Postpartum massage in Calgary

Postpartum massage at Renu is a gentle, adapted massage for the weeks and months after birth, with Sasha Bernard, a Registered Massage Therapist who specializes in prenatal and postnatal care. Sessions focus on recovery, the tension that builds from feeding and carrying, and a rare stretch of rest; you can book 60 minutes ($120) or 90 minutes ($157). If calf pain, chest pain, heavy bleeding or a headache with vision changes appear, call your doctor or midwife before booking anything.

What a postpartum session focuses on

A postpartum massage is about recovery, not performance. The months after birth load your body in new ways: hours of feeding with your head bent forward, lifting a car seat in and out of the car, rocking a baby on one hip, and very little sleep. At Renu, postpartum sessions focus on three things: recovery from the birth itself, the tension that builds from feeding and carrying, and an hour or more in which nobody needs anything from you.

In practice that usually means time on the neck, shoulders and upper back, the forearms and wrists that do so much holding, and the low back and hips that are still settling after pregnancy. Pressure is set by how you feel that day, not by a fixed routine. If you are sore, depleted or emotional, the session can be slower and quieter; if you mainly want a stiff shoulder sorted, it can be more targeted.

Who you will see at Renu

Postpartum massage at Renu is led by Sasha Bernard, a Registered Massage Therapist whose published credentials include prenatal and postnatal massage and lymphatic drainage therapy. She trained and certified in Lymphatic Drainage Therapy through the Chikly Health Institute, which matters if swelling is part of your story. She is also a mother of four, so the realities of feeding positions and broken nights are not abstract to her.

Dr. Will Tanner, also a Registered Massage Therapist, offers prenatal massage at Renu as well. If his times suit you better after the birth, call us and we will talk through whether his schedule fits what you need. You can read both bios on our team page.

Tension from feeding and carrying

The neck and upper back take much of the strain in early parenthood. Feeding, burping and settling a baby all draw the head forward and round the shoulders, often for hours a day. Our page on postpartum posture for feeding and carrying has set-ups you can use at home; massage is the hands-on half of that work.

The research on massage after birth is still small, so here is an honest picture:

• Postpartum neck pain. A 2026 randomized trial of 60 women with neck pain after birth found that adding a hands-on technique (Tui-Na massage or positional release) to posture-correction exercises reduced pain more than exercises alone over four weeks. The authors call for caution because the trial was short.
• During pregnancy. A 2021 systematic review of 12 randomized trials found relaxation massage in pregnancy reduced stress, back and leg pain, depression and anxiety, with only minor, short-lived side effects reported in two trials. That evidence is about pregnancy, not the months after, but it describes the same kind of gentle, adapted massage.

We see massage as one support among several. Pelvic floor recovery, for example, is a different job; our page on postpartum massage versus pelvic floor physiotherapy explains who does what.

When lymphatic work fits postpartum swelling

Gentle lymphatic techniques can be woven into a postpartum massage when swelling is part of the picture. Several of our massage therapists are lymphatic-trained, and Sasha’s lymphatic training means she can switch from muscle work to very light, rhythmic drainage strokes in the same session. If swelling is your main concern, a classic lymphatic drainage massage (60 minutes, $130) is the session built entirely around it.

Lymphatic work is not right for everyone after birth. The Cleveland Clinic advises against lymphatic drainage with blood clots or deep vein thrombosis, infection, fever, heart disease or kidney failure. That is why we ask about your birth and your health before we start. Our page on swelling after birth explains what is expected and what is not, and if you had a caesarean, read C-section recovery and lymphatic drainage before booking.

Choosing a length and booking

Most new parents book 60 minutes, because it fits around a feed and the drive. Ninety minutes suits a fuller session when someone else has the baby for the afternoon.

Session	Length	Price	Suits
Postnatal massage (booked as prenatal massage)	60 min	$120	Neck, shoulders and back, or one main concern
Postnatal massage (booked as prenatal massage)	90 min	$157	Whole-body recovery, or massage plus lymphatic techniques for swelling

Book online with Sasha through Jane, or phone the clinic and we will help you choose. A few practical notes from the treatment room:

• Timing. When to start depends on your birth and your recovery, and we cover it in detail on massage after birth.
• Feeding. If you are breastfeeding, it can help to feed just before you arrive. Our page on massage while breastfeeding covers position and comfort.
• Your baby. Ask us before you bring your baby; see bringing your baby to a postpartum massage.
• Getting here. We are in West Hillhurst with free street parking on 19 Street, and open seven days, including 10 am to 5 pm on weekends, when a partner is often home to take over.

When to call your doctor or midwife instead

Some symptoms after birth need a medical assessment, not a massage. The NHS lists these as warning signs to act on straight away:

• Pain, swelling or redness in the calf of one leg, which can be a sign of a blood clot
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Sudden or very heavy bleeding from the vagina, feeling faint or a racing heartbeat
• A high temperature with a sore, tender tummy, which can signal infection
• A headache with changes in your vision and vomiting, which can be a sign of pre-eclampsia

The NHS also notes that bleeding after birth carries on for a few weeks, gradually turning brownish and lessening, and that breastfeeding can bring period-like cramps as the womb contracts. Those are expected. What is not expected is bleeding that suddenly increases, or any of the signs above. If you notice one, contact your doctor, midwife or emergency services first, and book your massage once you have been cleared.

Questions people ask

Is a postpartum massage booked the same way as a prenatal massage?

Yes. At Renu the postnatal session sits under prenatal massage, at the same 60 and 90-minute lengths and prices. When you book with Sasha, add a note that you have had your baby and roughly when, so she can plan the session around where you are in recovery.

Can postpartum massage help me sleep better?

It may help some people. In one 2026 randomized trial of 70 first-time mothers after vaginal birth, 12 half-hour foot massages over four weeks improved sleep quality scores compared with standard care. It is a single trial, so treat it as encouraging rather than settled.

Does my extended health plan cover postpartum massage?

Sasha is a Registered Massage Therapist, and many extended health plans cover RMT massage, but limits and rules differ from plan to plan. Check your benefits booklet or call your insurer before you book so the receipt is useful to you.

What if I still look and feel swollen several weeks after the birth?

Some swelling in the feet and ankles is common soon after birth, but swelling that lingers, is in one leg only, or comes with pain or redness should be checked by your doctor first. Once you are cleared, lymphatic techniques in a massage, or a classic lymphatic drainage session, are options to discuss with us.

Sources

1. NHS: Your body after the birth
2. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021): Effects, side effects and contraindications of relaxation massage during pregnancy, a systematic review of RCTs
3. Physiotherapy Research International (2026): Tui-Na massage versus positional release for postpartum neck dysfunction, a randomized trial
4. Breastfeeding Medicine (2026): Postpartum foot massage, breastfeeding success, sleep quality and newborn stress, a randomized trial
5. Cleveland Clinic: Lymphatic drainage massage

Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.