Pregnancy Massage Techniques

Here is a collection of massage techniques most women find comfortable during pregnancy. Not every woman relaxes to the same types of touch, so it make take a bit of trial and error to discover the perfect massage techniques for the mother you are working with.

For Fatigue and Mild Swelling

Use long smooth strokes from the ends of her limbs toward the center of her body. Begin with feet and ankles and with a gentle but firm touch stroke smoothly up the leg toward the body. It may work to circle her leg with your hands and gently pull the hands toward the body. This technique helps to improve circulation and promote lymph drainage which will help temporarily prevent swelling and improve energy.

For Tight Abdomen

The growing baby can put pressure on a mother's abdomen. One way to help minimize any discomfort is to perform Sun/Moon soft circles over the abdomen.

Sun/Moon circles are a technique done with two hands. Move your right hand in a continuous clock-wise circle pattern - this is the Sun. Your left hand will move in a half circle, beginning and ending opposite the right hand, pick it up then start again - this is the Moon.

For those who need a more detailed description, imagine the circle you will make as the face of a clock. Your right hand is at 3 o'clock and your left hand is at 9 o'clock. As the right hand moves to 6 o'clock, the left hand moves to 12 o'clock. Continuing the circle, the right hand moves to 9 o'clock and the left hand moves to 3 o'clock. Your hands should now be crossed left over right, and they are opposite their starting position. Pick up your left hand and return it to 9 o'clock while you continue the clockwise motion with your right hand. When you get the timing correct, your left hand will be at 9 o'clock and begin the half circle when your right hand reaches 3 o'clock.

A few points to remember. First, in actual practice the start position of your hands relative to a clock face will change depending on your position relative to the mother. Work with what you can get, doing a Sun/Moon pattern and it will feel good. Secondly, this can be done counter-clockwise just as easily. Finally, if you are left-hand dominant or find it more comfortable, use the left hand to do the Sun by crossing the right hand over the left. You will then pick up the right hand and return it to start position.

For Sore Hips or Pelvis

Late in pregnancy and during labor, the pelvis is stretched. This stretching can cause discomfort in the hips and lower back. Using pressure on a stretching pelvis is one way to manage any pain this stretching causes. There are two ways to do this, with your hands or with a rebozo.

If you are using your hands, have the mother move into a comfortable hands and knees position or sit backwards on a chair. Use your hands to apply pressure on her back, on both sides of her spine but not on the spine. It may be easiest to think of the starting location as the "dimples" above the buttocks. For more pressure form your hands into fists and use your body weight instead of arm strength by keeping your arms straight and leaning to add pressure. Rebozo Massage

If you are using a rebozo, begin by placing the rebozo around her hips. Placement is key, you do not want the rebozo to be around the belly, so adjust the ends to go under her belly. Once placement is correct, cross the ends of the rebozo and pull on the ends to apply pressure. This will tire your arms quickly, so you may want to do an extra twist (as seen in the image). The extra twist makes the rebozo maintain the pressure so your arms do not have to.

For Headaches

Some women find themselves more prone to headaches during pregnancy. Massage can be part of a headache prevention regimen. There are two main types of headaches massage can help with, sinus headaches and tension headaches.

Tension headaches are caused by excess muscular tension in the shoulders, neck and upper back. Firm massage of these areas can help relieve the tension and lessen the headache. Regular massage of these areas can help prevent tension headaches.

Sinus headaches are caused by pressure in your sinus cavities (open pockets in your skull). This pressure can be caused by inflammation as in a sinus infection, or by build up of fluids with allergies or a cold. Massage can help by encouraging drainage of the sinuses. Immediate relief can be felt by applying pressure to the sinuses by pinching the bridge of the nose, using thumbs to apply upwards pressure on the eyebrow lines or on the cheek bones.

Longer lasting relief can be felt by applying pressure along the lymph drainage routes. If you are not familiar with facial lymph drainage, imagine these lines:

Behind the ear, starting just above the ear lobe, down the skull and side of neck to the clavicle.
In front of the ear, starting just above the ear lobe, down the skull and front sides of neck to the clavicle.
Under the chin, along the jaw line to the neck and down to the clavicle.

Start by applying pressure along imaginary lines from the center of the forehead to the temples. Work from the eyes to the hair line. Next, apply pressure along imaginary lines from the bridge of the nose along the cheeks to the ears. Work from the eyes down to the chin, always starting from the center of the face to the outside. Next work along the lymph drainage route under the chin, move to the drainage in front of the ear and finish with the drainage behind the ear.

Essential Oils

If you enjoy using essential oils with massage, you may find incorporating specific oils can help alleviate other symptoms.

For nausea try massage with oils of ginger, lemon, nutmeg, rosewood or sandalwood.
For fluid retention (swelling) try massage with oils of geranium, lemon, mandarin, neroli, fennel, juniper or orange.
For heartburn try massage with oils of mandarin and peppermint.
For constipation try massage with oils of ginger, mandarin, bitter orange or rosemary.
For backache try massage with oils of basil, lavender or marjoram.
For varicose veins try massage with oils of clary sage, cypress or niaouli.
For stretch marks try massage with oils of frankincense, geranium or lavender.

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