Pregnancy Massage

A Little Nurturing for Mothers-to-Be
by Cathy Allison
When I was in my third trimester I suffered terribly from sciatica and my doctor suggested that I go for a massage. I had received back rubs from my husband before but I had never seen a professional massage therapist. I was nervous about the idea of being touched by a stranger but I was desperate for relief from the pain so I went and was wonderfully, delightfully surprised by the experience.
"Pregnancy seems to be when women, often for the first time, think of receiving massage and allow themselves that nurturing because they know it is also benefiting their baby," says Ann Liebau, a certified Pregnancy and Infant Massage Therapist who is in the process of registering as a midwife. "For women who live very busy lives, who work full time or have other children, sometimes receiving pregnancy massage is the only time they have to really focus on themselves and their babies."

 

Benefits of Pregnancy Massage include:

• Tranquil relaxation and reduce stress.
• Relief from muscle cramps, spasms, and myofascial pain, especially in the lower back, neck, hips, and legs.
• Increase in blood and lymph circulation, which can reduce swelling.
• Reduces stress on weight-bearing joints.
• Improves outcome of labor and eases labor pain.
• Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues.
• Provides support for the new mother with physical and emotional strains of mothering.

Why get a massage?

[CLICK HERE] to schedule your own pregnancy massage.

There are multiple benefits of massage during the childbearing year. Pregnancy massage focuses on areas that tend to be problematic for pregnant women like the weight-bearing joints, the neck and back. It can help to reduce edema, promote relaxation and facilitate preparation for labor by loosening muscles and using passive stretching movements to open up hip joints.
The use of touch and massage is also valuable during labor. It helps a woman to relax and the more relaxed she is, the more efficient her labor will be. When a woman is stressed she releases adrenaline which counteracts the effect of oxytocin, the hormone that produces contractions.

If a woman is fearful it can shut her labor down. Massage techniques used during labor are simple and Liebau finds women usually like the same motion over and over, often deep lower back massage for back pain. During labor Liebau encourages a woman's partner to use touch to calm and support her through the work of birth.
As a children's dance teacher, Anne-Michelle Saugstad used massage therapy as a treatment for a sports injury so it was natural for her to turn to massage to help with back pain during her second pregnancy. She has two daughters only 21 months apart and carrying a toddler while pregnant took a toll on her back, giving her lower back aches so intense she could barely walk. Massage gave her relief that lasted for about two days. 

More than pain relief
But relief of physical aches and pains is not the only reason Saugstad highly recommends pregnancy massage. She believes that it "helps you celebrate your body and feel cared for in an essential way." While she loved being pregnant, there were moments when she felt uneasy about the weight she was gaining. Society puts such an emphasis on thinness that many women can begin to feel insecure about their body image as their bellies grow.

Saugstad had a wonderful massage therapist who told her that it was a privilege to touch pregnant women because their bodies are such miracles. She remembers the therapist saying that of all her clients, pregnant women were her favorite and their bodies were the most beautiful. It was a message that Saugstad needed to hear.
"It's hard to put the feeling into words," says Saugstad, "but while I was pregnant I felt a need to be cared for and having a massage was almost like being mothered."

That need to be nurtured through touch is a fundamental part of being human. "In general in our society the only forms of touch we are familiar with are either violent or sexual," points out Liebau. "Healthy nurturing touch is often absent and yet it is so important to our health and well-being."
She believes that massage teaches a mother-to-be "to receive, and that having the experience of being completely nurtured by another person without any expectation of giving anything in return can help a woman learn how to nurture her own child." The modeling of healthy and healing touch that occurs during a massage session can help a woman connect with her mothering instincts. The mother personally experiences the benefits of touch and once her baby arrives she can use infant massage to help promote parent-infant bonding, soothe her child and aid in the relief of colic and other digestive upsets.

