Rocking Away the Pain: Innovative Postpartum Rituals for Trauma Healing and Nervous System Regulation

In postpartum care and trauma healing, ancient wisdom is meeting modern neuroscience to create powerful, holistic approaches. Somatic rituals like closing the bones are gaining recognition for their profound impact on both physical and emotional well-being.

At the heart of these rituals lie two seemingly simple yet deeply effective techniques: rocking and wrapping. In this article I look at the science behind these practices, exploring how they tap into our primal comfort mechanisms to regulate the nervous system, promote healing, and offer a symbolic journey of rebirth after trauma.

Whether you’re a new mother, a trauma survivor, or a holistic or healthcare professional, understanding the transformative power of these rituals can open new pathways to healing and self-discovery.

What happens during a closing the bones ritual?

The ritual includes rocking the entire body with scarves (I use Mexican shawls called Rebozos), following by an abdominal massage sequence, and finally a process of tightening the rebozos around the body in sequence from the head to the toes.

For a longer explanation, read my article What is closing the bones. And, because a pictures speaks a thousand words, watch the short video below to get a taster of what it looks and feels like:

How closing the bones supports healing and nervous system re-regulation

Rocking and wrapping

Rocking and wrapping, two key elements of the closing the bones and postnatal recovery massage ritual, play a crucial role in calming the nervous system and healing from stress/trauma. These seemingly simple actions tap into deep, primal comfort mechanisms that can profoundly impact both our nervous system and emotional state.

The soothing power of rocking

Rocking is a universal comfort measure, instinctively used by mothers to soothe infants. This rhythmic motion has several benefits for trauma recovery:
Nervous system regulation: The gentle, repetitive movement of rocking helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, our body’s “rest and digest” mode. This counteracts the hyperarousal often associated with trauma.
Grounding and presence: Rocking encourages a focus on bodily sensations, helping individuals connect with the present moment rather than being caught in traumatic memories.
Emotional release: The soothing motion can create a sense of safety, allowing suppressed emotions to surface and be processed gently.
Vestibular stimulation: Rocking stimulates the vestibular system, which is linked to our sense of balance and spatial orientation. This can help individuals feel more centered and embodied.

The comforting effect of wrapping

Wrapping, another key component of these rituals, offers its own set of benefits for trauma recovery:

Deep pressure therapy: The firm, encompassing pressure of wrapping, activates the body’s deep pressure receptors. This stimulation can reduce anxiety and increase feelings of security.
Boundary reinforcement: For those who have experienced boundary violations, wrapping can provide a tangible sense of where the body ends and the outside world begins, reinforcing a sense of self.
Containment: The physical containment offered by wrapping can symbolically represent emotional containment, helping individuals feel safe enough to process difficult emotions.
Proprioceptive input: Wrapping provides strong proprioceptive input, which can help individuals feel more present in their bodies – particularly beneficial for those who dissociate as a trauma response.

Neurodivergence and Sensory Regulation

For neurodivergent individuals with autism or ADHD, rocking and wrapping can be particularly beneficial:

Sensory regulation: These actions provide predictable, controllable sensory input, which can be calming for those who struggle with sensory processing.
Self-stimulatory behaviour: Rocking, in particular, mimics self-stimulatory behaviours often used by neurodivergent individuals for self-regulation.
Anxiety reduction: The deep pressure from wrapping can significantly reduce anxiety, a common co-occurring condition in neurodivergence.

Symbolic Rebirth and Integration

Beyond their physiological benefits, rocking and wrapping carry powerful symbolic meaning:

Womb-like experience: these processes can recreate a womb-like environment, symbolically offering a chance for rebirth or a fresh start after trauma.
Ritual transformation: The process of being wrapped and then unwrapped can represent a journey through trauma and emerging anew.

In conclusion, the rocking and wrapping elements of closing the bones and postnatal recovery massage offer a unique blend of physiological regulation and symbolic transformation. By tapping into these primal comfort mechanisms, these rituals provide a gentle yet powerful approach to trauma healing, honouring the body’s innate wisdom and capacity for recovery.

Conclusion

The practices of rocking and wrapping, central to rituals like closing the bones, offer a potent blend of physiological and psychological benefits. By harnessing the body’s innate healing mechanisms, these techniques provide a gentle yet effective approach to trauma recovery and nervous system regulation. Their universal appeal lies in their ability to create a sense of safety, groundedness, and renewal – essential elements for healing after birth or traumatic experiences.

The adaptability of these practices makes them valuable tools for a wide range of individuals, including people who are neurodivergent. Rituals like these remind us of the profound connection between body and mind in the healing process.

For professionals in the field of women’s health and trauma recovery, incorporating these techniques into your practice can offer clients a unique and deeply nurturing path to healing.

In embracing these ancient yet innovative practices, we open doors to holistic healing that honours the body’s wisdom and the power of gentle, intentional care. As we rock and wrap away the pain, we create space for a profound sense of coming home to ourselves.

Learn to offer the ritual

If you are a holistic professional who supports women through birth, other life transitions or healing and you would like to be able to offer this ritual, I have 3 in person trainings near Cambridge this summer. I also offer an online course version of the ritual which makes it possible to learn this ritual anywhere in the world.

You can watch the videos below to get a feel of both the postnatal recovery massage ritual (done on a massage table instead of a mat on the floor).