How I came to be a Pregnancy Massage Therapist

The following was written for Carriage House Collective in early 2011:

I was trained first at Lotus Palm School in 2006, then studied intensively with Ananda Apfelbaum and was certified in Traditional Thai Massage in 2007. I named my original practice "every buddha body" because of my belief that everyone deserves to receive lovingkindness and because every person's face shone like a buddha after they received a treatment. Being witness to the body's transformation from pain or tension to relief and wholeness was so gratifying and I was happy to connect with others on this very basic level, through touch.

In 2009 I began massaging a pregnant friend regularly, from the first month till just before her labor and in the months following her child's birth. It was amazing to witness the changes she went through physically and to be a supportive presence throughout her pregnancy and after. An ongoing dialogue began about what she was experiencing and where she wanted me to focus in a session. I became aware of how important massage during pregnancy is for reducing anxiety and stress and how it facilitates an overall more relaxed environment for an expectant mother and child. Each massage was individualized and centered around her needs and where she was in the moment. Through these regular massages I learned about the particular needs and vulnerabilities of women who are preparing to give birth, how the hips and pelvis open and change and how to improvise, intuit and listen with greater sensitivity than usual. It was a magical process to be part of and very gratifying to see how much the work nurtured her overall well-being during pregnancy. After she gave birth I continued to be sensitive as her body changed and was flexible to the immediate needs of her newborn during a session. Creating a relaxed and comfortable environment was my goal throughout our process together. From this experience I developed a heightened sensitivity and my practice was transformed to specialize in meeting the needs of pregnancy and after birth.

In 2010 I was given another opportunity to massage a woman during pregnancy right up to the days before she gave birth. Then I massaged another woman just after the birth of her child and another whose baby was present during the session. It became clear that my practice had taken a turn toward specializing in pre- and post-natal massage. It is humbling and powerful to give a massage to someone who is about to bring a new being into this world or who has just given birth. I find great joy in helping expectant and new mothers to feel healthy and relaxed and to facilitate a smooth transition into parenthood. It is an honor to be invited to share and be of support during one of life's most intimate and significant experiences.



Notes/addendum:

Some observations and thoughts I have had about the benefits of receiving bodywork during and after pregnancy:

Learning how to relax through massage over the course of pregnancy means that you will be more sensitive to your own body, connected with your breath and able to be more present and relaxed during labor. Your body will store the memory of knowing how to relax and breathe through things so when you are in the midst of the hardest pushes you can get through it with greater ease.

When you take the time to care for yourself and be touched then you will feel greater joy taking the time to care for your infant and probably give them more nurturing touch than if you had not received massage. Being supported during this transition can ease symptoms of stress and depression and give you a calmer outlook even when you are frazzled from sleepless nights. It can also be that one and a half hours when you actually get some rest.

In India and Bangladesh women are massaged DAILY after birth. In Indonesia the term for a midwife is literally "someone who knows how to massage." This shows just how important it is to be supported through touch during pregnancy, labor and in the weeks and months after.