Massage Therapy and Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be tough on your muscles. Carrying a baby inside you changes your center of gravity and puts a lot of stress on your back, neck, abdominal muscles, and shoulders. Pregnancy also relaxes your ligaments, so that your pelvic joints are less stable, and changes your posture, pulling your pelvis forward. Add to that the extra weight you're carrying and you've got yourself an aching lower back.

As your chest and belly continue to grow the strain on your back intensifies. You also tend to be forced into one or two sleeping positions that can put continuous pressure on your hips and torque your back and neck while you sleep.

Regular prenatal massage can loosen those achy and stiff muscles and help you cope with the discomfort. 

Our trained and experienced  massage therapists know where a pregnant woman's sore spots are likely to be and can usually provide a great deal of relief.  We provide massage during all three trimesters and will gladly use medium, light or even deep pressure to your liking when appropriate.  

Positioning

Our experienced massage therapists work with you on side posture, with your belly and legs well supported with body pillows. Our aim is to make you as comfortable as possible!

Post-Partum Massage

Postpartum massage is meant to help the new mom recover from pregnancy and labor. Providing gentle abdominal massage is thought to stimulate and return your organs to their pre-pregnancy state whereas abdominal connective tissue massage helps the stretched skin and underlying tissues regain elasticity. General circulatory massage is applied to help your body remove any built up toxins and aid in the general “flushing” that the body is undergoing.

Therapeutic moderate and deep tissue massage provides structural rebalancing to the hips and low back as those tired and stretched muscles and joints accommodate post-pregnancy size and bring relief to exhausted and sore muscles that supported you throughout labor. Massage can help minimize much of this discomfort, as well as promote relief of any fatigue or anxiety you may be feeling.

During these months we commonly see new postpartum aches and pains, as breastfeeding women develop aching shoulders, necks and upper backs from all those hours holding, nursing and loving that newborn and sleeping (or not sleeping!) in unusual positions while nursing in bed.

Postpartum massage is usually safe directlt after you’ve given birth. We typically see people within 10 days of having the baby, but exactly when you schedule that massage depends on how you feel and your individual situation. Some women want it within the first week, and others want to wait a few weeks so they can adjust a bit more to the changes. Most new moms need to balance major schedule changes including breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and childcare before they can make it in for a massage. Whenever you are able to get in for your first postpartum massage – it’ll be well needed and deserved!

If your delivery had complications or involved surgery (C-section delivery), we will need to discuss modifying the massage to ensure your comfort and safety. Most women will need to wait three weeks post surgery, though occasionally, we can do a modified treatment before that three week mark. Give us a call at 773-545-2233 and we can start on your post-partum massages today!