Bodyworkers

There are many therapies that offer safe options for common complaints during pregnancy and the postnatal period. CARE Network members specialize in pre-natal and post-natal care and have done extensive training specific to this population.

Whether you are preparing for pregnancy, currently pregnant, or recently gave birth you may benefit from bodywork such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or massage. See below for more details on how each of these therapies may be of benefit or click on the link to the left for information on individual practitioners.

Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can be a valuable treatment option for women who are pregnant or are in the post-partum period. Pregnancy is a time of significant changes in the body. Physical therapy performed by a PT specializing in this population can help prepare, adapt, and restore the body for these physical changes which can ensure an easier pregnancy, birth and recovery.

You should seek the guidance of a Physical Therapist as early on in your pregnancy as possible to be educated in ways to relieve the common complaints such as:

• Lower back pain caused by a forward shift of the mother’s center of gravity as the baby grows and her belly expands
• Tension or pain in the neck or back, headaches and fatigue due to increased postural effort
• Tightness in the hips, legs and feet as the hormonal changes affect joint stability
• Tingling or pain in the arms caused by forward rounding of the shoulders and forward head posture as the mother adapts to the baby’s additional weight
• Overstretch weakness of the abdominal muscles and tight weakness of the back muscles due to postural shifts and belly growth
• Leaking or incontinence because of the increased strain on the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy and after delivery

Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help a woman better manage the changes of pregnancy and motherhood, offering support on both a physical and emotional level. Research has shown acupuncture to be an effective therapy for a variety of conditions during pregnancy including nausea, back pain, and depression.

Acupuncture can assist a woman in preparing for pregnancy by optimizing fertility and encouraging a healthy environment for pregnancy. It can also assist through all stages of pregnancy and during the post-partum period.

Acupuncture may be helpful in treating these common complaints of pregnancy:

Morning sickness, colds and flus, threatened or recurrent miscarriages, anxiety and depression, constipation, sinus congestion, anemia, fatigue, heartburn, carpal tunnel syndrome, leg cramps, sciatica, back pain, hemorrhoids, muscle aches, preterm labor, high blood pressure, pelvic pain, incontinence, malpositioning of baby, edema, insomnia, varicose/vulvar varicosities, and itching.

Acupuncture and acupressure can be used to prepare the body for labor and assist in managing pain and promoting a more efficient birth. Classes are held regularly at Well-Rounded Maternity on Acupressure for Pain Relief during Childbirth.

During the post-natal period, acupuncture and Chinese medicine aid in recovery and can treat common complaints such as:

Insufficient lactation, blocked milk ducts, mastitis, night sweats, low energy levels, hormonal imbalances, abdominal pain and afterpains, postpartum pain, incontinence, perineal healing, hemorrhoids, and depression/anxiety.

Massage Therapy
Pregnancy massage is therapeutic bodywork which focuses on the special needs of the woman as the body goes through change.
Benefits of Prenatal Massage
• Eases stress on weight-bearing joints and muscles
• Alleviates sciatic pain
• Stabilizes the rotation of the pelvis
• Assists with decreasing edema (swelling in the body, especially the legs and feet)
• Reduces pain caused by compromised posture and muscle imbalances through therapist assisted stretches and take home exercises.
• Eases the discomfort of the baby pushing up into the ribs through breathing techniques that expand the diaphragm
• Provides the laboring mother with focus and increased relaxation.
• Addresses posture shifts in the gravity balance and changes in the musculoskeletal structures through postural education and movement awareness exercises.
• Teaches you how to best use and adapt your body in this transition and to help identify problem patterns in your daily activities
• Provides tips for comfort such as sleeping better with pillowing and relaxation tools for home
• Provides emotional support in a non-judgmental environment to share concerns, fears, & joys


Benefits of Postnatal Massage
• Alleviates the birth trauma in the tissues
• Alleviates muscle spasms
• Alleviates tension in the neck, shoulders, lower back and hips.
• Therapist-assisted stretches and take home exercises stretch and strengthen muscles affected by the new body patterns of holding and caring for an infant.•
• Facilitates the physiological healing and postural realignment of spine & pelvis.•
• Facilitates the reawakening and rehabilitation of the abdominal musculature after birth through postural education and movement awareness exercises.

In the CARE Network, we are fortunate to have some very talented bodyworkers that work with pregnant women and babies. Click on the names of the bodyworkers in our group, listed in the column on the left.