Massage Services    

Prenatal Massage
Guided Birthday Massage
Induction Massage
Early Labor Massage
Labor Massage
Postpartum Massage
Swedish Massage
Hot Stone Massage
Integrative Massage- Swedish and Hot Stone Massages, Aromatherapy, Crystals, Energy Healing, and Sound Healing
                                      

              
Prenatal Massage   
Prenatal Massage is important for all pregnant women.  I offer discounted Prenatal Massage prices & packages for my contracted Doula clients. I recommend at least one massage each month to relieve the physical & emotional stress of pregnancy. From my experience as an expecting mother, I would receive massages at weeks 20, 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. 
                                               

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

• Drug-free method of relieving the aches & pains of pregnancy.
• Improves the circulatory & lymphatic systems, which assists the heart & reduces swelling.
• Alleviates stress on the weight bearing joints of the hips, pelvis, knees, & ankles.
• Relieves soreness on the muscles that are supporting the additional weight of the baby.
• Eases sore muscles of the neck, back & hips.
• Eases pressure & pain to the nervous system, including including the sciatic nerve.
• Allows the mother to learn relaxation skills which can be used during labor.
• Promotes the release of emotional & physical tension.
• Prepares the body for delivery by loosening the pelvis & ridding the body of tension.     
• The mother's decreased stress levels directly affect the baby- reassuring & nurturing her.

Can any Massage Therapist give Prenatal Massages?
No! Certified Prenatal Massage Therapists have gone through extensive training to learn about the specific needs and areas to avoid during pregnancy that could induce labor.

Is Prenatal Massage safe during the entire pregnancy?
Yes. Women can receive massages during the entire pregnancy. Some facilities and massage therapist refuse prenatal massages during the first trimester because some believe that there is an increased risk of miscarriages. There is little evidense to reinforce this fear. As long as the points that induce labor are avoided, it is my belief that prenatal massage is safe during all stages of pregnancy (unless you have the following conditions).

But if you have any of the following conditions please seek medical advice from your care provider before receiving a massage. A consent form may need to be filled out.

• High Risk Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PID)
• Pre-eclampsia
• Previous pre-term labor
• Experiencing severe swelling, high blood pressure, or sudden severe headaches
• Heavy discharge (watery or bloody)
• Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes
• Fever, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Contagious illness
• Morning sickness
• Abdominal pain
• Unusual pain
• Any malignant condition

                                                                              
Guided Birth Massage   
Guided visualization & hypnotherapy are effective skills to use during childbirth. We have been conditioned to expect that labor is long, arduous, agonizing. When you enter any experience with an expectation, it is very often the case that your expectation is proved correct. If you expect a long, agonizing labor, where you feel helpless and out of control then it is very possible that you will have a labor just like that. 

During my Guided Birthday Massage session, I will prepare you for your baby's birthday by using the same massage and guided visualization techniques that I use during labor.  By becoming familiar to my voice and my touch through massage sessions, you will be able to relax more during your labor. This is achieved because your mind and body will remember the guided massage sessions and be able to go back to that safe place of relaxation. 

Labor Massage  
Many more women are using massage during labor to relieve tension & promote relaxation. The more a woman is able to relax during her labor, the quicker her labor proceeds. There is a direct connection between relaxing the skeletal muscles & dilation of the uterus. I offer Labor Massage at an hourly rate; I can stay for a minimum of an hour to as long as you like. I also offer Massage Doula Labor Support at a flat rate.

Early Labor Massage  
I have meet several couples over the years who have had mixed feelings about hiring a doula. Birth is a very intimate & personal experience for some people. Usually it is the husband/partner who is uncomfortable with the idea of having a "stranger" at their birth. I offer both in-home or hospital,  Early-Labor Massage Therapy as well
Early-Labor Massage Doula support. The woman can still benefit from my massage therapy or doula support, but then when the time is right for you, I can say good-bye & wish you my best. But should you change your mind and decide that having me there would be beneficial, then I can stay on to help you for the remainder of the birth.


Induction Massage   
When you are near or at your due date (or overdue) and your doctor or midwife says it is ok to try self-induction techniques, give me a call. Women who are of advance maternal age (over 35) are often encouraged to be induced by their physician. This is a safe alternative to talk to your doctor or midwife about. This can be planned just as easily as being induced. And if for some reason it doesn't work, then you can always go to their plan. 

All the points we have been avoiding during your prenatal massages are now ok to massage. At 38 weeks (as long as you are not considered a high-risk pregnancy), massage is a safe alternative to medical induction. In fact, studies have shown that natural induction is much safer for both mother & baby.

There are a couple of spots which have been shown to be effective in inducing labor. I use a combination of Massage, Aromatherapy & acupressure techniques to stimulate the uterus to begin spontaneous contractions. This massage in addition to other at-home techniques to use simultaneously, have been very effective in beginning labor.


Postpartum Massage
 After birth your body is going through significant changes. This healing process includes: rapid reduction in the uterine size. Your chest becomes enlarged, sore and sensitive as the milk ducts go into production. Your may be very sore from an episiotomy. Your abdominal muscles are relaxed, flaccid and toneless. And if your rectus abdominus muscles detached you may feel weak when attempting to sit up.

Postpartum massage may help in these ways: