As anyone who’s had a baby knows, so many feelings and so much energy is stored in your changing body that it is a must to get a massage as often as you possibly can. After your beautiful, long-awaited baby comes into the world, you are so busy being a new mom that your body is again slammed with a host of entirely new stresses and responsibilities, new physical positions (especially with nursing, bottle feeding and cuddling) and lots of bending and lifting of dropped creams, diapers, soaps, toys, blankets, puff puff, etc.
Melt– Fort Greene. From their site about the subject, “Among the many momentous things about pregnancy are the significant mental, physiological, and spiritual changes a woman experiences. Massage can be an effective complementary form of prenatal healthcare, offering moms-to-be a wide range of benefits. Prenatal massage can alleviate stress and promote relaxation, reduce swelling and high blood pressure, relieve musculoskeletal pain and strain, contribute to shorter, less painful labor, and facilitate postpartum recovery. And depending on each woman’s own experience in her pregnancy, there is an even wider range of benefits.”
84 Lafayette Avenue (lower level), Brooklyn, NY 11217
info@meltmassagenyc.com
646.450.MELT (6358)
Greenhouse Holistic– Williamsburg. About their pre and post natal massages, “This specialized treatment is designed to nurture and support new and expecting mothers. Using customized pillows, we offer relief from neck/shoulder tension, fatigue, sciatica and low back pain.”
218 N. 7th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-599-3113
info@greenhouseholistic.com
Carriage House Birth– Williamsburg. This is an incredible resource for women who are looking to connect with a supportive “village” during such a vulnerable, transitional time. “The space is a meeting place, where a doula is always present. Classes and workshops are held, bodywork and treatments are offered, pregnancy, birth or family photography may be arranged and a carefully curated corner of prenatal and postpartum essentials will be available for purchase. All this born out of a true need to have a home away from home for expecting families, birth workers and parents alike.”
347.699-0816
info@carriagehousebirth.com
Carriage House Birth
97 N. 7th Street Brooklyn, NY
As for my three personal favorite masseuses (and one recommended) who have helped me through the journey here in Brooklyn:
Rebecca is AMAZING. She worked with me through much my last pregnancy and has a talent for truly knowing and helping your body. I completely recommend her for before and after pregnancy.
Daru is WONDERFUL, and has helped me with post-natal massage. With two small kids, I cannot tell you how much I needed her healing hands. She delivers!
When I asked her to let all of us expecting and new moms know why massage is good for us, she said, “Anatomically, the relief of normal (or abnormal) muscle & nerve discomforts, plus the circulatory support can make a great difference in how you feel during a time when a momma’s body is changing so much, so often. Additionally, physiologically, the way that it helps to regulate your hormones (decreased cortisol, increased serotonin) as well as helping to boost your immune system, leads to lower anxiety and a healthier pregnancy and recovery!”
Daru Oda also recommends:
Karen Zuckerman, whom is absolutely working with some of the best establishments in NYC.
Jasmine Spacher – Jasmine was my masseuse through my first pregnancy, and literally worked miracles to calm me down, center me, relax me, and make me happy when I left. She is truly gifted, and also affiliated with Carriage House Birth as a doula.
Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.