Prenatal, postnatal massage (medical massage for pregnant women)
Why is massage helpful during pregnancy (prenatal)?
The adaptations of your body during pregnancy give you the ability to support a baby, but can also:
- Create new patterns of muscle tension and imbalance
- Release hormones that increase joint mobility and instability
- Increase circulatory and lymphatic load
- Cause discomfort in the low back, hips, pelvis, feet, and neck
Prenatal massage can help by:
- Easing muscle and joint pain, especially in the low back, hips, glutes, neck, and shoulders
- Improving circulation and lymph flow to reduce swelling and fatigue
- Supporting postural balance and pelvic alignment
- Reducing stress and promoting better sleep
- Helping you connect to your body in a calm, grounded way
Why is massage helpful after pregnancy (postnatal/Postpartum)?
Postpartum, your body is healing from one of the most physically demanding events it will ever go through. Even if everything went smoothly, your body is left in a very different state than it was before. It is important to give your body the attention and care it needs to return to being fully stable and functional. In addition, this can be an emotionally intense and stressful time period where mothers can use as much support as they can get.
Postnatal/Postpartum massage can help by:
- Supporting core and pelvic recovery, especially from C-section or difficult labor
- Easing tension from nursing, holding, rocking, and carrying your baby
- Helping regulate hormonal shifts, sleep loss, and emotional stress
- Restoring postural alignment after months of compensation
- Creating a moment in time where you're the one being cared for
What to expect during a prenatal or postpartum massage session
Massage during and after pregnancy is adapted to your changing body and unique needs.This means no assumptions, no rush, and attentive communication.
Here's what you can expect:
- We begin with a conversation about your pregnancy or recovery, and what’s feeling tight, painful, or just in need of support
- Prenatal sessions use side-lying or semi-reclined positioning for safety and comfort, with plenty of pillows and support
- Postnatal sessions may involve more work on the upper body, low back, hips, and core area, but always based on your comfort and where you are in recovery
- Techniques are gentle, grounding, and deeply restorative.
I have been fortunate to be able to help create a relaxing and healing atmosphere for many women during and after pregnancy. Many of my perinatal clients have expressed how needed their massage session was, and how much of a relief it was. I'll never experience it, but from the outside I think its safe to say being pregnant is A LOT... and its constant. You deserve a chance to feel some of the strain alleviated, and I hope I can help create the time and space for you to have that.
How I integrate this with other techniques
I make use of many approaches and techniques to create an ideal session together with your feedback. Rather than blindly applying a "system" or approach to your problem because it "should" work, I like to let your body decide what works. I typically begin with whatever techniques seem most likely to help based on my experience. I blend them together with techniques that create general relaxation and allow me to find additional areas of focus.
By communicating with you and paying attention to how your body responds to each technique, we will tailor the session to your needs together. You are always part of the decision making process. This allows us to gradually find the right mix of techniques that actually gets results for you.
Looking for pregnancy massage therapy in the Lehigh Valley, PA?
Please feel free to reach out. I would be happy to discuss your situation and recommend myself or another professional provider depending on what will suit you best. I offer in home medical massage therapy appointments, and stay in touch with some other great local health professionals. I would love to talk with you!
