A couple of my friends are pregnant and have asked if I will massage them. I have never worked on a pregnant lady so looking for any tips or advice please? Best positions, anything to avoid? Apart from the obvious laying on the bump! Is laying on their side best? Stradling a chair?
Hi mrsjkn - there has been lots of discussion about this subject - go to the word Search, just below the Market Place/Forums links (near the top of this page) and put pregnancy massage into the search box. You will find lots of tips and hints if you are willing to trawl through some of the threads.
Hi, I always do a very thorough consultation before any treatments with my pregnant ladies and as standard find out: when they last saw their midwife, have they had a light snack or meal recently to avoid dizzy spells, was their blood pressure normal when last checked, any headaches with visual disturbances, severe oedema, any bleeding, any terribly itchy hands and feet to ensure there are no problems before commencing.
Best position I have found is side lying with two pillows for their head, give them a hand towel for draping over their chest, bath towel for draping over their pelvic area. Once they are on the couch I give them a long bolster pillow to drape one arm and one leg over, this is not only very comfortable for them but anchors them in position. Try to ensure that they are in a straight line from head, spine, pelvis and leg down to their foot to ensure correct alignment. Then finally I cover them either with a fluffy blanket I have (winter) or a large sheet (summer). I then undrape relevant areas as I work. I also give them the option to keep their bra on if they prefer and I unhook and do back up - some ladies find it a real pain getting their bra on and off and feel more comfortable with it on, some whip it off as soon as you have the couch set up, all a matter of their personal choice 🙂
I use some lovely organic massage oil from Vital Touch called Natalia, it is a bit pricey but they offer a discount to therapists and their oils really are gorgeous and clients do appreciate it. I can also recommend the DVD Mastering Pregnancy Massage from Real Bodywork with Leslie Stager.
Hope that helps, its a real priviledge to massage mother and child together so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😀 Tracey
Thank you both. Great tips and thanks for the DVD recomendations Footsie. Jabba, that will get me through my nightshift tonight, thank you!
If your friend/client is in the last stages of pregnancy try having her sitting on an exercise ball leaning against the massage couch. It gives better access to the neck, shoulder and back. I find it better than when they are lying on their side for that area. I also find I need extra pillows (one for under the bump and anywhere else mum needs it)
it is well worth taking a course in pregnancy massage for the tips and advice you get
A good article that may answer this issue. [url]Massage for Pregnant Women - Clearing the Misconceptions | Toronto Exotic Massage Parlours[/url]