Sobada
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Sobada is a therapeutic massage that was developed in the
Central and South America Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
. Sobada is divided into two general categories. One type of sobada, which is done by
midwives A midwife (: midwives) is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialisation known as midwifery. The education and training for a midwife concentrates extensively on the care of women throughout their ...
, helps with the reproductive cycle when a woman is
pregnant Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring gestation, gestates inside a woman's uterus. A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Conception (biology), Conception usually occurs ...
. The second type of sobada, which is performed by los sobadores, or people who specialize in sobada, helps to reposition organs or parts of the body that are considered out of alignment. Sobada is part of the system of values and is part of the local language. There is a known difference between what sobada is and what a light massage is.


Prenatal Sobada

Sobada is done by the midwife to her pregnant patient during various prenatal visits. The massage is usually done within a greeting, massage and leave taking structure. Depending on the needs of the mother-to-be, certain parts of this structure may be expanded upon. For example, expansions can help relieve particular bodily symptoms as well can be used to help turn a baby around. Sobada is thought by both midwives and mothers to be one of the most important parts of
prenatal care Prenatal care, also known as antenatal care, is a type of preventive healthcare for pregnant individuals. It is provided in the form of medical checkups and healthy lifestyle recommendations for the pregnant person. Antenatal care also consists of ...
for both the baby and the mother. Sobada is also thought to be a way for a woman to take everyday care of their bodies. The massage begins after formal
greeting Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings intentionally make their presence known to each other, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship (usually cordial) or social status (formal or informal) between individ ...
s have been done and the massage is always done in a casual and leisurely style. The midwife will have the woman lie on the ground, usually on top of a blanket and a gunnysack, and have the woman expose her stomach. The midwife will apply either oil or
Vaseline Vaseline ()Also pronounced with the main stress on the last syllable . is an American brand of petroleum jelly-based products owned by British multinational company Unilever. Products include plain petroleum jelly and a selection of skin creams, ...
to her hands and the woman's stomach and begin the massage. Throughout the massage the midwife will talk with the woman about how she has been feeling and about other details like the expected birthdate. The first part of the massage is done on the
abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...
of the woman. By stroking and probing the abdomen, the midwife can use the massage to help determine the position of the baby and help her decide if it is turned in an unfavorable position or not. The midwife can also estimate the due date of the baby by locating the baby's head and measuring the height of the abdomen with their fingers. The midwife will do a procedure of "lifting the uterus" while massaging the abdomen area. The midwife will do this by pushing their fingers into the side and going underneath the pregnant uterus. The midwife will then pull the uterus towards them. Once this has been done on one side of the woman's body, the midwife will repeat this action on the other side. The next stage of the sobada massage is done to the woman's
back The human back, also called the dorsum (: dorsa), is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral c ...
. The midwife will put firm pressure on the woman's back and move their palm down along the woman's spine. The midwife will then have the woman turn so they can do this part of the massage on the other side of the woman's back. The midwife may also massage the woman's calves and
thigh In anatomy, the thigh is the area between the hip (pelvis) and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb. The single bone in the thigh is called the femur. This bone is very thick and strong (due to the high proportion of bone tissu ...
s by holding the woman's
leg A leg is a weight-bearing and locomotive anatomical structure, usually having a columnar shape. During locomotion, legs function as "extensible struts". The combination of movements at all joints can be modeled as a single, linear element cap ...
s up and rubbing in a downwards motion. In the last stage, the midwife helps the woman stand up. To do this the midwife will raise the woman's
knee In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia (tibiofemoral joint), and one between the femur and patella (patellofemoral joint). It is the largest joint in the hu ...
s so that her feet are flat on the ground. The midwife will then take the woman's hands and helps pull her to reach a standing position. After this stage of the massage, the woman is instructed to rest.


