Massage after delivery: a gentle guide for the first months, after the 40 days

By the Ima Wellness team · Updated 27 September 2026 · 3 min read

In many Indian homes, the weeks after a baby arrives are a time of rest, warm food and oil massage. Grandmothers and older women traditionally helped the new mother through this period, often called sawa mahina or the 40 days. The tradition exists for a reason: your body has done enormous work, and it needs time and care to recover.

What changes once the 40 days are over is usually not the pain but the help around you. Relatives go home, nights stay broken, and the carrying, feeding and bending carry on. This is where many mothers first notice an aching upper back, tight shoulders and a sore lower back.

When is it safe to start?

There is no single date that fits every mother. As a general guide:

• After a normal delivery, gentle massage is usually fine once bleeding has settled and your doctor is happy with your postnatal check.
• After a C-section, wait until your doctor clears you. Keep all pressure away from the scar and abdomen, and lie in positions that feel comfortable, often on your side at first.
• If you had complications, such as high blood pressure, heavy bleeding or a blood clot, speak to your doctor before any massage.

When you book with Ima, tell us how many weeks postpartum you are and whether you had a C-section. Your therapist will adjust the position and pressure.

Why new mothers ache where they do

Feeding pulls the shoulders forward and rounds the upper back, often for hours a day. Carrying a baby on one hip tilts the pelvis and loads the lower back unevenly. Bending over a cot, a changing mat and a bathtub adds up. Add broken sleep and it becomes hard for muscles to recover overnight.

Which session to book

• Back & Shoulder (45 min, ₹849): the most practical choice while the baby naps. It targets the feeding posture directly.
• Swedish (60 min, ₹1,299): a gentle full-body massage when you want to feel like yourself again.
• Foot Reflexology (45 min, ₹849): good if you prefer to stay dressed and keep the session short.
• Potli (60 min, ₹1,800): warm herbal pouches are a familiar Indian postnatal comfort. Ask your doctor first if you've had a C-section.

If you are breastfeeding, tell your therapist so she can keep strongly scented oils away from your chest and use a plain oil instead.

Small things that help between sessions

• Bring the baby up to the breast with a pillow instead of leaning down.
• Switch the hip you carry on, and use a carrier for longer walks.
• Roll your shoulders back and down a few times after each feed.
• Sleep when someone else can watch the baby, even for 40 minutes.

Questions women ask

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