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Absolutely Kneaded Massage

Cathy Lafever ⁽¹⁰⁰⁾ United States

Absolutely Kneaded Massage Therapy

Is Prenatal Massage Safe

Posted Wednesday, August 19, 2009 (97 days 13 hours ago.) Viewed 47 times.

I had a client call me one day, she sounded so frustrated, and she asked me, "is it safe for a woman to have a massage while she is pregnant?" When I told her yes it was, she was shocked. She informed me she had just gotten off the phone with another therapist in town who told her it was never safe to get a massage while pregnant. I found myself shocked as well. Prenatal massage is safe but there are a couple guidelines to follow.

During the first trimester.

Mom can lie on her stomach as long as she feels comfortable doing so.

No deep tissue massage over the lower part of the back. This is really the most important guideline to follow.

And this may also be the trimester where she experiences headaches

In the second trimester, make sure mom is propped up so she can comfortably breathe.

If, in the second and third trimesters, if you do not have a body support system such as the PregoPillow, you will want to lay mom on her side and prop her on pillows to work the back. However, the PregoPillow has been proven clinically safe for mom to lie on her stomach for her back massage.

There are certain points on our bodies that connect with different energy paths. Supposedly, there are a few of those spots that are rumored to put you into labor. I have worked on many pregnant women, and if your body is not ready for labor, me rubbing your feet is not going to start it.

Just keep in mind that if mom is ever uncomfortable, reposition her, usually to her side. Have her drink even more water than she had planned, and as she gets ready to get up from the table, have her sit on the edge and make sure she is not light-headed before she stands.

Not only are massages during pregnancy safe, they are very appreciated.

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Drink Lots of Water, We Really Mean It

Posted Wednesday, August 05, 2009 (111 days 17 hours ago.) Viewed 21 times.

Each time a new client arrives in my office, I go over the same guidelines with them before they get on the table. Undress to where you are comfortable, everything covered by a swimsuit will be covered by the blanket and the sheet at all times, start with your head at this end face up, etc. And I always be sure to say "Drink lots of water." This however seems to be the phrase that goes in one ear and out the other. The reason for drinking lots of water after a massage is to flush the toxins we just released from your muscles out of your body.

Toxins in your muscles, how did that happen? Whenever you work out and your muscles are sore the next day, that is due to a build-up of lactic acid in your muscles which is a toxin. These build up over time from everyday activities and when you get a massage, they are released into the blood stream. If they are not flushed out of the body by drinking lots of water or by lots of sweating, they will find a new place to settle and call home. That could be in another muscle, causing more soreness, or it could go up to your head giving you a terrible headache. So next time your therapist tells you to drink lots of water, listen to them, and do yourself and your muscles a favor.

Cathy Lafever, LMT is the owner of Absolutely Kneaded Massage Therapy and has been in practice since 2003 in Spartanburg, SC.

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What Is a Doula Anyway?

Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008 (1 year 245 days ago.) Viewed 70 times.

The word doula comes from a Greek word basically meaning "woman's servant." Used today the word doula refers to a woman, usually one who has children of her own, who attends the labor of another woman. In recent years, this has become a foreign concept, but decades ago, women routinely gave birth with another woman present. This woman was often a relative, friend, neighbor, etc. These women were there for moral support, physical support, and sometimes delivered the babies. But today there are many reasons for a woman to choose to have a doula attend her birth as well. Doulas provide emotional support not just for the laboring mothering but for the entire family-to-be. Often times, doulas have suggestions or ideas to offer to the mother of ways to keep her labor going or to speed things along. These days when hospitals births are the most common place to give birth, a woman can need an advocate to stand up for what she wants from her delivery.

Labor and delivery is one of the most memorable events of a woman's life. It can be exciting, terrifying, invigorating, all at once. Women often have doulas attend their births to offer them emotional support. The last thing a woman wants is to remember her birth experience as terrifying. Having another experienced woman there to reassure you, to comfort you, to inform you makes a world of difference. A doula is there for the entire labor. Studies have shown that women who have the continual support that a doula can provide have a much lower c-section rate, a decreased rate in requests for epidurals, and a healthier outcome for mom and baby. I have many couples ask, isn't all of this what the dad is there for. Yes, dad is there to offer emotional support, but often times, he needs emotional support himself. Try as hard as they may, a man can never fully grasp the birth experience from the mother's point of view. And many times, dads are scared and confused as well. Having an experienced woman tell you that you are doing great and labor is progressing as it should gives a mother a bit more reassurance than it does coming from dad who hasn't been educated about or experienced birth himself.