Potential Advantages of Prenatal Sobada


Identify a Breech or Transverse Baby

One potential benefit a mother can get from the sobada massage is the midwife can determine if a baby is in a
breech Breech may refer to: * Breech (firearms), the opening at the rear of a gun barrel where the cartridge is inserted in a breech-loading weapon * breech, the lower part of a pulley block * breech, the penetration of a boiler where exhaust gases leave ...
or transverse position. When the midwife determines this, they may decide to do an inversion (external version). This is when the midwife helps to turn the baby in a head-down position while still
in utero The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more fertilized eggs until bir ...
. A baby that is in a head-down position is considered to be more favorable. It is also thought that adjusting the baby's position helps make the baby more comfortable. To do this, the midwife will locate the baby's head and hip. Then, by applying strong and even pressure, the midwife is able to shift the baby into a head-down position.


Prevent Afterbirth

Midwives in the Yucatán believe that by doing the process of "lifting the uterus up", the afterbirth won't stick. For the mother, it is thought that sobada helps to make the birthing process easier, relieve discomfort and also provide emotional support for the woman through physical contact. For the baby, sobada is thought to help reposition the baby to make it more comfortable.


Sobada for Manipulation of Organs

Sobada is also used to manipulate the position of one's organs. It is believed that everything in the body twists and moves on its own due to events like falling, over exertion and pregnancy. It is also believed that all organs have a specific place and alignment and ones organs must stay in that place to maintain health. People who perform this kind of sobada go through a long apprenticeship and have a strong knowledge of the use of their hands. This kind of sobada is performed on men, women and children. The person who is receiving this kind of sobada will lie in an isolated part of the house and will have it performed on them early in the morning before they have eaten. The person who is giving the sobada will put an oily solution on their hands and begin the massage by localizing the position of an organ. They will then slowly move the organ back to its correct position and apply pressure over the organ with their thumb or palm of hand. Sometimes a temporary bandage may be put around the person's belly because it is thought to help keep everything in place. The person giving performing the sobada may also decide to massage other parts of the body like the
neck The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...
,
arm In human anatomy, the arm refers to the upper limb in common usage, although academically the term specifically means the upper arm between the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) and the elbow joint. The distal part of the upper limb between ...
,
leg A leg is a weight-bearing and locomotive anatomical structure, usually having a columnar shape. During locomotion, legs function as "extensible struts". The combination of movements at all joints can be modeled as a single, linear element cap ...
s and
head A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple ani ...
.


Prenatal Massages in Other Cultures

Biomedical professionals and midwifery training programs have discouraged midwives from doing massages. They are especially concerned about the dangers of external versions. This aspect concerns them because there is a risk the midwife may apply too much pressure and cause detachment of the
placenta The placenta (: placentas or placentae) is a temporary embryonic and later fetal organ that begins developing from the blastocyst shortly after implantation. It plays critical roles in facilitating nutrient, gas, and waste exchange between ...
. It is unknown how often this happens or how many times it has happened. Many studies have been done to see the potential benefits of massage therapy and pregnancy. Results have further suggested that prenatal massages can reduce depression, anxiety, leg and back pain. Other types of abdominal massages have been used to treat other problems in the body. Prenatal massage therapy also has been said to have other potential benefits such as: * Better mood * Less pain in the back * Better patterns of
sleep Sleep is a state of reduced mental and physical activity in which consciousness is altered and certain Sensory nervous system, sensory activity is inhibited. During sleep, there is a marked decrease in muscle activity and interactions with th ...
* Less leg pain * Reduced
stress hormone Stress hormones are secreted by endocrine glands to modify one's internal environment during times of stress. By performing various functions such as mobilizing energy sources, increasing heart rate, and downregulating metabolic processes which ...
levels * Reduced complications while in labor * Less complications for the baby following
birth Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the f ...
* Lowered
anxiety Anxiety is an emotion characterised by an unpleasant state of inner wikt:turmoil, turmoil and includes feelings of dread over Anticipation, anticipated events. Anxiety is different from fear in that fear is defined as the emotional response ...
* Reduced
sciatica Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Onset is often sudden following activities such as heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur. The pain is often desc ...
pain


References

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