Massage therapy during pregnancy and the postpartum period is a safe and effective way to care for yourself during this sacred transition in life.
Pregnant and postpartum folks require individualized, specific and nurturing care during pregnancy, while recovering from birth, and then when caring for their little ones.
Prenatal and postpartum treatments at The Nest are tailored to meet your individual needs. We understand pregnancy and postpartum is a journey and we strive to meet you where you’re at during each treatment. We have specialized training as RMT’s to address complex challenges that may arise and in providing support through all stages of the perinatal period. I am also a mother and love to meet fellow humans on a parallel journey through parenthood.
Pregnancy Care
Massage therapy treatment can be supportive throughout your pregnancy as your body adapts to the changes of childbearing. It is a safe and beneficial approach to caring for your body throughout all trimesters of pregnancy. Treatment can be useful for addressing physical ailments that may come with pregnancy, decreasing pain, restoring and/or maintaining balance in your changing body, preparing your body for childbirth, improving sleep quality, promoting relaxation, and a connection to your changing body.
Your Treatment
At The Nest, we have a special pregnancy pillow designed to support your body on the massage table. Sick of lying on your side all the time? Lots of pregnant folks are overjoyed when they can spend a comfortable amount of time lying in a face-down position on the massage table. If this isn’t comfortable, there are many ways we can adjust the table to make you as comfortable as possible during your treatment.
Each visit we will discuss the various treatment options that will best suit your body at that time.
Postpartum Care
After pregnancy & birth comes the postpartum period or fourth trimester. It is important that you care for yourself during this time in addition to caring for your new baby. Massage therapy during the postpartum period can help your body recover from childbirth, restore balance & physical function, promote relaxation, help you reconnect with your body after childbearing, and address the physical aches and pain that can come with caring for your little one.
Cesarean Birth Scar Treatment
Massage therapy can be helpful for recovering from a cesarean birth.
If you have given birth by cesarean, treatment for your scar can be helpful for recovering from this surgery.
What you may notice after a cesarean:
numbness or altered sensation at and around the scar
swelling
slow healing of scar tissues/incision
feelings of tightness or pulling around the scar
lower back pain (scar tissue can adhere to other parts of the body!)
pelvic or groin pain
lumpy or hard spots along your scar
Treatment for your scar can help to address these issues.
This treatment can be done any time after a cesarean birth — it’s never too late to work on your scar!
It is important to note that this treatment has the potential to bring up emotions connected to your birth experience. You are encouraged to communicate things that may come up. We hope to establish and honour your comfort levels throughout the treatment.
Initially, treatments will be focused on decreasing swelling, promoting tissue healing, and minimizing restriction as scar tissue forms. Later treatments will focus on mobilization of scar tissue, easing restrictions, and promoting reconnection & integration of this area of the body.
Massage therapy during pregnancy and the postpartum period is a safe and effective way to care for yourself during this sacred transition in life.
