Stress relief from my what?! 
In this day and age, who isn’t anxious once in a while? It’s a chaotic world, and it’s often hard to let go and really relax. Unfortunately, stress is very damaging to our entire system and most doctors agree that over 75% of our health problems can be linked to stress. When we’re stressed, our body’s defense mechanism begins to break down, making us more susceptible to illness and disease. 
Anyone feeling stressed should become familiar with the SOLAR PLEXUS, the “nerve switchboard” of the body. This complex network of nerves, located behind the stomach and in front of the diaphragm, sends energy impulses to the upper part of the abdomen. Also called the “abdominal brain”, its purpose is to help balance the sympathetic nervous system, regulate the functions of the organs, and restore calm. It’s often affected by stress, anger, and depression.
Reflexology is extremely effective for calming and balancing the nervous system. It can help you let go of tension and soothe your mind. Reflexology is a drug-free coping mechanism for stress and a way to get in touch with what’s happening on the inside. For a quick route to stress relief, stimulate the reflex area to the SOLAR PLEXUS,
which is located on both feet, in the center of the foot, about half-way between the toes and the heel. This is a great starting point to relax yourself or your partner. Press the solar plexus point for 20 seconds to balance your nervous system and bring inner calm. Repeat this several times on each foot.
Stimulating the reflex to the solar plexus can relax the entire body and bring overall stress relief. It also promotes better, deeper breathing, and relieves the discomfort of allergies, asthma, and even acne. This reflex point is also the center of the third chakra, the Solar Plexus chakra, which relates to your personal power. Located an inch or two above the navel, this chakra is the focus point for our sense of power, ego, authority, self-control and discipline. It’s where the personality is formed. In addition to relieving stress, stimulate the SOLAR PLEXUS to better express your individuality and strength.
Read about the fantastic benefits of baby massage and our Baby Massage Onesie…http://fitbottomedbabies.com/2010/10/rub-a-dub/
Massage is a lovely way for you to express your love and care for your baby. Massage can soothe your baby and help her to sleep, try also using a baby lovie from https://makaboo.com/Gifts/angel-dear-lovie/ for your baby.
Massage has many added benefits for your baby, including improving weight gain, aiding digestion, improving circulation, and easing teething pain. Massage is a great way for you and your partner to bond with your baby, and you may find it relaxing, too!
What is baby massage?
Baby massage is gentle, rhythmic stroking of your baby’s body with your hands. You can use oils or a moisturiser to help your hands to glide smoothly over your baby’s skin. As part of your massage routine, you can gently manipulate your baby’s ankles, wrists and fingers. You can talk softly, hum or sing to your baby while you are massaging, which may make it more reassuring for your baby.
The soothing strokes of your hands stimulate the production of the feel-good hormone oxytocin in you, your baby and even your partner, if he’s watching. Oxytocin is the hormone that gives you that warm, loving feeling when you hold your baby close or breastfeed her.
What are the benefits of baby massage?
There are lots of ways baby massage can benefit not just your baby, but you and your partner as well. Massage may help your baby to:
develop mentally, socially and physically
stay relaxed and not get upset
cry and fuss less
sleep better
One study found that massage in the early days could help newborns to recover from jaundice more quickly.
You may find that giving your baby a massage lifts your mood and helps you to feel more empowered as a parent. The time you set aside for a massage can be your special time together. As you massage your baby, it comes naturally to chat to her and have plenty of eye contact with her.
This is one reason why massage can help mums with postnatal depression, or who are at risk of depression, to interact with their babies. Find out about the other benefits of baby massage for mums with depression and their babies.
Baby massage can be great for dads, too. Some dads may miss out on a lot of the hands-on care of their babies, especially if they are at work and their baby is breastfed.
A regular massage with dad can become a routine, perhaps at bedtime, that helps to bring your baby and partner closer together. It can also help your partner if he is feeling stressed.
Massage may be particularly good for premature babies in special care, resulting in:
Improved weight gain, particularly if oils are used. Massage stimulates a key nerve, called the vagus nerve, which connects the brain with important parts of the body, including the stomach. Stimulating this nerve can improve digestion and bowel movement, helping your baby to gain weight.
A more stable heart rate. Massage improves the parts of the nervous system that regulate our organs. So massage can help to keep your premature baby’s heart rate steady.
Calmer response to stress and pain.
More stable brain activity. Premature babies who are massaged tend to have brain activity that develops at a normal level. Premature babies who are not massaged have shown a decrease in brain activity development.
These benefits may contribute to the finding that massaged premature babies tend to be well enough to go home with their families sooner than babies who aren’t massaged.
Foot Massage Reduces Edema in Pregnant Women. Read on…http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=9881&catid=1&title=foot-massage-reduces-edema-in-pregnant-women
