“A wise mother knows: It is her state of consciousness that matters. Her gentleness and clarity command respect. Her love creates security.” Vimala McClure, author, The Tao of Motherhood
Over the past month, yes it’s only been a month, the way we live has changed dramatically. Not only with the concern over contracting coronavirus, but ensuring we keep our babies protected. We no longer have the freedom to do what we want, meet with friends, take part in activities, visit family or just nip out for a coffee. Time with baby is precious and limiting, so this lockdown almost robs new mums of this wonderful new parent experience and maternity leave!
For new mums, this has a massive impact. Despite having this undivided quality time with baby, mums anticipated a new chapter in their life, a break from work with maternity leave and spend quality time with their new baby. Looking forward to taking part in numerous baby classes, learn new skills and more importantly, meet other mums, forge new friendship and share experiences. Being at home with a new baby is isolating enough without extra enforced measures, but being denied access to do all the baby activities is a massive blow. Yes, you perhaps have your partner at home more, but grandparents cannot be involved or help, thus denying them to get to know their new grandchild or allowing special bonding time. Using digital video calls is great to visually see them, but nothing replaces a physical touch and being held and hugged. The pain of not being able to be close or hold their new grandchild must be immense.
The anxiety and fear of being able to get basic essentials for you and your baby or even nursery furniture or prams. The luxury of browsing in shops and buying has gone for now, but now is when you need it if your baby is due now or soon. We didn’t have warning really to prepare properly.
All of this and shifting hormones with becoming a new mum raises stress levels and anxiety anyway. Babies can pick up on how you are feeling and your anxieties. If you feel relaxed and love towards your baby, they will respond. Baby massage has so many benefits to help cope. Performing massage with baby will help reduce anxiety in yourself. Massage stimulates the production of oxytocin, in you and your baby, which is a calming and a pain-relieving effect. It lowers stress levels in both of you, and will help you and your baby sleep more deeply. It’s very easy to lie awake thinking about what is going on all around us.
The touch of massage a strong sense and tells baby they are loved, safe and protected. And will bring you a sense of comfort too, fulfilment and contentment. It’s a basic form of communication and is the first sense to be developed in the womb. They are used to tactile stimulation in the womb and this needs to re-established after birth. Massage strengthens the bond between parent and baby and will just help you have a deeper connection with your baby. And once we’re through this, grandparents would benefit from the techniques to help them connect with their new grandchild they’ve not been able to hold.
So, I urge you to switch off the news for a while. I’ve noticed with homeschooling I am forced not to have the news on TV or radio, or flicking through social media. Just having the quietness and peace has helped us to be mindful and present and not to focus on what’s going on. We are lucky to have a garden with trees so just simply watching the trees, birds, squirrels and ducks has given us privileged view of calm and nature all around us.
For parents with newborns who have not had chance to attend classes as yet, but would like to learn massage & reflexology, why not take an online virtual class with me via Zoom. I am now offering online lives classes and courses. You may be worried about your baby suffering with ailments such as digestion. Massage helps with the relief of colic, wind, reflux and constipation. Following the right advice and technique is important and having it specifically for your needs. The classes are interactive and can provide you with some critical techniques that will help you until you are able to join a real course.
One-to-one sessions £10 (usually £35), showing you a selection of techniques that can help you and your baby to get through these difficult weeks; A full group 4 week course, £24 (usually £50) includes emailed notes; one-to-one 4 week course £40 (usually £120).
Hold Me by Duran Duran
Contact me Susan susan@appletonbabymassage.co.uk 07900 867933 to discuss to and arrange.
Baby Massage Course to be announced soon!
