Pre and Perinatal Massage

NATURAL WAYS TO RELIEVE THE STRESSES & STRAINS OF THE BIRTHING YEAR.

1 hour of therapeutic massage	...£35
1 hour 30mins therapeutic massage	...£45
2 hour birth partner tuition	...£60
1 hour post labour evaluation	...£35
For those clients attending four or more prenatal massage sessions, the first treatment after having given birth, will be free of charge.
Also available, various oils, creams and lotions to help maintain the skin and to aid in relaxation.

Massage therapy during the birthing year is not intended to replace pre-natal care by your physician, obstetrician or midwife. These professionals ensure vital monitoring of gestational progress and maternal health. As your massage therapist, I am able to work more effectively when working in collaboration with your healthcare provider.

Please remember that even when you're not pregnant, that massage and aromatherapy are a wonderful way to relax and release tension. Your own special time away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Please ask for a separate brochure.

Specialised pregnancy massage

Pregnancy creates significant physiological, structural, psychological, relational, and spiritual changes in a woman's life. Massage therapy and bodywork are particularly effective forms of adjunctive healthcare during this time, offering a wide range of benefits to the expectant mother and her baby. Massage therapy during pregnancy reduces stress and promotes relaxation, relieves muscle tension, cramping and other soft tissue discomforts as well as supports the physiological and emotional needs that naturally arise during pregnancy.

As a massage therapist I am fully qualified and experienced in Prenatal and Postnatal Massage. I am committed to providing an unprecedented level of specialised care to women in the childbearing year through personal compassion, excellent techniques and a thorough understanding of the physical effects of pregnancy.

It is my policy to follow conservative therapeutic guidelines so that you feel safe comfortable and in good hands at all times. The ergonomic bodycushions used to position your body during pregnancy and for the short period after having given birth, when your stomach and breast areas may still be tender, are so comfortable, that many women wish they could take them home.

Videos and books are also available for those wishing a deeper knowledge of the birthing process.

Massage during pregnancy

Reduces stress and promotes relaxation
Reduces oedema and blood pressure, relieves varicose veins, and increases blood and lymph circulation
Reduces muscle and joint strain and pain including back aches, cramps and carpal tunnel syndrome
Facilitates hormonal, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, urinary, and other physiological processes during pregnancy
Contributes to developing flexibility and awareness to better participate in the birth process
Fosters nurturing maternal touch

Trials performed by the Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of medicine, published in the journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology(March 1999) confirmed that massage therapy during pregnancy had very positive results:

Reduced anxiety and improved mood
Better sleep
Less back pain
Reduced stress hormones
Fewer complications in labour
Babies with fewer postnatal complications
A lower rate of prematurity

Massage during labour and birth

The statistics on labour support are excellent, having been confirmed in extensive studies, including those by M Klaus M.D. in the British Medical Journal, J Kennel M.D. in Paediatric Research and E Hodnett in Birth.

Reduced need for induction, epidurals and episiotomies
Lower stress levels
Fewer cesarean births
Shorter labour times

A two hour hands on tuition is available, designed to teach your birth partner ways to help during labour. This includes instruction in the use of massage and bodywork including pressure techniques for relaxation and contraction relief. This is an extra level of care for the mother in labour, providing additional physical and emotional support.

Massage for the postpartum period

Specialised massage and bodywork treatment can commence immediately after giving birth.

Facilitate healing from caesarean birth
Alleviate the muscle strain and muscle fatigue of labour and birth
Rebalance the pelvic and spinal structures
Restore and normalise abdominal structures
Promote pelvic floor healing and comfort
Restore normal walking patterns
Prevent and reduce back and neck pain caused by caring for the newborn.

Therapeutic massage for pregnant women is about supporting them through the birthing process. Through truly therapeutic massage, I am investing in helping you feel healthier and happier through all stages of your pregnancy. In building a rapport with yourself, I am able to get to know your needs and preferences from addressing chronic problem areas to knowing exactly the massage pressure you prefer.

As a therapist, I only use the purest of oils and the highest quality products and equipment. I work within the code of ethics laid down by the International Guild of Professional Practitioners and the Aromatherapy Organisations Council guaranteeing confidentiality and ensuring your privacy. I carry through the IGPP full insurance cover for public and product liability.

Pre and Perinatal Massage

Pregnancy Massage

Ronnie Allan, Equilibrium, 21 Trenchard Court, South Harbour Street, Ayr, KA7 1JU
Telephone: 01292 880 442 Email: info@ronnieallan.com