Maternity Network

Massage for Pregnancy, labour and postnatal

Prenatal Massage
Massage is a wonderful thing. We feel it is especially superb during pregnancy! Your body goes through a huge change and there should be no reason why you should suffer with back ache, swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome etc. Massage can help you feel lighter and support a good quality sleep, even if you have to get up in the night several times!

There are symptoms that respond well to massage:
Hip, back, neck or shoulder ache
Swelling
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Headaches
High blood pressure
Relaxation and Time out

Massage for Labour
Massage during labour is particularly wonderful for some women. MN believe it is best given by your partner because they offer a feeling of familiarity, love and trust which is what you need when in labour and feeling vulnerable. Here are some techniques you can teach your partner during your pregnancy ready for when you are in labour;

Double hip squeeze – best used whilst you are standing or kneeling. Your partner places their hands just behind your hips near your buttocks, elbows outside and their fingers pointing inwards towards your spine. Using the heels of their hands, push inwards and upwards to lift the muscles from your lower back.

Back massage – using the full palms of their hands our partner begins right at the base of your spine. Use a firm but gentle pressure up your back to your bra strap. They shoulder turn their fingers in towards one another and remove the pressure sweeping down and around your tummy and then applying pressure again at your hips before beginning thee same routine.

Equally, you could have a massage therapist or Doula at your birth to do this for you or coach your partner.

Postnatal Massage after birth
The benefits of massage after birth are to help you feel more normal, faster! There’s nothing like sorting out your shoulder ache or new mothers neck, releasing the tension in your body and giving you the rest you deserve. Some therapists don’t mind if you take your baby with you so they can sleep in the room whilst you relax and enjoy yourself, or feed your baby if necessary.

You may find benefits of;
Support healthy balance of hormones
Time out and relaxation
Neck/shoulder ache from feeding
Support the uterus’s return to “normal”

You could have a massage 5 days after a vaginal delivery or 10 days after a caesarean. Some therapists will come to your home, others work from salons or their own home practises.

What to expect to pay: You may expect to pay between £35-£60 for an hour’s massage depending on the venue chosen for your massage.
We feel it is very important to choose a therapist who has completed a massage diploma and an additional massage qualification in prenatal or postnatal massage.

You may like to have aromatherapy oils in your massage, we suggest you check your therapist has aromatherapy qualifications or ask an aromatherapist with prenatal/postnatal qualifications to create a blend based on your taste, stage of pregnancy/postnatal and any conditions. Visit our section about Aromatherapy

Associations and training:
www.oeuf.org.uk
www.btinternet.com/~wellmother/wellmother.htm
www.theseedinstitute.co.uk

The Maternity Network ensures their therapists have qualifications and insurance. The Maternity Network takes not responsibility for the treatments or services provided by the therapists listed in this site. We do our best to ensure they are qualified but cannot guarantee this information as they are self employed, not working for the Maternity Network.