Massage for new mums.
Postnatal remedial and Kahuna bodywork for new mums on the Sunshine Coast, from six weeks postpartum onward. Nursing posture, carrying load, sleep depletion, the stress of early motherhood. Mobile to your home, the most practical option with a baby.
Why new mums need a tailored approach.
The postnatal body is in active recovery from one of the most significant physical events a body can go through. Postnatal massage is a different category from pregnancy massage: priorities shift from supporting late-stage pregnancy to supporting a body that's just been through birth and is now carrying, feeding, lifting, and running on broken sleep. Timing matters; techniques matter; framing of the session matters.
For new mothers in the early weeks, the body needs time before standard remedial work is appropriate. Massage for new mothers and after baby massage that respects the recovery window (six weeks for an uncomplicated delivery, longer for C-section) lands well; earlier work needs specialised postpartum training. Massage for mums at any stage follows the same principle: meet the body where it is. The pregnancy massage page covers the chapter that precedes this.
When postnatal massage is appropriate
- Six weeks postpartum after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, once the postnatal check is clear
- Eight to twelve weeks after a C-section, with GP or obstetrician clearance
- Specialised earlier postpartum massage exists from therapists with specific training; not offered in this practice
- If you're unsure, your GP, midwife, or maternal health nurse can confirm where you sit in the recovery window
Gentle work to start; building progressively as the body settles. You set the pace; nothing aggressive in the early postnatal months.
Common new-mum body issues.
The post-baby load lands in predictable places. Four patterns that cover most of what postnatal patients bring through the door.
Neck and upper traps
Looking down at the baby for feeds, settling, cuddles. Upper traps, suboccipitals, levator scapulae carry the constant downward gaze. The single most reported pattern for new mums.
Upper back and shoulders
Carrying baby, breastfeeding posture, rounded shoulders. Rhomboids and mid-traps hold a long-held forward posture; pec minor tightens. The second universal pattern across postnatal mums.
Wrists and thumbs
Lifting, carrying, supporting the baby's head. De Quervain's syndrome (thumb-side wrist tendinopathy) is common, sometimes called "mummy thumb". The repetitive hold-and-lift pattern loads forearm and thumb structures hard.
Lower back and hips
Pregnancy hormones still settling, awkward lifting, hip changes. The lower back and hip system takes months to fully recalibrate after birth; massage supports the muscular layer through that window.
How I tailor the session.
A first postnatal massage session starts with the picture: how many weeks postpartum, delivery type, current symptoms, sleep and feeding situation, what's flared. Position is flexible: side-lying often suits early postnatal patients better than prone (especially for breastfeeding mums); standard prone and supine once you're comfortable. The hands-on work stays appropriately gentle in the first sessions, building as the body settles.
I'm Lorena, with Diploma of Remedial Massage (HLT52015), ANTA registration, and Mette's Institute Kahuna L1-3 training. For new mums the targeted remedial work handles the specific neck/upper-back/wrist patterns; Kahuna bodywork suits the periodic full-body restoration session when the whole nervous system needs a reset. Many new mums alternate between the two through the first year.
When to book.
The right rhythm shifts with the postnatal months. Choose the one that fits where you are now.
First return
The first session back, gentle and assessment-led. Builds a sense of where the body is now. Schedule when childcare allows uninterrupted time.
Reset course
For locked traps, persistent wrist pain, deep lower-back tightness. Closer-spaced sessions settle the muscular layer faster when something has been building.
Maintenance
The standard rhythm through the first year and beyond. Enough to hold the baseline against ongoing baby-carrying load; light enough to fit life with a young child.
Mobile to your home.
Getting to a clinic with a newborn is often the bottleneck for new-mum self-care. Mobile sessions to your home across the Sunshine Coast are usually the most practical option: no nappy bag to pack, no feeding window to time around the drive, no waking the baby to leave. The full setup comes with me; you need a quiet room and ideally someone to hold the baby during the session.
Clinic at Valdora also available when mobile doesn't suit. Full details on mobile massage across the Sunshine Coast.
Session pricing.
Postnatal sessions usually run 60 minutes for targeted remedial; 75 to 90 minutes for Kahuna restoration. Claimable through most extras cover as remedial.
Mobile prices include travel surcharge by zone ($10 to $30 depending on suburb). Full pricing page.
New mum massage FAQ.
When can I start massage after birth?
Standard guidance: six weeks postpartum after uncomplicated vaginal delivery, eight to twelve weeks after C-section with GP clearance. Earlier postnatal massage from a specialist with immediate postpartum training exists, but for general remedial work six weeks is when the body has settled enough for standard treatment. Gentle work to start; building progressively. If unsure, your GP or midwife confirms where you sit.
Can I bring my baby to the session?
Honestly, it's hard to relax during a session if you're listening for the baby. The practical answer is either a mobile session at home with someone else holding the baby in another room, or a clinic visit during a window when childcare is in place. A short visit with the baby asleep nearby can work, but the deeper the session, the more important uninterrupted time becomes.
What about diastasis recti or pelvic floor issues?
These sit outside the scope of remedial massage. Diastasis recti (abdominal separation) needs assessment from a women's health physiotherapist for a proper rehabilitation programme; same with pelvic floor concerns. Massage helps the wider muscular layer (back, neck, shoulders, hips) supporting your recovery, but abdominal and pelvic floor work specifically is physio territory.
Book your session as a new mum.
Postnatal remedial and Kahuna bodywork from six weeks postpartum onward. Sunshine Coast clinic at Valdora or mobile to your home. You matter too.