monmouth
counties, as well as New York City (Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx)
Gift Certificates
also available. A sweet and thoughtful gift for your wife, Mom,
aunt, co-worker, neighbor, or friend.
To purchase
quickly and easily online, click the Gift Certificate link above, and choose the number of sessions you are interested
in. If you are planning to pay by PayPal, HSA, FSA, credit card, e-Check,
or Debit Card, you may do so on our secure site, or we can process
the order over the phone.
Please click on the '@ Contact Us' button, bottom-left, to access our inquiry form, or use the button at the top of this page. Feel free to also call us voice at (877) 480-8038 for more information or to book an appointment. We'd be happy to speak with you.
Cash, Credit Cards, Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, GooglePay,
and Gift Certificates accepted. Your insurance may cover Onsite Therapeutic Massage and other mobile Health Services we offer for parents and infants, such as Lactation Care and Infant Massage Classes. Please call us for details.
Note:
We offer strictly Therapeutic Massage and Health Services. If you're seeking anything else, please do not contact us.
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