equilibrio massage

Yesterday afternoon I made a bunch of phone calls to some of my favorite spas in San Diego to find out about their prenatal massage services. How much they charge, positioning, duration, special limitations (for example, no massage during first trimester). Overall I was quite impressed with the way the spa staff answered my questions, but one thing really stood out as the spas kept emphasizing it: light to medium pressure!!

In fact, one of the spa’s literature specifically defines prenatal massage as light to medium in pressure more like a traditional Swedish massage (and oh my gosh, check out the prices!! I did not make that 80minute one up!):

Pre-Natal
Performed on specially designed cushions and pillows,
this light to medium-pressure massage alleviates many
of the discomforts associated with pregnancy.
50 minutes – $155 or 80 minutes – $230

Others I spoke with verbally confirmed the same.

This is actually one of the issues I discuss with new clients as they come in for their first massage. It is very common for women to have received a prenatal massage elsewhere and have not received enough pressure.

Most pregnant women I talk to think this practice is pure insanity. In fact, they end up scheduling prenatal massages precisely because they want pressure on their aching backs and hips.

What is this all about? Well partly it’s that you pay more for deep tissue work in a spa. Spa management sees it as a measurable element they can put a price tag on. But mostly it stems from a sense of pregnant women as fragile and a need to use massage as pampering, relaxing time (which some would see as distinct from therapeutic elements).

Well, not to worry when you come visit us here at Equilibrio! We love deep tissue massage, we don’t think all pregnant women are fragile and we customize each massage for the amount of pressure you need; this might be lighter touch or it may be deeper, more sustained pressure. Our clients find this customized approach a deeply relaxing and nurturing experience.

Deep tissue bodywork is safe throughout your pregnancy. A knowledgeable therapist will work with you to find the correct pressure that will alleviate your discomforts!

Please feel free to call or email if you have specific questions about your individual situation. You deserve a fantastic massage!

Have you ever had any procedure done to your cervix? Biopsies? Previous d and Cs? These can leave scar tissue which can interfere with the dilation of your cervix. Please check out Doula Dawn’s post on the San Diego Birth Resource Network blog for more info.

Equilibrio Therapeutic Massage

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Check us out the comments left by very sweet reviewers on Yelp, and more testimonials from our clients on our website.

In my world, the hospitals would have massage therapists on staff to help moms with wee ones on the NICU.

Today’s NYTimes Science section:

For Parents on NICU, Trauma May Last.

Here are photos from our party for Reny Ryan’s Confessions of a Brazilian Bikini Waxer. Reny also has posted pics and a write up (with video, I think…) on her blog.

Yes. Yes. Yes. You can get massage during your first trimester of pregnancy.

One of the most phone calls I get from new clients is, “I am 8 weeks pregnant and nobody will massage me. Please tell me you can help me! My back is killing me.”

There are lots of rumors out there that massage is to be avoided during the first trimester. And the policies of some therapists and day spas actually restrict massage to second and third trimester, some stating that it is unsafe, others unwilling to work with the uncertainty of first trimester when their therapists have minimal pregnancy training and limited experience working with pregnant women.

What is important here is that these are “policies” not “facts.” These therapists and establishments have restricted massage to second and third trimester women based on potential liability issues in an extremely litigious society, not on the safety of massage.

Massage by a properly trained therapist is safe for you and your developing baby throughout your entire pregnancy; a trained therapist is going to talk to you about your pregnancy, make any necessary modifications and refer you back to your midwife or OB if anything is uncertain. For a woman who is at particular high risk for miscarrying and/or has experienced previous miscarriages, she may want to be careful about adding lots of new activities during that first trimester, including massage. Others may want to add the relaxation and stress relieving benefits of massage to their routines. If you are considering massage during first trimester and are concerned about its safety during your specific situation, please consult your doctor.

The case for first trimester massage.

In my practice, I actually encourage women to get bodywork done during their first trimester.

