Pregnancy and Postnatal Massage Training

This 2 day intensive course will share techniques to address the broad range of physical/emotional changes that occur in the childbearing year. Over 50 Techniques including safe mobilisation of joints, enhanced body awareness to prepare for birth, creating a smooth passageway for the baby’s birth, pelvic floor awareness, post-surgical techniques, and recovery techniques after birth. To ensure client safety, contraindications, cautions and complications that arise during the childbearing year will be discussed. Massage Therapists will gain new understanding and confidence to work with this special population.

Massage Therapists attending should be competent in their knowledge of anatomy and physiology, massage strokes and basic draping.

Topics include:
• Uniqueness of pregnancy in a woman's life
• Anatomy / physiology and biomechanics of pregnancy
• Complications /cautions/ contraindications during pregnancy
• Common issues in pregnancy
• Gentle effective movement and breathing practices to address musculo-skeletal concerns
• Stress during pregnancy / why massage ...
• Guidelines for pregnancy massage for each trimester
• Client interview, case history and assessment
• Positioning, draping and practical methodology for each trimester
• Pregnancy massage techniques with over 60 techniques
• Alternative techniques
• Self care techniques for clients
• Massage on pregnant volunteers *(optional - when available)
• Post partum: The Fourth Trimester - emotional, physical and psychological impact
• Complications /cautions/ contraindications for postnatal massage
• Practical methodology
• Normal birth massage
• Post surgery massage and self care techniques
• Release of abdominal scar tissue and adhesions
• Massage to assist with the demands of breastfeeding
• Osseous releases of ilia, sacrum, coccyx and pubic symphysis.
• Techniques for pelvic floor and core muscles recovery
• Coccydynia, pelvic pain and instability, diastasis recti

The subject matter in this course will discuss fertility issues and miscarriage, birth trauma, the birthing process (birth video may be shown), postnatal recovery, pelvic floor dysfunction. Please be aware that these subjects can be a trigger for some.