Massage for Pregnancy

The opportunity to nurture and care for a woman through their pregnancy and beyond is a wonderful experience for a massage therapist. It is a specialised niche in supporting women’s health and an extremely rewarding one. A well supported woman will make an easy transition to motherhood.

A well trained massage therapist in pregnancy massage offers nurturing support to their pregnant clients. I have recently reflected on the clients that I have been treating for over 15 years:  all are women I have supported through their pregnancy or multiple pregnancies. I look forward to supporting their daughters through their pregnancies too. This trust and nurturing support flows on after pregnancy.

Correct training will provide proven treatment plans offering relief from specific musculoskeletal pain associated with pregnancy. With the development of unique client care relationships, you can gain referrals from a broad range of health professionals, this can include Obstetricians, Midwives, Women’s Health Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Naturopaths and Acupuncturists.

Pregnancy is never static it is constantly changing and developing so treatment needs to focus on these changes and adapt to the clients ever changing needs.

Pregnancy massage will help to alleviate many discomforts felt in pregnancy; clients may experience:

• Improved sleep patterns which aids in reducing stress and anxiety
• Specialised massage techniques for lumbar, pelvic girdle pain and hip pain: relief welcomed immediately after treatment
• Shoulder and neck massage aids in relief of this common area of tension and is  beneficial both prenatal and post natal to relieve the breastfeeding position
• Hormonal  headaches
• Groin pain which is referred from the uterus: common in all trimesters
• Back pain – pelvic girdle pain – hip pain
• Rib pain common in the third trimester
• Oedema/swelling this may lead to discomfort in the legs and arms causing carpal tunnel
• Leg cramps

Massage can be used for Labour Preparation: there are proven studies showing the efficacy of massage during labour.  Help clients achieve positive birth experiences using the added tools of massage during their labour. Therapists can add these skills into their perinatal massage services and best prepare the body to move through the waves of change in labour, maintaining the mind-body-birth-baby-connection

You can also train partners in techniques for support in Labour, there is no better way to experience a “Labour of Love”. It will instil confidence in both pregnant mum and partner.

The early postnatal weeks are the time for the body to readjust and recover from the birth and pregnancy. The joy of adapting to new motherhood can also be exhausting, as the body is undergoing many changes. At this time the therapist should be aiming to support the mother’s wellbeing in this time of rapid change. Postpartum massage has proven to reduce post labour pains, pregnancy musculoskeletal pain and also reduce anxiety and postnatal depression. The postnatal period requires a formatted treatment plan for the client to help regain pre pregnancy health and wellbeing.

Catherine McInerney is the Director of Pregnancy Massage Australia® and is committed to developing and delivering evidenced based perinatal treatments. The NurtureLife® Brand reflects the strength of the perinatal services offered by Pregnancy Massage Australia® and the opportunity to deliver a unique service to Australian women and Massage Therapists and health care professionals.

For information on becoming a NurtureLife® Pregnancy Massage Practitioner please go to our website; www.pregnancymassageaustralia.com.au and follow us on Facebook.

Pregnancy Massage Australia® Malvern East: Phone 03 9571 6330

Email: [email protected]

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