The Best Baby Shower Gift: A Pregnancy / Postpartum Massage
When celebrating a new baby on the way, baby shower gifts tend to focus on cute clothes, toys and nursery essentials. While these are all wonderful and thoughtful gifts, there’s one that truly stands out as a meaningful gesture for the parent-to-be: A pregnancy or postpartum massage voucher.
Here is why the expecting new mum will be forever grateful that you thought of her wellbeing.
The Massage Gift is Focused on Mum’s Wellness
Carrying extra weight, hormonal changes and body adjustments to growing a baby can lead to aches, pains and fatigue. By gifting a massage, you’re giving the mum-to-be the opportunity to pause, breathe and focus on herself!
Benefits of Massage In Pregnancy and for New MumsRelief from pain and discomfort of pregnancy - easing lower back, backache, headaches hip pain, swollen ankles and tense shoulders.
Improves circulation.
Relaxation and stress relief - Massage is perfect for calming the nervous system in pregnancy and easing prenatal anxiety (1).
Calmer and deeper sleep (1).
Mood improvement (1).
Lower levels of stress hormones (1).
Increases dopamine, giving feels of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation! (1)
Increase of immunoglobulin A - having a positive, cumulative effect on preventing illness (1).
2. Massage Elevates and/or Reduces Depression in Pregnancy and Postpartum
Depressed pregnant woman who received massage therapy reported lower depression and anxiety levels (1). This is incredible results for your friends and family who may struggle with their mental health.
3. Regular Massage Therapy Has Positive Effects On The Development and Growth of The Baby
Depressed women who had regular massage therapy, had lower incidents of pre-term births, and delivered a child with a higher birth weight than women in the control group (1).
Newborns of depressed mothers who did receive massage, scored better on behavioural and neurological tests than neonates who’s mother did not get massage (1).
Fewer complications during birth and fewer postnatal complications (2).
4. Postpartum Recovery Benefits
The postpartum period or “fourth trimeter”, is often as physically demanding as pregnancy itself. A new Mother’s body is healing while she is also navigating sleepless nights, breastfeeding, and caring for a newborn.
A postpartum massage can help:
Aid recovery from birth - Encouraging blood flow and muscle recovery after the marathon of giving birth!
Relieve aches and tensions - Particularly in areas strained by breastfeeding and carrying a newborn.
Boost emotional well-being - Postnatal depression and blues are very common, and a massage can offer a much-needed mental reset as well as some “me-time” for the mother.
5. A Flexible, Thoughtful Gift To Be Used In Pregnancy or Postpartum
One of the best things about a massage voucher is its flexibility. Mum can choose when to redeem it, whether she needs extra care during the final months of pregnancym or she’s readt for a little “me-time” postpartum.
Pregnant woman who come in for a massage during pregnancy or postpartum are truly some of my favourite clients to care for. They often arrive feeling tired, overwhelmed, and sore, simply in need of a moment to themselves. Watching them leave, whether it’s with a smile, refreshed from a nap on the table, or walking out with less tension and a spring in their step, is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
If you’d like to give the gift of care to a mum-to-be, a new mum or even a new dad, you can easily purchase a massage voucher online here. For a beautifully presented physical voucher, reach out to Maddi at hello@livewellco.nz to arrange it.
Live Well
Massage Clinic:
Moata Road,
One Tree Hill,
Auckland