While few first trimester women have the classic low back and pelvic pain characteristic of later pregnancy (once that belly really starts to show), many do experience a range of discomforts for which massage can be helpful. One of the earlier signs that indicates to a woman that she is indeed pregnant is enlarged, tender breasts. The increased weight in her chest puts a greater strain on her thoracic spine, shoulders and neck, yielding upper back and neck pain, as well as headaches.  A trained therapist can help relieve that strain and educate women on how to integrate that change into her posture so as to minimize additional strain.

First trimester can also be an extremely emotional time as women contemplate major life changes (which can be joyous, scary and stressful all at the same time, or even unwanted) all while riding major hormone surges. Massage (and yoga, and any mindful body practice) support women as they integrate these changes into their lives, and help minimize the physical impact of stress on the body. For moms who already have kids at home, their massage may be the only substantive “me time” they regularly have during this pregnancy.

Modifying massage for first trimester women.

As a massage therapist, I need to make fewer accommodations for a first trimester mom than later in pregnancy. I do however take several things into account. Is she showing yet? If not, can she still go face down on the table? Is she physically and emotionally comfortable doing that? How tender are her breasts? Does she need support to prevent pressure on her breasts? Is she dealing with severe nausea? I would take all of these things (plus many other details) into consideration when setting up a massage for a first trimester woman.

In general, if you are nervous about getting a massage, always ask your midwife or doctor about any concerns they might have and talk to a trained specialist. And, whether you are nervous or not, if you are experiencing a high risk pregnancy or experiencing complications, always get clearance from your provider and find a trained specialist who knows how to modify your massage for your body and your pregnancy!

Last Friday, we hosted a book party at Blue Lotus for author and esthetician Reny Ryan whose Confessions of a Brazilian Bikini Waxer was published recently. Almost 50 friends and clients showed up for drinks and an evening of storytelling and laughter. Reny’s book spins hillarious tales from the waxing room and gives her reader a glimpse of how this intimate (and extreme!) hygiene practices has transformed her clients’ sense of self and their relationships. And, it’s a good laugh.

We have a limited number of copies of the book left in our office (signed by the author). $16 (sales tax included). Meanwhile you can check out Reny’s website and blog for new stories.

I have spent hours this weekend reading through the Plus-Size Pregnancy website. I first stumbled upon it while researching some details on pubic symphsis pain. And uncovered so, so much more. This website is authored by "Kmom", a plus size mom of four and childbirth educator. After a tumultuous first pregnancy that turned into a "self fulfilling prophecy" of high risk, multiple complications and many, many interventions, Kmom sought out a different way with each of her subsequent pregnancies. In the process, she has become an important advocate for the needs of plus-size moms-to-be. While at first her website started as a directory of resources for larger women (maternity clothes and bras, baby carriers for big moms, support groups for plus-size pregnancies, etc.), her work soon turned to advocacy as she delved deeply into the pages of medical journals uncovering much disagreement in the medical community over such critical issues as gestational diabetes.

Her website is almost all text…and a lot of it. Sections range from articles she has written for midwives and other providers on how to have Plus-Size Friendly Practices to special issues well-endowed women face with breastfeeding. Larger women have higher rates of c-sections and other interventions, much associated with the medical communities fear that larger women will have complicated deliveries, excessively large babies and possibly babies with birth defects. Kmom tackles the numbers and reminds women that while a larger size does make their pregnancy and birthing experience potentially a little more complicated, healthy larger women have healthy pregnancies and babies all the time.

*Choosing a size-friendly provider
*The importance of large blood pressure cuffs
*Avoiding surgery: lowering the c-section rate in big moms
*Dieting and pregnancy
*Weight Gain during pregnancy
*Facility and equipment concerns
*Connections between Obesity and Birth Defects: Don’t Panic

Her work is heavily researched and has an extensive bibliography, and, very importantly, she strives to be very self-reflective as an author — making it clear when she is expressing her own opinion and bias. She is continually encouraging her readers to seek out more information elsewhere and ask even more critical questions. Quite refreshing in the birthing community when so many experts are so righteous about "the right way" to give birth and care for moms and their babies. And quite refreshing in an industry that doesn’t always understand that moms are smart, thinking people who can understand complex issues.

I highly recommend her website if you are curious about navigating the birthing world as a plus-size mama-to-be, and/or if you are looking for deeper information on gestational diabetes.