Pregnancy massage addresses the profound changes a woman’s body goes through during the entire childbearing year.  During the first months, massage can help her body balance changing hormones, which often cause morning sickness and make her rave like a banchee!

During the mid months, pregnancy massage addresses the upper and lower back pain that sets in due to the weight of the new baby.  At the end of the pregnancy, massage can relieve swollen feet and hands, numbness, hip, low back and sciatic pain.  

Pregnancy massage is also intended for the three months after the delivery to help the new mother regain abdominal strength, assist organs to drop back into place, and to offer a short respite from the new duties of motherhood and caring for an infant.  Only therapists that are specially certified for Pregnancy Massage perform these treatments.

Yes.  Each of Heartsong’s therapists are experienced massage therapists with over 500 hours of education and 18 years of experience. They have also completed a special 32 hour certification course on Pregnancy Massage, which teaches how to address the specific needs of a pregnant woman.  

Before a massage, your therapist will take a complete history to ensure that the massage is safe for you.  Before the first session, for mothers that have complications, your therapists may request your doctor’s approval for extra assurance of comfort and saftey.

The mother-to-be is always carefully supported, regardless of position.  While laying face-up, she is supported with the back lifted, to provide comfort and maximun circulation to the legs and the fetus.  While in a side-laying position, special pregnancy pillows support the stomach, which allows the therapist to massage the back and hips.  The belly is NEVER compressed by laying face-down, nor is the belly left hanging through a hole in the massage table.  These methods are less than ideal for the mother’s body and for fetal circulation.

Your therapist will interview the mother-to-be carefully to ensure that massage is safe at this time.  In some cases, massage is not appropriate (for example, toxemia).  If you have any doubts whether massage would be beneficial to the mother-to-be, your therapist will recommend that the mother-to-be recieves her doctor’s clearance before proceeding.