Re:Therapist pregnancy question

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on your pregnancy- 8?? wow!? you are a supermom!? and definitely

a pregnancy expert, so forgive me if I tell you something you already know

 

 

 

I'm currently 7 months pregnant with my first, and I've definitely had to cut

back.? I was doing 10-15 hours a week with my new business, and now I do 6-8

hours.? I've found I can only do up to 3 easy?hours in one day?(with at least a

1 hour break in there) or 2 challenging hours.? I used to do a fair?number of 2

hour massages, and now I can only go to 90 minutes.? I plan to keep massaging

until I'm about 37 weeks (Christmas makes a good stopping point for me).?

 

The greatest challenge for me has been low back, SI pain.? I had low back pain

before anyway, but the pregnancy hormones really amplified it, before I'd even

put on any weight.? In my second trimester, I was still doing too much, and it

was so bad I could hardly walk some days.? I don't book clients in the morning,

because I don't know how well I'll be sleeping the night before.? I

take?Wednesdays completely off from massage, which has made a huge difference.

?I got a maternity support that includes the belly, and after several different

ones, found one that really helps my back (you need it tight enough to actually

give you support, but flexible enough so it's not uncomfortable while you

move).? Prenatal yoga really helps with back pain & the other pregnancy aches &

pains (especially with being on your feet- helps stretch the calves & hamstrings

that otherwise for me can?get really crampy).? Stretching problem spots?every

day really?makes a big difference.? And a supportive mattress, instead of a

pillowtop.? Hopefully you won't have nearly my back difficulties.

 

Some modifications I've made to my massage are that I used to do a lot of deep

tissue sessions on larger people, and I can't do that anymore.? I used to

massage barefoot on a laminate floor, and I switched to wearing supportive shoes

& got a small carpet.? I have a stool I sit on while I'm at the head of the

table (that's where I was doing most of the work that hurt my back), and at the

clients feet, and occasionally on the arms when I'm really tired.? I'm sure to

have water to drink in the room, which I never had to before, and to really

check in with myself and watch my body mechanics.? I knew they were bad before,

but I got a book on them, and recognized myself in a lot of the " wrong "

pictures, such as leaning against the table and reaching, which I was doing a

LOT.? I raise or lower my table a knotch depending on who I'm working on, what

the focus is, and if my shoulders are bugging me (lower if they're acting up &

my low back is doing okay- higher if my knees are feeling cranky from lunging a

lot).? I've found red raspberry tea to be very helpful for leg cramps, which I

never got before (not recommended in 1st trimester though).? Another thing I

noticed was getting very?out of breath, especially when I was doing sustained

pressure.? I finally realized it's because I was slightly bent over.? If I

straighten out & even stretch back a little, I can breathe just fine.??Take

extra good care of?your wrists too.? All that extra fluid can cause carpal

tunnel-like pain, so keep them straight & relaxed as much as possible while you

work.?

 

On a very positive side, personally?I think the pregnancy is helping me become a

much better therapist. ?I absolutely have to pay attention to body mechanics &

to relax myself, which makes for a better massage anyway, and?will definitely be

helpful in the longterm.

 

As far as clients' feelings- I have lost a?few large, male clients since I

became?noticeably pregnant.???I was?about to tell them I couldn't work on them

anymore, but they simply stopped coming instead.? I'm guessing it's because I

was huffing & puffing, and yes, they would ask if I was okay.? Clients always

ask how I'm doing before the session, and I always say I'm doing great, because

I don't want them worrying about me.? I think the rest of my clients, especially

the moms, understand that I can't do as much as I used to be able to, and are

just happy to still have me available.?

 

The biggest thing I've found is to know your limits & to stick to them, as

annoying as they can be ? Don't do moves that you used to do all the time if

they cause you discomfort as your pregnancy progresses.? Find a way to be off

your feet, take breaks, have water & lots of snacks on hand ? and don't be

afraid to turn away someone?if it'll hurt you or wear you out to massage them.?

It's absolutely no fun to be massaging someone when you're really uncomfortable,

and I'm sure it's not a very good massage for them either.

?

Of course, everybody's different, and I've heard of women massaging regularly

till the end of their pregnancy, but I'm not one of those who could.? Take care

of yourself, without feeling like you have to keep doing it all if it hurts

you.? I'm sure you know really well how your body responds to pregnancy, so you

know your potential problem spots to watch out for already.

 

Congratulations again & I hope this was helpful-? Feel free to ask any questions

that come up,

Rachel Hazelwood

 

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