Benefits of Pregnancy Massage
Why Seek a Specialist?
by Chula Gemignani, Bodyworker, Instructor/NCBTMB
When it comes to pregnancy, why is it so hard to find a good massage? Your regular therapist used to get to it and knew just what you love. Suddenly they touch you with a sense of uncertainty and give you a light massage. Perhaps it is because they forgot that brief segment taught in massage school on prenatal and are concerned they might do the wrong thing or maybe it is because the prenatal client is so often and wrongly deemed “fragile” and therefore given a light, superficial massage. You are a human about to birth a baby and though you may have some aches and pains and may be experiencing hormonal mood shifts, I would hardly call you fragile. If you are pregnant you will know what I am speaking about when I say: You are dynamic! Most likely you’re wanting a bodywork session that will help integrate the plethora of structural changes you have experienced to date and one that will leave you feeling physically relieved and emotionally relaxed.
And why seek a prenatal specialist?
Most people know that pregnancies sometimes do have complications. A pregnancy massage specialist has been trained in pregnancy complications and conditions and will not only have the knowledge to support you safely in your prenatal journey, while still giving you a session that makes you feel the relief you were hoping for, they also may hear signs of a condition and guide you to consult your care provider.
If you request, the prenatal specialist bodyworker might attend your birth and also serve in a supporting role postpartum.
A prenatal massage specialist has a foundational understanding of correct positioning and they will never put you in a cut out table or scooped out cushions only to further stretch your uterine ligaments that may already be strained or put extra weight on your baby.
A continued education training in prenatal teaches the full array of contraindicated modalities and points on your pregnant body that were never taught in the 500 plus hours of massage school.
A prenatal specialist already has experience with a larger population of pregnant clients and is well aware of the emotional stages you might be experiencing throughout pregnancy. They have deep listening experience and may have even been trained on how to support you.
Benefits of Prenatal Massage
- Maintaining regular prenatal care will help the circulation remain healthy throughout pregnancy.
- Promotes relaxation, lowers cortisol, stress and anxiety and promotes a good sleep.
- Promotes a healthy inner environment for the client to grow a baby in.
- Promotes body awareness, mobility, flexibility and preparedness to birth the baby.
- Offers the client a listening ear to voice any concerns or emotions.
- Addresses and treats deeper physiological responses to the stages pregnancy (Digestion, breathing, high blood pressure, blood and lymph circulation).
- Prepares the client’s somatic syncing of body and mind for an easier birth.
- Addresses and solves bodily pain and tension.
- Reduces ligament strain. Opens the thoracic lumber and ribs, allowing for deeper and easier breathing.
- Helps musculoskeletal structural alignment and integration throughout pregnancy, during birth and postpartum.
- Strengthens posture.
- Prenatal and Postpartum massage grows a peaceful, touch-based core understanding of connection that can travel from massage therapist to client/mom and then from client/mom to baby.
- Reduces swelling and cramping.
- Reduces carpal tunnel symptoms.
- Reduces back pain, sciatica, ribs out, neck, shoulder and jaw tension.
- Reduces stretch marks.
Benefits of At-Birth Massage
- Reduces ligament strain, and body pain.
- Gives the birthing client and team specialized support.
- Prepares the mothers’ body for an easier, quicker birth.
- Opens pelvic floor, takes pressure off sacrum and sacral ligaments.
- Can help induce a late term pregnancy.
Benefits of Postpartum Massage
- Promotes relaxation and lowers cortisol.
- Improves circulation.
- Reduces back pain, sciatica, ribs out, neck and shoulder pain from nursing.
- Postpartum massage helps with milk production.
- Releases muscle strain due to labor and delivery.
- Balances hormones which can help decrease the onset of postpartum depression.
- Helps the postpartum client heal from birthing the baby through natural childbirth or cesarean.
- Offers the mother a listening ear so she can decompress and voice any concerns or emotions and share her birth experience.
- Prenatal and postpartum massage grows a peaceful, core understanding of connection that can travel from massage therapist to mom and then from mom to baby and also to partner/family.
- Promotes peace.
As an instructor and pregnancy massage specialist, I empower practitioners with a training so complete that they can offer a fantastic session, steeped in confidence and care.
May peace be with you,
Chula
Dynamic Fascial Response™
creating a new paradigm in prenatal bodywork
For more information visit:
www.healingrivermassage.com
or email: chulagem@gmail.com
A Few of Our Graduates, Fall 2017