At Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Saint Thomas Health Services began a new program offering free 15-minute massages to mothers who have had their babies at either hospital, the Nashville Business Journal reports.
Women who haven’t had their babies yet will also have access to this program outside of the hospital. Baptist Sports Medicine (an outpatient rehab and sports medicine clinic) offers a therapeutic and complete massage class for parents and infants. The massage strengthens the relationship between the parents and baby, releases endorphins and helps the growth and development of neurological pathways. A massage for a soon-to-be-mother reduces tension and improves the immune system’s ability to reduce swelling.
For an additional 15 minutes, there is a $20 charge at Baptist Hospital and Middle Tennessee Medical Center, and you can pick to focus on the neck and shoulders, back, or legs and feet. A therapeutic massage before or after delivery is $40 for 30 minutes or $75 for an hour.
(Nashville Business Journal, 7/10/08)