Prenatal/Postnatal Massage
Finding the Right Massage Therapist
Recent reports show that the average American woman can expect to bear two children in her lifetime. Whether this number is more or less for you, giving birth is a very special life event. Today, women know the value of excellent prenatal care and seek out the best for themselves and the baby growing inside them. Massage therapy has grown to be an effective piece of the prenatal “total care package.” Massage therapy is called complimentary treatment because it blends beautifully with your medical care.
A Time of Great Change
During pregnancy, women change physically, mentally, and emotionally. Physically, they find their bodies heavy with not just the baby, but also increased body fluids, 40% more blood, and the extra body-fat cells that accumulate during pregnancy.
Furthermore, extra hormones are produced to support the pregnancy, some of which can affect you emotionally. The hormone relaxin works to loosen the ligaments of the joints in preparation of childbirth, thereby leaving the muscles surrounding the joint to work overtime in stabilizing the body.
It’s all quite exhausting, but most women’s schedules do not allow for the extra needed rest. Fatigue begins to build, and soon after, stress sets in.
Benefits of Prenatal Massage
- Relieves pain in the muscles and joints, increasing flexibility and ease of movement.
- Reduces swelling by gently moving fluids back into circulation where they can be eliminated.
- Stimulates the body’s natural functions, allowing for better intestinal flow, which in turn decreases constipation and gas, often relieving back pain, headaches and other maladies associated with a build up of metabolic waste products.
- Dissipates anxiety and stress with a nurturing touch, thereby improving sleep. Mom gains a more positive sense of her body and generally feels revived.
Postpartum Massage
Postpartum massage is particularly rewarding because although the client is still experiencing some physical discomforts, the long awaited event is behind her now. Clients tend to relax more completely. The therapist can address the aches and pains caused by expanded ribcages, hips and low back pain. In my practice, I use a special cushion system that allows me to work on women that have delivered cesarean section as well as vaginal deliveries.
It is not unusual to see some tears during these sessions, which surprises clients because they don’t particularly feel hurt or sad, but they feel great relief afterward. The reason this sometimes happens is that over the forty week pregnancy period, while the body endures so much change, our muscles have a way of storing emotions. During massage, as you relax, sometimes the emotions come to the surface and release. It’s actually a beautiful experience, and I always feel privileged to share those moments. Clients often say they feel invigorated or renewed, ready to go home and take on the world. How lucky am I, as a therapist, to touch people’s lives during these precious times? I hope that every expecting Mom will read this and pick up the phone to make a massage appointment.
Finding the Right Massage Therapist for You
Finding the right massage therapist is like finding the right health care provider: you will recognize a good choice when you feel at ease and sense that he or she is professional, nurturing, well informed and supportive.
- A good LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) will ask a fair amount of questions prior to your session and listen well to understand how you are feeling during each visit. Every woman’s pregnancy is uniquely her own and each month brings change. It is important that the therapist is fully present with each client and never treats a massage in a routine manner.
- A good maternal massage therapist should be specially certified in prenatal/postnatal massage and display or offer his or her credentials upon request. Not every massage therapist is thoroughly trained in maternal massage and those that aren’t may not be aware of specific practice contraindications. Seek a qualified practitioner!
- A good LMT will be able to offer a network of referrals to the client such as childbirth educators, prenatal yoga classes, lactation consultants and even psychotherapists for cases like postpartum depression.
- A good LMT will position the mom in safe, comfortable positions and should be open to any changes for comfort during the session. For example, if it’s too hot or too cold, the LMT should be willing to adjust the temperature. It is important to communicate with the therapist during the session when appropriate adjustments can be made, rather than on your way out the door. Don’t allow yourself to feel obligated. If a therapist doesn’t meet your expectations, move on. Ask your OB doctor for referrals.
Remember: one of the best gifts an expecting Mom can receive is a gift certificate for massage—it makes a great baby shower gift. If you are an expectant mother yourself, I’d suggest highlighting the previous sentence and leaving it out in plain view for family and friends to see!