Perinatal Massage

Prenatal Massage

When you are pregnant your body is going through a myriad of changes. It’s stretching and pulling to make room for this new life. As your baby grows, your centre of gravity shifts which puts stress on all your muscles trying to keep you upright. Massage can help your body adjust to these changes.

Some of the benefits of prenatal or pregnancy massage are:

  • Reduced back pain

  • Reduced joint pain

  • Improved circulation

  • Reduced edema

  • Reduced muscle tension and headaches

  • Reduced stress and anxiety

  • Improved oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles

  • Better sleep

When you come in for your prenatal massage, your comfort is of our utmost importance. You will be lying on your side with pillows under your head, between your knees and under your belly for support. Another option is to sit and lean forward against the massage table, if you only want focused work to your back, neck and shoulders. All accommodations can be made to get the relief you need from the hard work your body is doing bringing a beautiful new life into the world!

Postnatal massage

If you’re a new mom or an experienced mom who recently had another baby, then you’re most likely feeling exhausted and a little stressed out, and your body is left feeling bloated and sore. A postnatal massage is an optimal way to relieve stress and get your postpartum body feeling back to normal. 

Some benefits of postnatal massage are:

  • Relieve backache and other pains - Throughout and post pregnancy you might find that you still have aches and pains. Whether it is your sciatic nerve that is troubling you, your lower back, and most frequently the shoulders (from breastfeeding), a massage can alleviate the pain.

  • Boost your immune system and improve breastfeeding - Your body fluids increased by 50% during pregnancy, causing swelling. Massages promote circulation and lymphatic drainage and so can reduce excess fluid. In return, this helps the flow of breast milk throughout the body as well, and it increases the overall production of the breast milk.

  • Help you sleep better - Did you know that one hour of massage has the same effects as 7-8 hours of sleep? Massage boosts your serotonin and lowers stress hormones. It will improve the quality of your sleep (not necessarily the quantity with a new baby!).

  • Give you much needed me time - Having a baby is a magical experience, but it’s also a demanding one. After birth, it can be hard to find time for yourself, but a massage can be just what a new mother needs. It’s a nurturing and blissful way to soothe your mind and body. Ideally, mom should come to her appointment by herself so she can relax and enjoy her massage without distractions.  But if that is not feasible for you, we welcome you to bring your child right into the massage room. We can take breaks in the massage so you can tend to your child, or if your baby sees one of our Physiotherapists, they can have their appointment while you have yours! 

Right after birth most moms are not comfortable lying on their stomachs, so we are easily able to accommodate a request like this. Side-lying or seated positioning is usually advised for those women who had a C-section or are experiencing soreness at the epidural site. Supported with extra pillows where you need them, such as breasts and abdomen.

We will do everything in our power to give you the positive experience you deserve!