Not just for the pregnant mother
Massage can also help a woman adjust during the post-partum period. It can promote healing, especially from Caesarian section, facilitate the realignment of the spine, pelvis and muscles stretched by pregnancy and address the physical strain of carrying and caring for a newborn baby.
It is important to choose a therapist who has received special training in working with expecting women. There are some conditions that are contraindicated for massage during pregnancy and there are specific precautions that need to be taken. For example, essential oils are often used during massage for their aromatherapy properties but some oils can be dangerous to the developing fetus.
As a woman begins the work of mothering her child, she needs to remember to mother herself as well. "I think what is important is to continue that self-nurturing once the baby is born because parenthood is very demanding and if we don't nurture ourselves it is hard to nurture someone else," says Liebau. "After all, children are the greatest motivators to live a healthy, balanced, joyful life."

Cathy Allison is a freelance writer and fulltime mother who lives in Vancouver, BC.
Laura Davis, RN, CMT has been a nurse for 23 years and started doing massage several years ago. She then became certified in pregnancy and postpartum massage. She recommends that when you are looking for a pregnancy or postpartum massage therapist that you make sure the therapist is certified in pregnancy massage. "This means the therapist has taken special training and knows what is safe practice for mother and her baby. Just being a massage therapist doesn't mean they are qualified to give massage to pregnant and postpartum women," warns Davis. "Just because a brochure offers pregnancy massage doesn't always mean everyone is qualified to perform this type of massage."

Massage during pregnancy differs from a regular massage in a couple of ways. The biggest way it differs is that the person receiving the massage is pregnant, and therefore knowledge of pregnancy and the anatomy of a pregnant woman are very important. This means that positioning during a massage is critical to the safety and well-being of both the mother and the baby she is carrying. There are also parts of the body that should not be massaged.

"The massage table will be set up so you will lie in a semi-reclining position. This is not only really comfortable, but safe for baby. Also you will turn from side to side to do your back and hips, there are body pillows, wedge pillows and extra padding to make you comfortable," Davis explains. "Never use the tables with the whole cut out for your belly, these cause undo stress to your lower back, it may seem like a great idea, but it isn't."

The room setting for a pregnancy massage is much like a typical massage, the room will have low lightening, you will lie on a warm extra padded table. Soft music will be in the background to help you relax and drift off. Some therapists will provide music with a baby's heartbeat in the background, some use candles to also set the mood and of course they smell good too. Be sure to tell your therapist if any of these disturb your senses. Sometimes there might be music or smells that don't quite agree with you and they are easily changed.

A question I am often asked about massage is about the level of clothing one will wear. That is really between you and your therapist. Many moms choose to remove all of their clothing, though they are never uncovered, as they are always covered by the sheets. Some choose to wear their underwear or their bra and underwear. Whatever you choose to wear or remove is completely up to you and your comfort level.

Massage is beneficial for almost everyone. Even women carrying multiples babies can benefit greatly from massage. There may be certain conditions that may or may not be related to the pregnancy that would preclude massage or certain types of massage. This may include women at risk for preterm labor, women with blood clots or clotting disorders, and other ailments. Many therapists recommend that you have a written notice from your doctor or midwife before receiving massage therapy during pregnancy. Massage done during the first trimester is generally up to the therapist, the woman and her practitioner. Massage has never been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.

Massage can also be useful for labor. Techniques can be done by your partner or a doula. Davis says, "The time to learn the techniques is while you’re pregnant before you go into labor. It is a great idea to take your partner or friend with you when you get your massage, any professional therapist will encourage this, they can show your partner many comfort measures he or she can use at home and will also explain why some techniques are unsafe. These hits will really help out when you’re in labor!"

 

 

Pregnancy Massage
Great for:

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Sciatica
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Fluid Retention
• Stress
• Stretch Marks
• Carpal Tunnel

Labor Preparation Massage

• Muscle Relaxation
• Opens Hips
• Reduction of Tension

Special Services

• Breech Presentation Massage
  Relaxes muscles to improve rotation
• Labor Induction Massage
• Bed Rest Massage  home or hospital
• Multiples Massage