Improving the Self-Esteem in Postpartum Women Through Massage and Complementary Techniques

Abstract

We thought that we could approach the postpartum woman, from a psychological-physical point of view, through massage, applying programs adapted to the specific needs of four postpartum women, the results being compared to the progress of other four postpartum women, who were not involved in these programs, being tested only initially and finally. The results have proven that the application of adapted massage, Shiatsu, and stretching programs on postpartum women over the course of the first eight weeks after birth (three sessions per week during the first four weeks, and two sessions per week during the following four) contributes to the acceleration of the process of returning to normal physical and emotional parameters and to the improvement of their self-esteem, successfully preventing the postnatal depression.