Yoga Massage for Pregnancy, Labor & Postpartum

A NEW, NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO PRENATALTHAI YOGA MASSAGEThai Yoga massage is the ideal, manual method that a womancan hope for in pregnancy, in the birthing room, and in themonths that follow birth. The line work, the pressure of keypoints, squeezing, rotating, mobilizations, and especiallythe stretches and Yoga- like postures are exactly what sheneeds.I was lucky to treat many pregnant women before everlearning of the many limitations that I am “supposed” toput on the treatment session. My experience has taughtme that most pregnancy massage 'formal' limitations arefar too exaggerated.This guidebook was written to encourage you to putfewer limitations on your treatment and to use the many different  postures, as long as they feel appropriate to you and aslong as your pregnant client likes them.This guidebook presents 25 treatment routines forcommon pregnancy, labor and postpartum discomforts.The original version of these routines were put together in2003 by me, Eran Goldstein, and Idit Tyroler. This contentwas part of a thesis that Eran and Idit were writing atthe end of their “Dula” (labor companion) course. Thisthesis was used as a manual in the pregnancy massageworkshops for my students in Israel. I revised theseroutines with Motke Eilon for this new edition.These are not traditional Thai massage treatmentroutines. We are the originators of this collection oftreatment protocols. The pressure techniques andstretches, however, are all taken from Thai massage. INTRODUCTION TO:Maternal physiological changes - complaints and discomfortsTreatment safetyMiscarriage statistics and treatment in first trimesterWhat are the “prohibited” points?Labor-inducing acupressure pointsThe lines of the inner leg and venous thromboembolismSupine position in pregnancyTwists, back-bends, forward bends and inversionsPsychological stress and pregnancy outcome THE TREATMENT ROUTINES :Painful period / Menstrual crampsInsomniaStress, Anxiety and mood swingsFrequent and urgent urinationNausea / Morning sicknessExhaustion / FatigueConstipationAbdominal painHeartburnNasal congestion, snoring and nose bleedsShortness of breath / SuffocationEdema / SwellingHemorrhoid / Pile / Varicose veinsAnemiaDizziness, fainting and blurred visionItchiness, rashes, red palms and soles of feetHeadacheCoughLower back and pelvic girdle pain (PGP)Preparation for labor, pre-birth treatmentGetting ready for laborIn the birthing roomPostpartumInconsistent flow of breast milkAbdominal pain after birthBaby blues / Postpartum depressionConstipation after childbirth 3