First time moms often have a great deal of fear and anxiety about the birth process. Several things work against them. Never having attended a birth, viewing many inaccurate portrayals of birth in the media, and lacking education can all work against parents. I like to imagine that for the majority of history women supported each other during their births. Traditionally, Japanese midwives used shiatsu, (translated as “finger pressure”), to support and assist women from pre-conception through postpartum. This included use of pressure points to assist with labor for pain relief. Grandmothers originally taught Shiatsu to the entire family.
To understand how shiatsu works you must be familiar with some of the principals of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Asian bodywork is one of the seven branches of TCM. Also included are: meditation, diet, exercise (martial arts), acupuncture, moxa and herbal medicine. The basis of all TCM is the movement of energy systems called meridians and their pressure points. Meridians are channels of energy that move on their own through the body in a twenty-four hour period. Pressure points are located on the meridians. There are twelve traditional meridians. They each influence our organs and come in yin yang pairs.
These pairs are found in the Five Element Chart, which is based on the principles of nature. The five elements are fire, water, wood, metal and earth. A practitioner will assess the state of your energy though a variety of methods. Very simply they will look for the lowest and the highest energy meridian and then bring them into balance. It is easier to work with energy patterns while still in a preventative way. Once established a pattern of imbalance, as evidenced by uncomfortable symptoms, becomes more difficult to correct. Therefore, Asian medicine, including shiatsu, finds its strength in prevention.
Why would a modern day mother want to have regular shiatsu sessions? Everyone wants to be in optimal health before they conceive. This includes the foundation for good health for anyone, diet, exercise, rest/relaxation. It is advised that when planning to have a baby you begin to make healthy changes at least one year before conception. During pregnancy there are many changes that happen that can cause mild to more severe discomfort. Perhaps there is a history of miscarriage or fertility challenges. Shiatsu can prevent or ease backache, heartburn, nausea, fatigue, headaches, insomnia and give the mother a wonderful sense of overall well being. Mom feels good – baby feels good. Turning a breech baby with moxa has a very high success rate.
Learning how to relax and let go of fear and anxiety will aid mom in allowing the natural hormonal processes of pregnancy and birth to proceed on schedule. There will be less need for medical intervention. A positive body experience can build confidence for labor and birth. Many women have body shame, which can be improved. Many women do not know how to relax. One of the keys to an easier birth is to relax while in pain. If a mom learns how to trust her body she can work with her natural instincts to follow her bodies cues. The body knows how to give birth and has been doing so for thousands of years. Shiatsu can help the mother baby pair work together during birth. It improves bonding and encourages optimal positioning of baby.
There is a healing process after the birth. This can be short or can take as long as it took to create a baby. Shiatsu supports the healing process and helps prepare for you breastfeeding. Traditional Japanese midwives used breast massage and massage for babies as well. Many Asian cultures believe that infant massage is an important part of every baby’s healthy beginning. Bonding is also enhanced.
When looking for a shiatsu practitioner, interview them by phone. Ask how many hours of training they have. Do they work on a futon on the floor or on a table? Many massage therapists have taken a course and learned some pressure points. An Asian trained program that certifies, with a minimum of 500 hours, is what you are looking for. Also ask if they can perform oriental diagnosis and how they do this. What other techniques do they use? Stretching and rotations, compression, moxa or other point stimulation may be a part of the session. Will they teach you how to work your own points? Will they help with life style changes? How long have they been practicing?
There are many kinds of shiatsu. The success of the work depends on your comfort and trust of the practitioner as well as their skill levels. The best way to find out is to try one session. The goal is for you to feel relaxed yet energized. You should know after one session if this will work for you. Your health and well-being are worth the investment.