Fundal Massage - is this US only?

[MrsG30]

I've just read an article online about "things that happen in hospital after birth". It was a US article.

It mentioned "fundal massage", which (without properly researching further, which I will if needed), sounds like a horrific, painful, over medicalisation of something most bodies should do perfectly well without "help".

I've asked Dr Google, and I can't work out of this is just a US thing, or if it happens in the UK too?

Does anyone know? (FTM here)

It's used here to help the uterus clamp down more effectively if there is excess bleeding post-birth.
As far as I know (happy to be corrected, I'm not a midwife), it's not used otherwise.

Thanks 😊 I'll ask midwife at next appointment too - unless it's a medical necessity, I just want to be left to it!

I've never heard of it (UK) and I was very thorough in my pregnancy about reading up, going to classes, finding out what would happen to me!

It's used if there's excessive bleeding post-delivery but otherwise not done the top of your uterus will be felt to check that it has involuted properly but that's not the same thing.

It's used on women when they are bleeding after birth. There is nothing over medicalised about it. It's not used unless it's needed.

That's good to hear - in the US it seems as though is used as standard.