Pregnancy Massage

Massage during pregnancy (also know as ante natal massage) can be relaxing for both the mother and baby, As well as relieving aches and pains of pregnancy, it gives the pregnant mother time to relax.

During pregnancy the body changes to prepare itself for the birth. In particular the joints become looser and may ache. The lower back can often be painful because of this, along with the extra weight and strain being applied to it.
At Woodland Herbs all our therapists offering pregnancy massage have a Diploma from the highly regarded Well Mother Pregnancy Massage course whose maternity massage course requires 4 days teaching and also 6 client case studies (with normally 6 treatments with each client) as well as existing massage qualifications and experience.

As well as back pain, pregnancy massage and aromatherapy are suitable for;

Morning sickness

Anxiety/depression

Low energy

Poor sleep

Stretch marks

Headaches

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Fluid retention

Leg cramps

Varicose veins

Many massage therapists learn about pregnancy within their training but additional specific pregnancy massage training allows the therapist to be more aware of specific problems often encountered through pregnancy and to learn new techniques to deal with them. The most obvious problem when heavily pregnant is the different body positions used during the massage. By using a double futon on the floor the client can be massaged whilst lying comfortably on their side. Massage strokes are adjusted to suit this unusual massage position.

When using essential oils there are certain oils which should be used with caution or avoided altogether. A massage with a qualified aromatherapist allows these cautions to be taken into consideration and essential oils may then be used safely to treat a wide range of problems often associated with pregnancy.

As well as massaging, the massage therapist can recommend exercises, essential oils for self-massage and can teach simple massage techniques to partners (for the pregnancy or the labour). Similar massage techniques can be used after the pregnancy (post-pregnancy / post-natal massage) where the body is recovering from the changes experienced during the pregnancy.