Pre-Natal   (  Pregnancy )  Massage 

Available booking increments: 1hr, 90mins & 2hrs ( with approval & discussion ).
* Reiki, TMJ & LightStim sessions can also be added-on a massage service *
 You need to be in your 2nd or 3rd trimester ( weeks 13+ ). You will NOT be worked on for a “hands-on” massage if you are in your 1st trimester ( weeks 1-12 ). Only Reiki & LightStim can be preformed if you are in your 1st trimester.
*** NO EXCEPTIONS ***
 
* You will be worked on semi-reclining, & then side-line using pillows for comfort ( not on your belly with uncomfortable padding ). *
Every therapist approaches Pre-Natal differently. At Healing Elements Therapy you can expect to receive a more thorough session that will help relieve the body of tension vs. just putting lotion on you. You will start semi-reclining while receiving Deep Tissue work on the front & back of your neck, pecs, and through the abdominal ligaments ( which will have a lot of tension as the baby grows ), as well as manual stretching through the legs, hips & groin regions to prepare your body for when the baby “drops” ( stretching is with 90mins sessions ). You will continue your tension relieving journey side-line ( on your left side ,) while having your full back, ribs, glutes & sacrals worked on.
 
Having massage while pregnant will help prepare your body for the birthing process, help keep you balanced, relax you & the baby, and most importantly, help alleviate aches & pains- especially in the later pregnancy stages! Our approach will help align the body & spine, release pulling ligaments, allow better breathing & help prevent/ relieve Sciatica. With longer sessions we can add more focus work, stretching, and some possible light work through the legs for drainage & arms. You can also add-on Reiki or TMJ sessions. We will NOT do Deep Tissue on your legs due to possible blood-clotting precautions.

  Precautions  for  Prenatal  Massage :

As with any therapeutic approach to pregnancy wellness, women should discuss massage with their prenatal care provider. The best way to address the risks of prenatal massage is to be informed, and to work together with knowledgeable professionals.

 Women who have recently experienced bleeding, pre-term contractions, or have any of the following conditions should speak with a health care provider prior to receiving a massage : 
  • High risk pregnancy
  • Pregnancy induced hypertension ( PIH )
  • Preclampsia
  • Previous pre-term labor
  • Experiencing severe swelling, high blood pressure, or sudden, or severe headaches
  • Recently gave birth
 Body position during prenatal massage : 

Many professionals consider the best position for a pregnant woman during massage is side-lying. Tables that provide a hole in which the uterus can fit may not be reliable and can still apply pressure to the abdomen, or allow the abdomen to dangle, causing uncomfortable stretching of the uterine ligaments. Consult your massage therapist before your first appointment to verify what position they place their clients in during the massage.
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 Seek an appropriate massage therapist : 
It is important to seek care from a certified prenatal massage therapist.  Certified therapists have received training beyond the national standards for massage therapists and know how to address specific pregnancy and massage needs. They are aware of how to position you safely and prevent strain to the uterine ligaments. They are also able to watch for symptoms of blood clots and varicose veins.

 ​Is  Prenatal  Massage Safe  Throughout   The  Entire  Pregnancy ?


Women can begin massage therapy at any point in their pregnancy – during the first, second, or third trimester.
​* Many facilities will refuse to offer massage to a woman who is still in her first trimester ( weeks 1-12 ) because of the increased risk for miscarriage associated with the first 12 weeks of pregnancy; which is fairly common. *

  Prenatal  Massage As  Part  Of  Prenatal  Care 

The benefits of massage can improve overall prenatal health for many pregnant women. Along with the guidance and advice of a prenatal care provider, massage therapy can be incorporated into routine prenatal care as an emotional and physical health supplement shown to improve pregnancy outcome and maternal health.
​ ( More specific info below )

​ Therapeutic Massage – Good  for the Unborn 

Research conducted with both adults and children show that massage therapy reduces stress hormones, increases endorphin and serotonin levels, relaxes muscles and promotes a state of well-being. Massage also helps to improve blood and lymph circulation bringing oxygen and nutrients, resulting in better nourishment and greater viability to the unborn child.

If the mother is stressed, or experiences some sort of trauma, the unborn child has been shown to respond and react to the increase in cortisol (a stress hormone), the muscle tension and the emotional anxiety. The baby’s heart rate can double when the mother is frightened or upset. If this stress goes unresolved, or lasts an extended period of time, both the mother and child may experience long-lasting symptoms. Likewise, if massage is given to an expectant mother, she receives the benefits of relaxation and a balancing of emotions, and passes them on to her unborn child as cortisol and endorphin levels are brought into balance.

Between five and six months the fetus’ hearing functions are complete and, because sound is amplified by the amniotic fluid, any music played nearby will be easily heard by the baby. When music is played, research has shown the baby to react with movement of his or her arms and legs, a kind of in utero dance. Other studies have shown the fetus to enjoy music that mimics the mother’s heart rate (about 60 beats per minute), usually classics, like Mozart and Vivaldi – something to keep in mind during the massage session.
During the later months of pregnancy, when you can actually see and feel the movement of arms and legs, if the abdomen is touched and rubbed, the baby will feel it and respond.

​Overall, massage during pregnancy has many benefits for both mother and child. This can be seen when, after several months of massage, the birth commences with the mother having fewer labor complications and the baby having fewer postnatal complications.

  Massage And   Pregnancy :  Benefits  Of  Prenatal  Massage 

​Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage.
Swedish Massage aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts.

​Hormone regulation
Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered when massage therapy is introduced to women’s prenatal care. This leads to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health. In women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression).
These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence strongly suggests there are maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
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​Reduction of swelling
Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints. This also improves the removal of tissue waste carried by the body’s lymph system.
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Improvement of nerve pain
Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced a significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through massage.

 Other potential benefits of prenatal massage : 
Reduced back pain
Reduced joint pain
Improved circulation
Reduced edema
Reduced muscle tension and headaches
Reduced stress and anxiety
Improved oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles
​Better sleep
Studies show that massage increases prolactin levels, a lactation hormone. Relaxation in the chest muscles opens the shoulders and improves lactation. New research indicates that chest massage helps relieve breast pain, decreases breast milk sodium and improves newborn suckling.