Your own private workshop can be held at your home on a Sunday or at Moving Arts Base in Islington on a day that suits you. The workshop lasts approximately 90 minutes and costs £65.
You will be taught how to perform a basic pregnancy massage as well as pain-relieving massage and acupressure techniques to use during labour.
The massage routine you will learn is very straightforward and easy to remember. You will also receive handout notes and an oil that you can use to practice with.
Why massage is useful during pregnancy
Massage in pregnancy helps ease sore, tight muscles and improves
joint flexibility. It also helps improve lymph and blood
circulation which reduces swelling. Even a short 20 minute
massage on the main problem areas can be very effective at reducing
pain. Knowing how to do a safe pregnancy massage is important.
Why massage is useful during labour
During labour, adrenaline levels rise and this lowers the
endorphins in the body. Too much adrenaline slows labour down.
Getting the endorphin levels to rise helps to lower adrenaline.
After 20 minutes of skin contact massage, the body begins to
release endorphins, as well as two other hormones necessary for labour
to progress, prolactin and oxytocin.
Labour is a strenuous and tiring time, so it is really helpful to have someone present who can help soothe acheing muscles and help keep you calm. Some midwives are now training in labour massage.
Please note: some women do not want to be touched during labour. This may occur during all stages of labour, or just at some points. If this is the case, you could try stimulating acupressure points instead of massage.
Deborah Betts' article on Natural Pain Relief Techniques for Child Birth Using Acupressure is a useful article. To read or download, click here.
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