USING MASSAGE FOR LABOUR
The benefits of massage during labour are many
It’s something you can control and can give your birthing partner a very active and contributing role. It can help reduce anxiety, slow your breathing rate down and bring pain relief.
If you are interested in using massage at this time it’s best to have a practice before the big day.
Consider you birth plan; if you’ve requested an epidural you won’t be able to have any lower back massage but you can still access the feet very successfully. You can however do some very effective massage prior to being in hospital or even whilst being at home if that’s what you have chosen.
Let’s look at a back routine.
You will need to find a comfortable position for you and for the person who is going to give you the massage. One way to try is to sit on a chair with the back turned round in front of you, Christine Keeler style! Use pillows to pad the back of the chair and give you something to lean on. Slide your bottom as far back as you can, this will straighten out your back. Your partner can then kneel on the floor, best to place a cushion under their knees. They will now be able to reach all of your back.
Follow this routine
- Take a small amount of cold pressed vegetable oil and rub it between your hands
- Place your hands on the lower back and stay for a moment
- Slide your hands up the back out over the shoulders and down the side of the body
- Repeat 5-6 times
- Re apply oil at any time, your hands should glide over the skin
- Now bring your hands to one side of the lower back over the top of the hips
- Knead the flesh of the upper buttock and repeat on the other side
- Now stand and with both hands placed over the top of the shoulders knead the flesh
- Always ask how your pressure is and alter accordingly
- Now bring your hands back down to the lower back and repeat move 3
- Finish by stroking down the back from the shoulders to the lower back and come to a stop by resting your hands over the lower back
If you are planning on performing this during labour you may find that moves 7 and 8 are the most effective, and can be done during a contraction.
Foot routine
Whilst sitting bring one foot up to rest on a pillow or cushion in your partners lap.
- Take a small amount of cold pressed vegetable oil and rub it between your hands
- Take the foot and hold for a moment
- Now slide your hands up over the top and bottom of the foot towards the ankle and then glide them back to your starting point
- Repeat 3-4 times
- Re apply oil at any time, your hands should glide over the skin
- Now using your finger tips circle round the ankle bone
- Now with your thumbs slide over the top of the foot from the base of the toes towards the ankle
- Then also using your thumbs slide them alternately over the sole of the foot
- Repeat move 3
- Finish by holding the foot once more
Your baby may find the foot routine stimulating and may kick. The foot routine is best done between contractions.
If you are interested in learning more about massage and essential oils for pregnancy I run workshops throughout the year where you can learn the safe and effective use of essential oils and massage for pregnancy and labour.