Postpartum massage in Amsterdam — recovery after birth
Postpartum massage at Bodyfix in Amsterdam-Zuid: connective tissue massage and lymphatic drainage, put together after a free 10-minute bodyreading. You can generally start from around 6 weeks after an uncomplicated birth, with the go-ahead from your midwife or doctor. After a caesarean section we wait for the scar — usually around 8 weeks. Sessions of 30, 60 or 90 minutes, €65 to €195. Everything runs in English, and your baby is welcome.
Practical
Your baby is welcome
You do not need to arrange childcare. Your baby is welcome at the treatment — that is normal here.
Other practices ask you to bring someone who can look after your child, or prefer to come to your home in the first weeks. We do not have that requirement. Mention it when you book and we take it into account when we plan the appointment.
Tell us at the free intake as well: if you are breastfeeding, we adjust the length and the build-up of the session to it. Breastfeeding is not a reason to wait.
Two thresholds
When you can start after birth
After an uncomplicated birth: generally from around 6 weeks. That is the point at which your midwife or gynaecologist gives the go-ahead at the postnatal check — unless your doctor advises a different moment.
For a caesarean scar: generally from around 8 weeks, once the scar has healed sufficiently. That is a different threshold, not a stricter version of the same one: the 6 weeks are about starting treatment at all, the 8 weeks are about working on the scar itself. More on that under c-section scar massage.
Breastfeeding is not a reason to wait and is not a contraindication. We do not treat the breast area itself.
Always within the instructions of your treating doctor. If you are not sure whether you have the go-ahead, ask before you book — we would rather say “not yet” at the intake than treat too early.
For internationals
In English, and outside the Dutch referral system
Many of our clients are internationals in Amsterdam without family nearby to say “go take care of yourself”. Consider this that nudge.
Booking, the free intake, the treatment and the aftercare advice all happen in English. Our therapists work in Dutch and English. If a Dutch term comes up that matters — verloskundige (the midwife who leads a normal pregnancy and birth here), kraamzorg, basisverzekering — we explain what it means rather than assume you already know.
Three things worth knowing before you book:
- No referral needed. You book directly. No huisarts, no waiting list, no referral letter.
- Not covered by the basic insurance. Bodyfix is a private practice and does not work with health insurers, so you pay yourself. Some supplementary policies reimburse manual work — only your own insurer can confirm that.
- Alongside medical care, never instead of it. If we think something belongs with a doctor, a midwife or a pelvic physiotherapist first, we say so at the intake and point you there.
More on how the clinic works for internationals: English-speaking clinic in Amsterdam-Zuid.
The treatment
Treatment after birth, in Amsterdam-Zuid
Connective tissue massage after birth works on the subcutaneous tissue that stretched during pregnancy. Manual work on the connective tissue of the belly, hips, buttocks and legs, combined with lymphatic drainage. What changes and at what pace differs from person to person — which is why every course starts with a bodyreading.
Where the tissue is stuck
Tissue that is stuck to the surrounding layers can start to move and feel different. We work with targeted, deep pressure on the connective tissue of the belly, hips, buttocks and legs — the zones that went through the most change during pregnancy.
The skin
We treat the connective tissue underneath the skin. Stretch marks do not disappear; we would rather say that beforehand. What changes in skin quality differs per person and only shows over several sessions.
Lymphatic drainage
Lymphatic drainage is part of the Bodyfix Method and is used where the bodyreading gives reason to. Whether it is part of your plan is decided at the intake.
More on the phases: postpartum belly and scar recovery.
Caesarean section
After a caesarean section too
After a caesarean section we generally start from around 8 weeks, once the scar has healed sufficiently — unless your doctor advises a different moment. From that point we can work on the tissue around the scar.
A scar does not disappear; how it moves and how it feels can change. That is the honest version, and it is the one we say at the intake as well.
An older scar can be worked on too — there is no window that closes after a year.
C-section scar massage in Amsterdam has the full picture: when to start, what the course looks like, and what it does not do.
How we work
Diagnosis first, then treatment
Every situation after a birth is different. The bodyreading — our assessment of connective tissue, skin structure and how the tissue moves — determines what the treatment plan looks like. It is free, it takes about 10 minutes, and there is nothing attached to it.
A personal plan follows: connective tissue massage and lymphatic drainage in combination, put together for the situation the bodyreading shows. We treat the belly, hips, buttocks and legs.
Treatments are carried out by physiotherapy-trained (HBO) therapists with 2,500+ hours of massage training, with additional training in treating during and after pregnancy. Bodyfix treats women only.
We look first, then treat. Diagnosis before protocol. We are a treatment institute, not a salon — and we say when we think you are better off somewhere else.
Limits
Diastasis recti: what we can and cannot do
Diastasis recti is the separation of the abdominal muscles that many women have after a pregnancy. We are not a medical practice, and we do not treat it as a condition.
We cannot close a diastasis with massage. Core rehabilitation does the structural work, and pelvic floor symptoms belong with a pelvic physiotherapist — we will say so at the intake. For an assessment of whether the separation needs attention at all, your midwife, GP or specialist is the right address.
