Women’s experiences of massage during childbearing: A Swedish qualitative interview study

Massage during childbearing is a supportive practice that integrates physical and emotional well-being with mental recovery, making women feel seen, heard and touched. For optimal benefits and positive experiences, massage must be provided with respect to boundaries. This is particularly important because it may evoke sensitive memories, which involve a vulnerability that needs to be respected. Massage is a valuable complementary method alongside maternity care.