How Baby Massage can Help to Reduce Postnatal Depression
Postnatal depression is a real and crippling experience for many new mothers. Despite the incredible desire to have a baby and the excitement and joy of a child’s birth, hormonal changes and the far-reaching changes brought about by motherhood can result in some women experiencing overwhelming feelings of sadness and despair.
While awareness of postnatal depression is increasing, it seems that this form of depression is quite often under-recognised and therefore, under-treated. However, many leading doctors, academics and those who have had first-hand experience of postnatal depression are realising that infant massage can play a very significant role in helping to reduce the effects of depression following the birth of a child.
What is postnatal depression?
It is estimated that approximately one in seven women (or sixteen per cent of women who have experienced childbirth) will also experience postnatal depression. It is common for women who have postnatal depression to experience difficulties interacting with their baby; these difficulties range from the mother being too intrusive and interfering with their baby’s activities to the extent that the child withdraws, to the mother being so withdrawn that they are disengaged and do not interact with their baby. In such cases, it is common for the baby to experience distress and cry excessively.
What are the impacts?
When a mother has postnatal depression, it can be more difficult for the infant to form a secure and trusting attachment to their mother. The real effects of this situation may be seen in later years when an infant experiences difficulties in terms of cognitive, social and psychological functioning and development. Infants affected in this way may exhibit behavioural problems and have high stress levels.
How does infant massage help?
An increasing body of evidence shows that infant massage can be an effective way to positively impact the interaction between an infant and its mother. Baby massage can help a mother to feel more confident and grow in understanding of the verbal and non-verbal cues that her baby communicates to her.
Particularly when a good quality baby massage oil is used, the massage experience is enhanced and is an altogether more relaxing experience for the baby and its mother. Effective and enjoyable baby massage can help both the mother and baby to relax and cause oxytocin (a hormone that supports bonding) to be released.
Mothers who undertake a quality infant massage course also tend to feel more confident that they are delivering the correct baby massage techniques in a way that will be both enjoyable and beneficial for their baby. Receiving credible and correct infant massage training is important for any parent, but for mothers experiencing and identified as being at high risk of postnatal depression, quality training is all the more significant.
Psychological and physiological benefits…
For women with postnatal depression, the psychological and physiological benefits of baby massage are important. Because the training process involves a mother being equipped with time to observe their baby and a certified infant massage instructor being there to help them at every step, they tend to feel well-supported and better able to increase understanding of their baby’s cues and the most effective ways to massage their baby.
Of course, no woman wishes to experience postnatal depression, but it is heartening to know that advances are being made in terms of identifying and appropriately treating this form of depression. Infant massage is an important component of this and is proving to be an effective and beneficial practice that can help to reduce postnatal depression.