Pregnancy Massage
Becoming pregnant, or having a child, is a period of immense change, both emotionally and physically for each woman. Specialist pregnancy massage therapy can help ease common symptoms and discomforts as well as provide essential relaxation, strengthening and healing benefits for each and every mother, or mother-to-be, during this exciting time. After a treatment, a mother feels relaxed, calm and energised.
Oriental Medicine, Pregnancy Massage & Post Natal Care
At The Body Balance Company, our specialist massage therapists combine techniques from oriental medicine, shiatsu, and advanced pregnancy massage to treat and rejuvenate. All treatments are administered using pregnancy friendly massage tables, mats, and bolsters to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for mother and baby.
During Pregnancy
Oriental Medicine has a long and successful history of nurturing and supporting mothers during pregnancy, through the birthing process and restoring health after birth. Oriental techniques can also help promote the onset of natural labour.
Shiatsu and massage therapy promotes wellbeing throughout pregnancy as well as helping to alleviate common pregnancy symptoms including aches and pains, postural issues, nausea, bloating, headaches, and fatigue.
Pregnancy massage treatments can safely begin at around 9-13 weeks, during each trimester your therapist will harmonise specific meridians and acupressure points that are known to nourish the different stages of foetal development as well as to support the mother to adapt with her changing physique and hormone levels.
We include gentle stretches and mobilisation techniques to improve posture and flexibility. We also lead a mother into birth preparation and can recommend a variety of self-care treatments or referral to other pregnancy professionals and organisations as needed.
Induction Massage
Natural birthing procedures rather than medical induction is almost always preferred by expectant mothers. For those women beyond their due date, the stress and anxiety associated with looming medical intervention can be a worry, during an exciting time. Even when medical invention is necessary, a shiatsu treatment can still bring much needed grounding, nurturing, and birth preparation.
Induction massage is a gentle and safe technique, used by trained massage therapists to help promote the onset of labour by encouraging your baby to move down into the birthing position naturally. Massage technique coupled with, gentle stretches, birth stimulating essential oils and acupressure points, make this treatment highly effective in stimulating labour quickly and stress free.
(Please note that birthing is a complex physical process, and the onset of natural labour cannot be guaranteed as every birth is unique and multiple factors affect the birth process)
Post Natal Care
Many mothers overlook the benefits of regular massage therapy after birth. In fact, we consider post-natal care up to the time your child becomes 3 years of age. Although it’s a time of celebration and adoration for your new baby, we can be realistic about the pressures of juggling all the challenges that a newborn baby brings to the home.
Post-natal massage treatments support a mother where her body is aching and tense from holding, nursing, and feeding.
Treatments help to calm and soothe the central nervous system bringing relaxation to the body and mind allowing emotional space for a mother to come back to herself and to listen to her needs. She feels re-energised and ready to pour out all that she has to offer her family.
At Body Balance we also encourage fathers to have a deep tissue or relaxation treatment during this time as well. We see time and again the positive impact on Mum and Dad and their relationship when they both can find an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate during this special time.
The Benefits of Pre and Post Natal Pregnancy Massage
- Promote positive energy and relaxation
- Release muscular tension
- Increase flexibility
- Improve posture
- Alleviate weight bearing joints and feet
- Improve Circulation
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Manage fluid retention
- Increase energy
- Improve sleep
- Improve stress response
- Encourage a sense of feeling whole and grounded
- Feel nurtured and supported
Lymphatic Drainage Massage to Reduce Fluid Retention
Gently applied lymphatic drainage technique helps to reduce fluid retention in the arms, legs and feet eradicating toxins and metabolic waste. Lymphatic drainage massage is beneficial especially during the later stages of pregnancy or as a part of post-natal care.
This treatment involves light, gentle movements and is deeply relaxing. We use a beautiful aromatic blend of essential oils that are known to help breakdown and move lymphatic blockages. We recommend that you walk away smelling divine and allow the oils to absorb into the skin to work on the lymph vessels just under the surface of the skin.
Your Practitioner - Rachel
Rachel has developed a holistic, ‘east meets west’ medical approach using a combination of her Shiatsu skills and Remedial Massage techniques. She brings a sense of calm and serenity by connecting the physical, energetic and emotional bodies with her flowing, deep treatments, utilizing acupressure points to each client’s needs.
Specialising in pre & post pregnancy massage, Rachel considers a woman’s journey through pregnancy to be a profound biological and emotional process that requires sincere nurturing for both mother and baby.
Rachel’s techniques vary from acupressure and meridian therapy, trigger point therapy, sports and deep tissue massage, reflexology, corrective exercises, mobilisation and gentle stretching of the limbs and body.