What we do instead: manual work on the connective tissue and the skin of the belly, hips and legs, and treatment of a caesarean scar. Supportive, alongside medical care — never instead of it.
If you want to read what happens to the belly after a birth and where the boundaries sit, that is set out in postpartum belly and scar recovery.
Later on
Gave birth years ago? It is not too late
Connective tissue responds to treatment long after birth. There is no window that closes after a year.
The honest version: tissue that changed years ago generally takes more work than tissue that is three months old. At the free intake we say what we think is realistic in your situation and over how many sessions — and what falls outside it. Usually 5–10 sessions, sometimes more.
An older caesarean scar can be worked on too. C-section scar massage in Amsterdam.
Honest beforehand
What we do not do
- A scar does not disappear; how it moves and how it feels can change.
- Bone structure and fat distribution do not change.
- Stretch marks do not disappear.
- We do not close a diastasis, and we do not do pelvic floor rehabilitation. For both we refer you on.
- This is maintenance, not a one-off procedure.
- A bodyreading is not a medical diagnosis. Only a doctor can make one.
We would rather say all of that beforehand than afterwards. It is also the reason a “no” is a possible outcome of the free intake.
The course
What a course involves
First sessions
We build up. You notice tissue releasing. We adjust the plan to what we find.
Sessions 5–10: the course is running
In this phase we reassess after every session. What we see, we discuss; what does not change, we say as well. Usually 5–10 sessions, sometimes more.
Maintenance
This is maintenance, not a one-off procedure. In a following course we build on what has already been done.
Recovery after birth takes time. We say beforehand what we expect to achieve and over what period — and what falls outside it. We do not promise a number of sessions in advance.
Location
Where to find us in Amsterdam-Zuid
The clinic is at Legmeerplein 7, 1058 NJ, in Amsterdam-Zuid — in the Hoofddorppleinbuurt, roughly ten minutes from Zuidas and within easy reach of Oud-Zuid and De Pijp.
With a baby, the practical side matters: mention when you book that your baby is coming, and we take it into account when we plan the appointment. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 09:00–19:00.
Directions, parking and public transport details are on the contact page.
Prices
Cost of a postpartum massage
| Duration | Single session | 5-session card | Per session (card) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | €65 | €300 | €60 |
| 60 minutes | €130 | €600 | €120 |
| 90 minutes | €195 | €900 | €180 |
The duration sets the price, not the type of treatment. A session card is valid for 10 weeks from first use and can be cancelled up to 24 hours before an appointment. The intake with bodyreading is free.
Bodyfix is a private practice and does not work with health insurers. See packages and prices for the full overview.
FAQ
Everything about postpartum massage at Bodyfix
Where can I go for postpartum massage in Amsterdam-Zuid? +
At Bodyfix, Legmeerplein 7 in Amsterdam-Zuid (Hoofddorppleinbuurt). Connective tissue massage and lymphatic drainage after birth, put together per person after a free 10-minute bodyreading. 30, 60 or 90 minutes: €65, €130 or €195. Women only. Everything runs in English. Open Monday to Saturday, 09:00–19:00.
When can you have a massage after giving birth? +
After an uncomplicated birth you can generally start from around 6 weeks, with the go-ahead from your midwife or gynaecologist. After a caesarean section we wait for the scar — usually around 8 weeks, once it has healed sufficiently, unless your doctor advises a different moment.
Why is the wait longer after a caesarean section? +
Because it is not the same threshold. The 6 weeks are about the moment your midwife or doctor gives the go-ahead for treatment. The 8 weeks are about the scar: that is only worked on once it has closed sufficiently.
Is my baby welcome at the treatment? +
Yes. You do not need to arrange childcare; your baby is welcome. Mention it when you book and we take it into account when we plan the appointment.
Can I be treated while breastfeeding? +
Yes. Breastfeeding is not a reason to wait and not a contraindication. We do not treat the breast area itself. Mention it at the intake so we can adjust the length and build-up of the session.
Does Bodyfix treat diastasis recti? +
No. We cannot close a diastasis with massage. For that we refer you to your midwife, GP or a pelvic physiotherapist. What we do instead is manual work on the connective tissue and the skin, and treatment of a caesarean scar — alongside medical care, never instead of it.
I gave birth years ago. Is it still worth it? +
Yes. Connective tissue responds to treatment long after birth. Tissue that changed years ago generally takes more sessions; at the free intake we say what we think is realistic in your situation.
How many sessions do I need? +
That differs per person. Usually 5–10 sessions, sometimes more. The bodyreading sets the plan and we adjust it if needed. We do not promise a number in advance.
What does a postpartum massage in Amsterdam cost? +
€65 (30 min), €130 (60 min) or €195 (90 min). A 5-session card costs €300, €600 or €900 and is valid for 10 weeks from the first treatment. The intake with bodyreading is free. Bodyfix is a private practice and does not work with health insurers.
What does a postpartum massage at Bodyfix not do? +
A scar does not disappear; how it moves and how it feels can change. Bone structure and fat distribution do not change. Stretch marks do not disappear. We do not close a diastasis. This is maintenance, not a one-off procedure — and we would rather say that beforehand.
More questions about pregnancy and the period after birth: pregnancy and postpartum FAQ.