Pregnancy seems to be when women, often for the first time, think of receiving massage and allow themselves that nurturing because they know it is also benefitting their baby. For women who live very busy lives, who work full time or have other children, sometimes receiving pregnancy massage is the only time they have to really focus on themselves and their babies.

There are multiple benefits of massage during the childbearing year. Pregnancy massage focuses on areas that tend to be problematic for pregnant women like the weight-bearing joints, the neck and back. It can help to reduce edema & promote relaxation. In fact, recent medical journals have published positive results regarding massage therapy during pregnancy. The results tell it all:

• Reduced anxiety and improved mood

• Better sleep

• Reduced norepinephrine levels (stress hormones)

• Less back pain

• Fewer complications in labor

One of the most exciting findings shows that women who receive massage during pregnancy had babies with fewer postnatal complications and a lower rate of prematurity. Scientific fact behind what your intuition already knew: a healthy mom who takes care of herself is better equipped to care for a child, even in utero.

Massage can also help a woman adjust during the post-partum period. It can promote healing, especially from Caesarian section, facilitate the realignment of the spine, pelvis and muscles stretched by pregnancy and address the physical strain of carrying and caring for a newborn baby.

As a woman begins the work of mothering her child, she needs to remember to mother herself as well. It is important to continue that self-nurturing once the baby is born because parenthood is very demanding and if we don't nurture ourselves it is hard to nurture someone else. Children are the greatest motivators to live a healthy, balanced, joyful life.

• Reduce musculoskeletal and pain

• Increase time spent with baby

• Decrease postpartum depression

• Improve breast feeding

• Promote recovery from cesarean birth, including healing of the incision

• Contribute to rehabilitation of abdominal skin, muscles and organs

• Facilitate postpartum emotional, physiological, and family adjustments

• Promote structural realignment of the spine and pelvis, and reorganization of movement

• Relieve neck and back strain caused by holding your baby and nursing for many hours of your day (and night!)
  
  
  

What are the Benefits of Infant Massage? Infant massage is one of the most fulfilling ways to nurture your child; it builds a bond of love and care that both parents can experience.

Massage provides so many benefits. It aids digestion, relieves colic, eases tension, regulates breathing, and spurs growth. It offers your infant not just the comfort and stimulus of touch, but a full range of enriching experiences: a loving touch, eye contact, a soothing voice, and a familiar scent.

Infant massage helps:

• Lengthen and deepen sleeping patterns

• Reduce your baby's muscle tension, stress, fussiness and irritability

• Improve digestion

• Relieve discomfort from teething

• Relieve colic or "gassy spells"

• Stimulate growth and development, including weight gain and the immune system

• Promote verbal and non-verbal communication between parents and baby

• Create a more intimate interaction between parents and their infant
  
  
  

Planning a family can be one of the most exciting times for a woman and her partner. It’s a time of change and uncertainty and often a time when a woman needs support. Naturopathic Medicine can be very helpful to a woman as she deals with her present state of health and well-being while ensuring a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.

It was once thought that pregnancy was somewhat of a dangerous state that must be carefully and medically managed. Today, women are trusting their bodies and their instincts and realizing that pregnancy is a normal state in the female body. Many women planning a pregnancy now see a Naturopath, especially to consult on issues such as diet, supplementation, and general lifestyle and wellness concerns. Women who have had repeated miscarriages or who have difficulty conceiving often consult a Naturopath who will provide support and a program to help address these issues and to prepare the body for healthy pregnancies.

Pregnant women may also consult a Naturopath as part of their general prenatal plan, to ensure proper dieting and supplementation programs are being followed. Patients often consult their naturopath if any concerns such as morning sickness, pre-term labour, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, headaches, heartburn, pre-eclampsia or Pregnancy Induced Hypertension arise. Naturopaths use many time proven remedies to help to prepare a woman’s body for the work of labouring and birth and these remedies are discussed and prescribed to women during prenatal visits. Many of these remedies help to shorten labour, prevent hemorrhaging and help to heal tissue and therefore promote a speedy recovery after the birth. Once the mother has given birth, a Naturopath can also be supportive with such issues as breast feeding and increasing milk production as well as addressing post-partum depression.

Karie Gawenda, ND, has a special interest in Women’s Health and Pediatric Medicine. To book an appointment or to speak with Karie Gawenda, please call 416-733-2539.