Question:
Hi, can anyone help?
My friend is just under 3 months pregnant and had asked me what sort of massage she can have throughout her pregnancy. At college our tutor said that no one under 3 months pregnant should have massage (esp. aromatherapy) but I was just wondering what to do for my friend in the next few months - obviously she wont be able to lie on her front, (or back?) so how should I perform the massage? And on what areas?
Many thanks
Sam
You need to refer your friend to a therapist certified in prenatal massage, and at the very least become versed in the basics yourself so that you can help her make a good selection.
Some of the basic things a massage therapist should know concerning pregnancy are as follows: massage in the first three months is commonly contraindicated due to the risks of miscarriage--not due to anything in a massage possiblycausing it, but simply because that is the timeframe when it is most likely to happen and the desire to avoid liablilty. (I had noqualms receiving massage in my first trimester, asmy therapistsknew exactly what they were doing.) After she enters thesecond trimester she will need to limit the amount of time spent on her back and finish the massage lying on her left side. Tables with a cut-out for the pregnant belly are manufactured, but one size certainly does not fit all, and the support is frequently inadequate to protect the uterine ligaments. Sidelying is safest. Aromatherapy is definitely out, as is massage with any scented lotions or oils.
While pregnancy is a perfectly natural state, tremendous physical and emotional changesare taking place throughout the pregnancy.A therapistexperienced in pregnancy massage will modify each session appropriatelyto the stage of pregnancy in order to provide the physically safest and most emotionally supportive massage possible.
Hi Sam
I treated a lady while she was pregnant for one of my case studies for ITEC Holistic Massage. She loved it! We were advised not to do anything at all for the first three months - she was 4.5 months gone by the first massage. I also had the full agreement of her Midwife and GP before we did anything just in case there was any possibility of any complications.
I did a lot of searching on the Internet for the best oil to use. I sourced some organic sunflower oil which was beautiful and smooth to massage with. It came in little bottles (50ml) and was very pure. Absolutely no essential oils.
Getting her onto the massage couch was interesting! We were very careful to give her as much support as possible using pillows, cushions and anything else handy until she said she was OK! At no time at all did she lay on her tummy! She lay on her side with her legs in a comfortable position which meant I could still get access to her back and the back of her legs - albeit from a strange angle! I know you can buy a pregnancy support cushion which has a bump cut out of it where the lady can lay on their tummy without the pressure on the bump itself. I didn't invest in one of these as she has been my only pregnant client to date.
I used lots of effleurage, some petrissage and other gentle massage moves. No massage to her abdomen at all and no percussion apart from tapping. She loved the leg massage as her ankles were swollen and the head/face/neck massage as she said it helped her sleep at night. All in all a very gentle, relaxing, soothing massage as her skin was very dry all the way through the pregnancy so the oil nourished it.
This was all a couple of years ago and she is expecting No 2 now! [sm=dance.gif]
Hope that helps....?
Jo x
My friend is just under 3 months pregnant and had asked me what sort of massage she can have throughout her pregnancy. At college our tutor said that no one under 3 months pregnant should have massage (esp. aromatherapy) but I was just wondering what to do for my friend in the next few months - obviously she wont be able to lie on her front, (or back?) so how should I perform the massage? And on what areas?
Many thanks
Sam
Answers:
You need to refer your friend to a therapist certified in prenatal massage, and at the very least become versed in the basics yourself so that you can help her make a good selection.
Some of the basic things a massage therapist should know concerning pregnancy are as follows: massage in the first three months is commonly contraindicated due to the risks of miscarriage--not due to anything in a massage possiblycausing it, but simply because that is the timeframe when it is most likely to happen and the desire to avoid liablilty. (I had noqualms receiving massage in my first trimester, asmy therapistsknew exactly what they were doing.) After she enters thesecond trimester she will need to limit the amount of time spent on her back and finish the massage lying on her left side. Tables with a cut-out for the pregnant belly are manufactured, but one size certainly does not fit all, and the support is frequently inadequate to protect the uterine ligaments. Sidelying is safest. Aromatherapy is definitely out, as is massage with any scented lotions or oils.
While pregnancy is a perfectly natural state, tremendous physical and emotional changesare taking place throughout the pregnancy.A therapistexperienced in pregnancy massage will modify each session appropriatelyto the stage of pregnancy in order to provide the physically safest and most emotionally supportive massage possible.
Answers:
Hi Sam
I treated a lady while she was pregnant for one of my case studies for ITEC Holistic Massage. She loved it! We were advised not to do anything at all for the first three months - she was 4.5 months gone by the first massage. I also had the full agreement of her Midwife and GP before we did anything just in case there was any possibility of any complications.
I did a lot of searching on the Internet for the best oil to use. I sourced some organic sunflower oil which was beautiful and smooth to massage with. It came in little bottles (50ml) and was very pure. Absolutely no essential oils.
Getting her onto the massage couch was interesting! We were very careful to give her as much support as possible using pillows, cushions and anything else handy until she said she was OK! At no time at all did she lay on her tummy! She lay on her side with her legs in a comfortable position which meant I could still get access to her back and the back of her legs - albeit from a strange angle! I know you can buy a pregnancy support cushion which has a bump cut out of it where the lady can lay on their tummy without the pressure on the bump itself. I didn't invest in one of these as she has been my only pregnant client to date.
I used lots of effleurage, some petrissage and other gentle massage moves. No massage to her abdomen at all and no percussion apart from tapping. She loved the leg massage as her ankles were swollen and the head/face/neck massage as she said it helped her sleep at night. All in all a very gentle, relaxing, soothing massage as her skin was very dry all the way through the pregnancy so the oil nourished it.
This was all a couple of years ago and she is expecting No 2 now! [sm=dance.gif]
Hope that helps....?
Jo x
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