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Massage Therapy Eases Postpartum DiscomfortThe birth of a child is a joyous occasion, but in the days following delivery, many new moms find themselves fatigued, in pain and overwhelmed by the experience. The University of Virginia Health System is one of the only hospitals in the country that offers massage therapy to all postpartum patients to help ease pain and tension.While in labor, a woman's body becomes very tense, said Michelle Durham, massage therapist for The Women's Place at U.Va. since March 1997. With postpartum massage, I focus on relaxing the body and easing the pain. Durham said studies have shown that the use of massage on hospital patients decreases the need for pain medication, helps move fluid through the body and improves the body's overall functioning. After having a postpartum massage, women are less focused on pain and can concentrate more on going home, she said. Durham also instructs new moms on how to massage their babies, a practice which has been shown to reduce crying, promote weight gain and ease stress and anxiety in infants. Most massage therapists who work in hospitals have part-time positions or have other primary responsibilities, said Daisy Denham, perinatal services manager for The Women's Place. U.Va. is the only health care institution in the country that has a full- time massage therapist on staff focusing on certain patient populations, she said. At The Women's Place, we're technically oriented, but we're also touch-oriented. We felt that massage therapy was a valuable service to offer our patients. While Durham works primarily with postpartum patients, she also gives massages to women during labor, teaches pain management techniques for prepared childbirth classes and offers massage to Mid-Life Health patients before or after their appointments. Jan. 14, 1998 |