Pregnancy and Infant Massage Therapy

Something Special For You and Your Baby

 Pregnancy is a time of profound changes – physical, social and emotional. The caring touch of massage therapy during pregnancy focuses on your special needs and concerns, and helps you through these changes.  

Pregnancy massage therapy is not intended to replace your appropriate prenatal care. Rather, it can be used in combination with your care, as well as during labor, recovery and postpartum, to help reduce stress, ease your discomforts and improve your overall relaxation.

Pregnancy massage therapy will enhance self-esteem and self image so you can feel more at home with your changing body.

The Benefits of  Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy massage is a wonderful, natural way to relax, increase your energy and improving your overall well-being. It can relieve many of your aches and pains by addressing the specific areas of your discomfort through a combination of specific light and deep pressure massage and other techniques.

 Through pregnancy massage, you can:

• Reduce stress and promote relaxation.

• Lower tension, fatigue and headaches and soothe nerves to help with sleep problems.     

• Reduce and alleviate neck, back, pelvis/sacrum and joint pain.

• Improve circulation and help reduce the possibility of problems with swelling, varicose veins, and leg cramps.

• Ease stretch marks and uncomfortable skin tightness.

• Encourage deeper, easier breathing.

Preparing for Labor

 Besides addressing pregnancy discomforts, massage therapy during the last trimester can assist your body to prepare for labor. Massaging your legs, back, abdomen, and pelvis may help relieve chronic tension and reduce resistance during labor. Loosening tight muscles may also help you prepare to adopt strenuous birth positions.

A full body massage at the onset of labor can, with approval of your health care provider, help you to fully relax. Certain techniques may be used to encourage your body to go into labor on its own, or to work more effectively with other labor stimulation techniques.

What to Expect

  Massage therapy is a natural form of health enhancement and relaxation. A thorough massage session will take at least one hour, during which you will be comfortably supported and draped for your comfort. Your massage will be in a peaceful, quiet environment.

During your early weeks of pregnancy, you may be able to lie on your back for your massage. After about your sixteenth week it is best to begin lying on your side in a prenatal position. You certainly may interrupt your massage to use the restroom, however, for maximum comfort, please avoid heavy eating and drinking for two hours before your session.

Postpartum Massage

  After giving birth, you really need and deserve a good massage. Massage can help your body restore itself to its pre-pregnancy condition. Postpartum massage may help speed the elimination of excess fluids and help you overcome the emotional stress and muscle tension that comes with mothering a newborn. With your health care provider’s approval, you can begin postpartum massage therapy as early as 24 hours after delivery.

Infant Massage

Infant Massage is one of the easiest, most pleasant ways to begin an intimate communication with your child. Studies have shown that early loving touch is vital to a baby's physical and emotional development and that

Babies who are massaged are more alert and responsive. We will gladly instruct you in proper Infant Massage.  Please contact us for teaching information.