mellomouse*

I bought Tanamera’s 3 days postnatal care massage package when I was still pregnant with Eli. It was an after-birth pamper that I really looked forward to since enjoying one the last time. Sadly after my 1st session, the happy expectation turned into a “painful” regret *sigh*

The 1st therapist that did my urut was unprofessional and short changed my session. Thankfully after informing Tanamera, they changed a new therapist for me immediately. Unfortunately however, real damage has already been done.

1st session

My Verdict: Therapist 1
Total time spent: 1hr 15mins

I started my urut on Day 8. It was scheduled at 10am but like most Malaysians, she was late. And came unequipped. We started the session close to 10.30am. She was gone before it was even noon. The session was supposed to be 2 hours, or more.

Her urut was very quick and forceful. I was looking forward to a slow relaxing pamper but instead she speed through my entire body and applied so much pressure — which I insisted reducing but ignored — that I was squinching from pain the entire hour. I had bruises on my thighs and arms for a week.

When it was time for the hot compress, she asked to use my rice cooker. Unlike the traditional use of hot stones, Tanamera uses a herbal compress (pic below) and they need to be steamed. Without one — mine already occupied — she asked if she could use another device. One made of water and minerals in a bag that uses direct current to heat up. Left with no choice, I obliged.

An hour later, she was done and began preparing the firming paste and kain bengkung. She folded the kain into half and began binding only my tummy after applying the paste. To my past experience, the bengkung was wrapped below my breast down to my hip. But because it was only around my tummy, once I stood up, I felt immediate pressure on my lower abdomen. I later realised that my internal hemorrhoid has been pushed outwards by the pressure causing it to swell *ouch*

I was in severe pain for the next 8 days. The swelling took more days to heal. I couldn’t have proper rest and sitting down was painful. I couldn’t do the bengkung the next 2 sessions and honestly, I consider that a shameful waste of money. I literally paid to get tortured. And of all time, my most vunerable after birth *fml*

I did not get piles after birthing my 3.8kg baby via natural birth, but this woman gave me piles after this supposedly guaranteed, I quote: truly wonderful… immensely nurturing and relaxing [experience] *baah*

2nd & 3rd session

My Verdict: Therapist 2
Total time spent: 2 hours

My experience with the 2nd therapist was thankfully pleasant. The lady is very motherly and her urut was just nice. She was kind to let me know what she was doing whenever I asked her. She explained the benefits of traditional malay urut and the importance of using gentle massages to rejuvenate a new mother’s body. I thought to myself: Somebody ought to tell this to the 1st therapist!

She brought her own mini rice cooker and I finally got to use the herbal compress. The sensation is different from using stones. It is gentler — no worry if it’ll burn the flesh like the stones may — and calming with the smell of herbal essential oils. I definitely prefer this over hot stones or the “water bag” that the 1st therapist used.

Finally when it was time to do the bengkung, I was relieved that she did it correctly. Unfortunately, because of my painfully swollen piles, I had to remove the bengkung after only binding a few hours. That was another day’s effort wasted, and same goes for the next day *sigh*

So if you ask me, I would not recommend buying their overly priced postnatal care massage packages. Honestly for RM530 of 3 sessions or RM850 of 5, they are really nothing to shout about. For half that price, I could hire my own urut lady — that wouldn’t hurt me — to do the same job and she could use the Tanamera postnatal care set on me just the same. And that’s exactly what I should have done *sulks*