Great Oils for Postnatal Massages
The best way to help your body relax after delivery is to have a full body postnatal massage. For starters, postnatal massage relieves pain and also eases your stress after giving birth. However, if you want to get the most from the postnatal massage, you need to choose the best oils, and the one closest to baby’s skin, too.
Prefer to leave it to a therapist? Our postnatal massage in Singapore can be done in the comfort of your own home.
When you can start postnatal massages
If you have gone through a normal delivery, you can have a postnatal massage 7 days after birth. For C-section, you may need to give yourself some time for your wound to heal, usually 3 to 4 weeks, but always check with your gynaecologist or therapist first. To get the most benefit, you should aim to do this for at least 30 days. Most mums recover best with daily sessions for the first week or two, then sessions every other day after that.
The right oil supports your skin recovery, your milk supply, and the bond between you and your baby, all from one bottle.
Best oils for postnatal massage
Mustard oil
Considered a warming oil, mustard oil is believed to relieve joint pain and improve blood circulation. The warming effect significantly supports the healing process, particularly for sore shoulders, neck, and lower back from feeding and carrying baby. Apart from its medicinal benefits, it’s also affordable and widely available across postnatal salons in Asia.
Coconut oil
Just like the fruit, coconut oil has a cooling and hydrating effect. Although it’s mostly used for head massages, it can also be used for the whole body. It has a unique feel and a pleasant smell that make it one of the best postnatal massage oils. It is gentle on skin, light enough for daily use, and safe to use near a feeding newborn.
Ginger oil
A popular postnatal massage oil, ginger oil helps relieve pain, stimulate blood circulation, and ease sore muscles. Extracted from the rhizome of the ginger plant, this oil has anti-inflammatory properties that make it one of the best oils for a postnatal massage. With its warm spicy scent, it’s good for rubbing onto the lower back, hips, and shoulders.
Sesame oil
Sesame oil is a traditional choice for postnatal self-massage. Rich in linoleic acid, it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. It prevents skin issues and also supports overall skin elasticity as your body returns to its pre-pregnancy shape. It is a warming oil, ideal for the cool postpartum weeks when your body is still adjusting.
Olive oil
Olive oil is gentle, hydrating, and rich in vitamin E. It is excellent for skin recovery, softening scars, and nourishing the stretched skin around your abdomen. It absorbs slowly, so it suits longer sessions where you want the oil to stay slippery without having to keep adding more.
Almond oil
Sweet almond oil is among the lightest and most baby-safe options. It absorbs cleanly, leaves no greasy residue, and smells pleasant rather than medicinal, helpful if you’re feeding immediately after the massage. Many mums prefer it specifically for that reason.
How we choose oils at BMB
At BMB, our postnatal therapists choose the oil based on your delivery type, your skin sensitivity, your feeding plan, and the season. Vaginal-birth mums often start on warming oils (mustard, ginger, sesame) for the first two weeks then move to lighter blends (coconut, almond, olive) as recovery progresses. C-section mums get a gentler routine that avoids the incision area until it’s fully healed, and we work around any fragrance or texture sensitivities you tell us about. Each session uses a blend of two to three of these oils, mixed to suit you. You can see how the oils fit into a full recovery programme on our postnatal massage Singapore page, and if you are curious about the herbal side of the tradition, our guide to jamu paste in postnatal massage covers it in depth.
Frequently asked questions
Which oil is best for postnatal massage?
There is no single best oil. Warming oils such as mustard, ginger, and sesame suit the first two weeks, when circulation and joint relief matter most. Lighter oils such as coconut, almond, and olive suit daily use and skin recovery from week three onward. Most BMB sessions blend two to three oils based on your delivery type and skin.
When can I start using massage oils after delivery?
After a vaginal delivery, from about seven days postpartum. After a C-section, wait three to four weeks and get your gynaecologist’s clearance first; the incision area is avoided until it has fully healed.
Which massage oils are safest around a newborn?
Sweet almond and coconut oil are the usual picks if you feed your baby right after a session: they absorb cleanly, leave little residue, and carry a mild smell. Tell your therapist your feeding plan so the blend can be chosen around it.
Do I need different oils for a C-section recovery?
The oils can be the same, but the protocol changes: gentler pressure, no work near the incision until it is fully healed, and a later start (three to four weeks postpartum with doctor’s clearance). A therapist trained in postpartum physiology will adapt both the blend and the technique.