Every birth is different and whether a positive or difficult experience you need time to adjust both physically and emotionally.  It’s very easy to spend all your time focusing on your baby and others, forgetting you have needs too, however nurturing yourself is just as important. Regardless of the type of birth or any difficulties that you may have experienced, mumabuba can offer you relief.

During your treatment I will use techniques such as reflexology and acupressure (Shiatsu) to rebalance your body following birth, release muscular tension from general mothering of a baby whilst having weak pelvic and abdominal muscles with massage, bodywork and yoga. I use craniosacral therapy to assist with postnatal depression and post-traumatic stress which may be caused by a traumatic birth.

I was lucky to have wonderfully positive pregnancies with my three children, but for me the postnatal period was always a challenge, so I understand just how difficult it can be, and how the right support can make all the difference. 

I have worked with many postnatal women, and I often find that a key benefit they gain from my support is my ability to empathise with their experience, listen without judgement, and work together to identify what support will be most beneficial. Sometimes just exploring your experience of birth and the postnatal period in a safe and nurturing space can be healing.

What to expect from your appointments

For your first postnatal appointment, we will have a detailed discussion about your pregnancy, the birth, and your postnatal experiences so far. We will also explore your own experience as a baby to identify any birth imprints that may be affecting how you feel. We will explore where your greatest challenges are, and the circumstances that create or exasperate those challenges, and we will discuss what you are hoping to achieve so that I can understand your current situation and how I can help.

Then while you receive your first treatment we will discuss a treatment plan that takes into account your individual circumstances and goals.

Each subsequent appointment will evolve to meet your needs at that time so that you always receive treatments that are tailored for you.

If you’re worried who will look after your baby, don’t stress! You can bring your little treasure with you, because I don’t use a massage table, your baby can join you during your treatments and even feed if needed.

Background

Tracy suffers with spina bifida occulta, with a fusion of the last two vertebrae in the spine.  Common symptoms can include back pain, leg weakness, bladder and bowel control problems.

Tracy had a traumatic and upsetting first pregnancy, having developed bleeding at the start of the pregnancy, which continued for 18 weeks, obviously this was a very stressful time, with a constant fear of miscarriage.  The bleeding stopped, but then she began suffering with bad backaches, made worse by the spina bifida.

Her baby was born naturally, but face to pubes and her placenta split during the birth leading to massive blood loss (known as postpartum haemorrhage). Tracy had six hours of surgery to repair damaged arteries in the uterus and remove the placenta.  As a result Tracy didn’t see her new baby for two days.

To make matters worse, Tracy’s bowel collapsed and she also suffered trauma to her bladder, leading to incontinence.  All this emotional and physical stress led to Tracy suffering with postnatal depression.

When Tracy fell pregnant again she came to see me when she was 6 weeks pregnant, after having a small bleed, she was obviously very anxious that her second pregnancy would be a repeat of her first, and was determined to do all she could to prevent that from happening.

Treatments

Tracy came to see me every week, and as her pregnancy progressed I varied the treatments to suit her needs.  Initially I focused on stabilising her hormones to reduce the risk of miscarriage and to reduce morning sickness.  We also spent a lot of time working on balancing her emotions and reducing her anxiety levels.

The combination of spina bifida and the previous collapse of her bowels meant that constipation was a key problem for Tracy. I was able to use a combination of reflexology, Shiatsu and bodywork to help and also provided her with techniques to use at home in between the treatments.

At times Tracy found that she was having difficulty sleeping and was feeling fatigued, so I varied her treatments to provide relaxation.  From 14 weeks I worked on treatments to prevent the backache she had experienced with her first pregnancy.

Towards the end of her pregnancy Tracy started to fear the thought of giving birth again, and was genuinely worried that either she or her baby would not survive (This level of fear is also known as Tokophobia).  To help Tracy and her husband prepare for the birth, they attended the  mumabuba ‘empowered birth’ workshop, which included lots of techniques to help with the usual labour challenges, plus I added some specific ways of helping Tracy with her anxieties and physical issues.

During her pregnancy Tracy had 39 treatments, I constantly adapted the treatments to suit her needs as her pregnancy progressed.

Outcome

Tracy’s baby was born via a natural birth at the local birth centre, with no issues at all – not even a tear.

I provided Tracy with her first postnatal treatment within 24hrs of the birth, whilst still in the birth centre.  I focused on rebalancing her body, helping with bowel movements and providing breastfeeding support.  Tracy had 20 postnatal treatments, with a specific focus on maintaining good bladder and bowel control, breastfeeding support (Tracy had inverted nipples which made breastfeeding a challenge), and also to balance her hormones and emotional wellbeing to prevent a repeat of her postnatal depression.

Tracy cherished this positive birth experience, which was a complete contrast to her first birth.