       |
 | Pregnancy Massage |
| Labor Preparation |
| Supporting Birth Through Massage™ (Classes) |
| Postpartum Massage |
| Infant Massage |
| What to Expect |
Pregnancy Massage
Massage therapy in pregnancy can include specific light and deep pressure massage, myofascial techniques, circulatory work, acupressure, reflexology, and other techniques. It may help to:
| Reduce and alleviate neck, back, and joint pain caused by posture, muscle weakness, tension, extra weight, or imbalance |
| Combat tension, fatigue, and headaches, soothe nerves to help with sleep problems, and possibly reduce blood pressure through relaxation and stress reduction |
| Lend circulatory support to reduce the possibility of problems with swelling, varicose veins, and leg cramps |
| Help maintain skin elasticity to ease stretch marks and uncomfortable tightness |
| Assist with the management of digestive complaints such as constipation, gas, nausea, and indigestion |
| Encourage deeper, easier breathing |
| Enhance self-esteem and self image, helping the pregnant woman feel more at home in her changing body |
To learn more about possible benefits of pregnancy massage, click here.
Labor Preparation
In addition to addressing late pregnancy discomforts, massage therapy for the childbearing year during the last trimester can help the body prepare for labor. Massage for the legs, back, abdomen, and pelvis may help relieve chronic tension in those areas for minimal resistance during labor. Massage also gives an awareness of body tension and teaches how to consciously release and relax, to ease pain sensations. Loosening tight muscles can help the mother to prepare to adopt strenuous birth positions. The additional nurturing at this time also helps with emotional preparation for the hard work of labor.
When the onset of labor is desired, and your health care provider approves, certain techniques may be used to encourage your body to go into labor on its own, or to work more effectively with other labor stimulation techniques.
Supporting Birth Through Massage™ Class
This class for you and your birth partner teaches specific techniques, strokes and pressure points to use during labor and delivery. It gives expectant fathers a new way to offer real physical help during birth. As an addition to the breathing and distraction techniques of standard childbirth classes, it brings your partner's role beyond that of a "coach" to the point where he is physically working with you to birth the baby. It may also help you achieve natural childbirth goals by giving you an additional means of coping.
Massage therapy during labor can help you relax and breathe slowly so that the uterus can do its work unimpeded. A relaxed mother is more likely to labor with less discomfort and for a shorter time. Couples may find the class most helpful in situations of backache labor, muscle cramping, stalled labor, exhaustion, and where pain relief and relaxation are needed.
Research also reveals that mothers who have had a recent experience of appropriate and meaningful touch use their own hands more effectively to caress and comfort their own babies.
Supporting Birth Through Massage™ is taught privately, in one 1½ hour session. The class emphasizes hands-on training, and the mother-to-be participates by relaxing, breathing, and guiding her partner's touch. Other approaches which may prove helpful in labor, such as aromatherapy, are also taught.
Postpartum Massage
After giving birth, a woman really needs and deserves a good massage. By retraining muscles and connective tissue, massage therapy for the childbearing year can help the body restore itself to its pre-pregnancy condition, specifically in the abdomen, pelvis, and back. It may help speed the elimination of excess fluids, and it helps combat the emotional stress and muscle tension that comes with mothering a newborn.
The recovery process of the post-Cesarean section mother may also be facilitated with specific techniques by a qualified pre/post natal massage therapist.
Postpartum massage therapy can be commenced 24 hours post-delivery. You must have discussed receiving therapy with your physician or midwife. If there were complications or if you had a Cesarean delivery, you must have written release from your physician. Possible benefits include:
| Facilitation of the restoration of pre-pregnancy physiology and structural alignment. |
| Facilitation of the healing of hemorrhoids, bladder disorders, post-episiotomy soreness, and Cesarean section |
| Assistance with body usage to minimize the physical and structural stress of carrying and caring for a newborn. |
Infant Massage
Infant Massage is one of the easiest, most pleasant ways to begin an intimate communication between parents and child. Studies have shown that early positive contact and loving touch is vital to a baby's physical and emotional development. There is evidence that babies who are massaged are more alert and responsive, and better able to tolerate noises and to calm and console themselves. Please contact me for class information.
What to Expect
A thorough massage session takes at least one hour, during which you will be comfortably supported in a side-lying position (prenatal) and draped for you comfort. Only the body part being worked on is exposed. The room will be quiet and comfortable. It is fine to interrupt the massage to use the restroom, however, for maximum comfort, avoid heavy eating and drinking for two hours before your session.