Doulas are not only usually mothers themselves but are very well versed and educated in the birth process. There is no textbook birth. Sometimes labors slow down, contractions get too hard, or the baby won't come down. These are the times when an educated assistant can be of great help to mom and dad. It is hard to remember all you studied and learned during the pregnancy while in the heat of the moment of labor. A detached third party may be able to think more clearly. Here is where the doula steps in to offer physical support. There are certain positions and massage methods that make contractions easier to handle. A good doula will know several techniques and help you find the one that suits you best. Sometimes a woman's labor will slow down, meaning she is making little progress or the contractions are getting farther apart. There are techniques and suggestions that are natural and worth trying to see if we can get mom's labor to increase again. Position changes are another benefit to having an educated doula as part of your support team. A position that helps to alleviate pain for one woman may not do so for the next, so it's good to have a great number of ideas to be able to try. Some positions are to keep labor going and some are to help get gravity on your side to help the baby drop into position. That is a lot of knowledge to remember through contraction pain.

Most books and websites a mother-to-be reads will tell her to write her birth plan and will give a long list of suggestions of things she should think about beforehand. All of this would be the mother's ideal birth experience. That may be natural childbirth or it may include pain medication. Usually there is discussion about c-sections, episiotomies, IVs and many things that have been considered normal for birthing mothers over the last several years. Women today have options and more hospitals are beginning to take mom's opinion into consideration. Many doctors and nurses will read a birth plan and try to help stay with it as long as mom and baby are doing well. However, there is still a tendency to fall back to the old ways and not paying so much attention to what the parents would like. It is a doulas job in this situation to give the parents all the knowledge she has to allow them to make an educated decision about how to proceed. Again, as long as neither mother nor baby are in distress. Here a doula acts as an advocate by providing information to the parents and sometimes passing their decisions along to medical staff to see what can be done. It is never a doula's position to make decisions for the parents or to advise the parents to go against their doctors orders.

Doulas can be a wonderful asset to any birth. The continual support they provide just cannot be provided by nursing staff or doctors in today's society. Usually, nurses have several patients at once and can't remain with one birthing mother to offer the reassurance she needs that everything is progressing well. Having a doula allows the nurses to handle the medical care of the mother while the doula provides the emotional support. In this situation, everyone wins.

For more information, visit Doulas of North America www.dona.org.

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What Makes a Good Massage Therapist?

Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2008 (1 year 251 days ago.) Viewed 361 times.

The truth is, there is no one answer to that question. Sure, there are some basics you want to look for in a therapist. First, you want to make sure the therapist you are looking into meets your state's requirements for practicing massage therapy. The majority of the 50 states now, require that in order to practice massage therapy, a person must first be licensed by the state. Different states have different requirements but many require the therapist to complete a training program consisting of often 500 training hours. Many states require that the candidate for licensure sit for the National Certification Exam issued by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Only at that point may they apply for state licensure. If your state requires licensure, make sure any therapist you consider is licensed and legitimate. You will want a therapist in business for the right reasons and being licensed is one good indicator of that. Also, ask around. You will often hear stories of so-called massage therapists who are anything but legitimate.

So why ask such a difficult question? Simply put, there is no one therapist who is right for everyone. Massage therapy is a booming career choice right now. With having so many therapists to choose from, you'll want to have a few guidelines to help you pick the right therapist for you. So let me give you a few things to think about.

First, what are you looking for in a session? There are many, many types of massage techniques out there. Most commonly, a person is looking for either a relaxing massage, also known as a Swedish Massage, or they are looking for a therapeutic or Deep Tissue Massage. What is the difference? A Swedish massage will relax you and ease away stress, but typically doesn't focus on areas of chronic pain. A Deep tissue massage on the other hand focuses on areas that are causes discomfort or pain for one reason or another. Now that's not to say a deep tissue session can't be relaxing, but you will be less likely to get a nap in. Most therapists can do both types of sessions, but some prefer or specialize in one or the other. You can go back to those same friends and family you asked for referrals before and ask them about their session and which kind of session it was. Then find out if they got the type of session they wanted and if they would return.

.After you have gotten a name or two, call the office. A good therapist will be happy to explain the services they offer, office policies, and prices for different sessions. Many therapists also offer free consultations to discuss your expectations and needs and what their recommendations for you would be.

When you have picked that therapist and made your appointment, watch for a few things before, during and after your session. When you walk into the office, do you feel comfortable? Does it look clean and professional? This is going to be your first impression of the therapist so it should be comforting. Also before your session, make sure your therapist is willing to explain what will happen during the session, what you can expect and is willing to answer any questions you have. Education is an important factor in getting the most from your therapy. During the session, you should make sure the therapist is willing to listen to your needs. Do you feel comfortable with their draping? Are you comfortable with the pressure? You will want someone who is willing make you feel comfortable during YOUR session. Afterwards, ask questions about what the therapist noticed during the session, their recommendations for continuing therapy, and that the therapist advises you of any symptoms you may experience after the session and what steps you should follow afterwards as well.

All of this sounds like a lot of work, but it is worth it in the end. So after all is said and done, look for a therapist who offers the type of session you need and is will to listen to you about your body. You'll also want someone educated enough that they can offer suggestions for future treatments. These therapists do exist and with a some effort you can find them. When you do, your body, mind and spirit will reap the rewards.