After childbirth, many mothers feel very emotional. They may feel sad, afraid, inadequate, or angry. This is called postpartum blues or the baby blues and usually goes away within a week. Postpartum depression lasts longer and is more severe.
The 10 to 20% who feel depressed for longer can experience the inability to sleep or the desire to sleep much more; recurring thoughts of either something bad happening to their baby or of doing something to hurt the baby themselves; feeling no instinctive need to care for the baby or feeling unable to care; and feeling guilty, mad, unhappy or scared.
We know that massage is beneficial for mothers and for babies; in the instance of postpartum depression, massage benefits both as well as the relationship between the two, allowing them both to experience positive, healing interaction. Mom gets a massage and also learns how to share the experience with her baby.
During those first days after birth and the following first weeks, both baby and Mom will not always sleep well and regularly. Nerves can be on edge and it can seem like all you do as a mother is feed and diaper your baby. A relaxing massage can soothe and calm the mother. If she is also taught how to massage her baby, the shared experience can give them the opportunity to bond. The baby can also find relief from digestive problems and colic, teething, and inability to sleep.
The study ‘Massage and mother baby interaction with depressed mothers’, carried out by Fetal and Neonatal Stress Research Group, considered whether mothers suffering from postnatal depression would benefit from attending baby massage classes.
One group went to five massage classes and another similar (control) group went to a support group. At the end of the test period the massage group had significantly less depression and better interaction with their babies than the control group.
Soothing massage music helps us to relax. Research suggests that music stimulates the body’s natural “feel good” chemicals (opiates and endorphins). This stimulation results in improved blood flow, blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing, and posture changes, many of the same results that we see from massage. So both mother and baby can benefit greatly from massage accompanied by massage music.
Related Articles
Soothing Colic or Wind Related Problems With Baby Massage
By: Gayle Berry | 29/01/2008 | Parenting
Colic affects many new born babies and it is distressing condition for both baby and parent. Colic is misunderstood and widely used to describe a whole range of conditions. Symptoms of colic can include prolonged crying during late afternoon on a regular basis, a hard tummy, drawing legs up to tummy, and difficultly passing wind.
Guide To Massaging New Born Babies
By: Kevin Pederson | 17/02/2006 | Health
Newborns simply love to be touched and cuddled. The skin to skin touch helps you and your baby bond, comforts your baby when she is upset or uneasy with gas or colic problems. Hence, touch is a critical part of growth and development.
Depression – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
By: Peter sams | 21/02/2008 | Mental Health
Why Did the Great Depression Occur?
Economists still cannot agree on what caused the Great Depression. Most however have agreed that it was a combination of events and decisions that came into play that caused the Great Depression.
Post Pardom Depression
By: David B Smith | 04/04/2008 | Mental Health
Depression is a problem that a vast number of individuals struggle with nowadays, but it tends to burden pregnant women and new mothers in a very specific and serious way.
Guide to Massaging New Born Babies
By: Sharon Hopkins | 06/10/2007 | Diseases and Conditions
Newborns simply love to be touched and cuddled. The skin to skin touch helps you and your baby bond, comforts your baby when she is upset or uneasy with gas or colic problems. Hence, touch is a critical part of growth and development.
The massage strokes used on adults are completely different from the strokes to be used on newborns. You can adapt the adult strokes to massage your child. Just make sure that your strokes are lighter on them. The younger they are, more delicate and smaller will b
Depression After Pregnancy
By: Zinn Jeremiah | 18/03/2008 | Fitness
A consideration of depression following child birth.
Does Pregnancy Cause Depression?
By: David B Smith | 04/04/2008 | Mental Health
In contemporary Western societies pregnancy is considered wonderful, and all women are meant to be delightfully happy and gratified with their dreams of motherhood ultimately being realised.
Infant Massage and Your Baby
By: Andrew Stratton | 16/12/2007 | Alternative Medicine
Massage is an important routine, and it's not just for adults anymore. Usually, we think of stress relief, but for babies, infant massage promotes the growth and well-being of your child.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
If taking 0.50mg - 1.0 mg of xanax and taking this ...
By: robin | 08-07-2008
if taking 0.50mg - 1.0 mg of xanax and taking this for about 2 weeks, and at around every other day, how quickly does this drug take to be out of your system? Last dose 2 days ago.
RELAXANE for STRESS, Had anybody tried it ...
By: laura | 29-06-2008
I tried RELAXANE for STRESS, Had anybody tried it. It is different.www.relaxane.com
I have some Alprazolam(Xanax) from 1995 and i was ...
By: deckz | 26-06-2008
I have some Alprazolam(Xanax) from 1995 and i was wondering if it still may even be effective at all?
Can you telll me if it is possible for surgery to ...
By: kathy | 21-06-2008
can you telll me if it is possible for surgery to trigger ptsd symptoms and depression if one is already diagnosed with these.
5 Htp research
By: B | 26-05-2008
Does anyone know of any research being done right now on 5 Htp and aggression, depression or platelets? Email me at toolam61@aol.com I have a teenager who respondes exceptionally to it but I cannot find anyone in the medical field who knows anything about what I am talking about!
Britney Spears- bipolar
By: peachkin | 04-05-2008
How is Britney Spears treating her bipolar disorder
Q&A Powered by:
More from Daniel Kobialka
Inspirational Music: What Inspires Us, How and Why?
By: Daniel Kobialka | 02/08/2008 | Music
What inspires you? An exploration of the effects of inspirational music on our lives. Is it country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, hip hop, rap, Christmas carols, reggae, techno, or all of the above?
Giving a Relaxing Massage to Your Partner: 10 Tips
By: Daniel Kobialka | 24/07/2008 | Self Help
A relaxation massage can create a bond with your partner or help relieve unpleasant mental, emotional or physical symptoms. These 10 tips and techniques can make your massage experience easy and successful.
Music Intervenes in Evil Versus Evil
By: Daniel Kobialka | 11/05/2008 | Music
Music appears as the superhero in this classic tale of evil vs. evil. Music opens hearts and helps healing begin.
Music for Healing and Relaxation
By: Daniel Kobialka | 24/04/2008 | Music
Music as a complex form of sound vibrations is being studied as a way to communicate with those who cannot speak, and even with those who cannot hear. There are therefore many areas to be explored in discovering the healing power of music.
Positive Music for a Relaxing Meditation
By: Daniel Kobialka | 24/04/2008 | Self Help
You can recognize whether the music you are listening to is positive or negative by the way your mind, body, emotions and psyche react. When you are practicing a relaxing meditation, positive music is a great place to start.
Music and Sound Healing
By: Daniel Kobialka | 24/04/2008 | Alternative Medicine
Cultures throughout the world have used music to empower, energize, and heal the body, mind and spirit since time immemorial. Recent studies have shown that music can slow down and help balance brain waves, and reduce tension and stress.
10 Reasons to Buy Music From Independent Artists
By: Daniel Kobialka | 24/04/2008 | Music
Whatever the reason for creating their own labels, musicians sometimes forget the advantages they hold and focus instead on the multitude of challenges. I'm sharing my personal favorite reasons why I enjoy having my own label, and why music lovers should consciously choose to buy music from independent labels.
Music Reduces Stress and Supports Healing
By: Daniel Kobialka | 10/04/2008 | Music
Brain research meets anecdotal stories: research shows that music can help heal the brain, the heart, the nerves, and much more.
Art and Entertainment 
