Lymphatic Massage for Reproductive Health
For this week’s blog, we invited Kem White to talk with us about lymphatic massage for reproductive health. Kem is an ayurvedic Specialist, clinical herbalist, and postpartum doula with Bay City Doulas! Kem has worked closely with families and new moms in different modalities since her first son’s birth twenty-five years ago! We hope you enjoy this blog written by Kem!
The lymphatic system
The Lymphatic System is a complex network of lymph vessels and nodes. It is responsible for many bodily functions, including fluid regulation, immunity, cleansing of the blood, and detoxification.
Lymphatic massage
Lymphatic massage is a therapeutic massage that uses repetitive strokes to help with water retention (also known as edema) and detoxification. In Ayurveda which is a 5000-year-old healing modality from India, this practice is called Abhyanga and utilizes warm, nourishing oil and a practitioner’s caring hands. In my practice, I commonly do a 90-minute therapeutic lymphatic treatment using warm rocks, hot towels, cupping, gua sha, and acupressure to compliment the experience further.
Benefits during pregnancy
While pregnant, this therapeutic massage moves stagnation to help with aches and pains. It encourages the flow and release of fluid in the body’s tissues, especially addressing swollen ankles and legs. Which can help increase mobility and comfort. Massage treatments help with puffy eyes and can help potentiate normal milk flow. It also increases energy levels when you are feeling sleepy and tired. I recently got feedback from a client that she did not even feel pregnant the next day after her treatment! Studies on the benefits of massage have shown to increase serotonin and dopamine levels, those feel-good hormones. Lymphatic massage is beneficial throughout pregnancy and can be incredibly transformative in the later stages during the third trimester when edema can become uncomfortable because it temporarily reduces movement ease.
Benefits postpartum
In traditional cultures worldwide, Postpartum massage techniques are used to restore, nourish, and rejuvenate the mother. The repetitive strokes of lymphatic massage, warm oil, and additional healing modalities help new moms transition into motherhood. Lymphatic Massage promotes returning to your body and helps you become energized and balanced to meet your baby’s daily needs. Massage improves sleep quality, reduces anxiety, and increases circulation to reduce swelling and relieve pain for a quick recovery from the hard work of labor and birth while preventing the baby blues.
Like I mentioned above, in Ayurveda, this massage technique is called Abhyanga. Traditionally Abhyanga is used on both mom and new babe to help settle nerves and relieve tension. When I give postpartum lymphatic treatments, babies are welcome to stay nearby with a family member, friend, or doula while the mother receives the massage. Sometimes nursing babies will briefly join the mom on the table. When the timing is right, at the beginning or end of the mama’s massage, I can show the mama and whoever assists traditional baby massage techniques with the warm oil and towels.
For more information
For more information about my practice and the packages that I offer, please contact me through the Santa Cruz Midwives website. If you are in the Bay Area and are looking for lymphatic massage, please feel free to reach out as well, and we can further discuss my travel package.
Thank you for joining us
Thank you for joining us this week, Kem! We loved hearing about what you had to say! For those joining us, we hope you enjoyed this week’s blog, ” Lymphatic massage for reproductive health!” For more helpful tips on all things pregnancy, birth, parenthood, and postpartum, please read our other weekly blogs.
