As a midwife and a mother I am totally amazed by what a wonderful therapy shiatsu is for pregnancy and for babies.

Shiatsu is particularly well responded to in pregnancy. The combination of the energy work and work on the musculo-skeletal level brings well-being and relief to meet the demands that pregnancy puts on the body.

*New course for pregnancy*:

'Preparing for birth with confidence and awareness'
This is a 5 week course aiming to offer physical and emotional support to enable women to prepare for birth effectively and with joy.

Based on shiatsu it will include exercise, self shiatsu techniques, meditation, and exploration of our needs and responses to pregnancy and birth.

Suitable for any stage of pregnancy. This course is being run by another shiatsu practitioner, Jackie Knight, and myself.

For details contact me as below.


Benefits in pregnancy:

Helps mother to tune into her pregnancy, learn to look after herself and trust in herself for birth.

Alleviates nausea, sickness, backache and most other 'complaints of pregnancy'.

Increases energy
.
Can turn breech babies.

It is a very safe practice in pregnancy, because shiatsu works with the body and what it wants to do. So it supports the mother in supporting the baby.

There are contra-indicated points in pregnancy, but these are easily avoided and come into their own as points for encouraging labour in the last weeks (after 37 weeks).

Treatment is still done lying on a mat and mothers are made comfortable with pillows and cushions and work is also done over a gym ball. Exercises may be given to aid health and well-being.
 

In preparation for labour

Prior to labour shiatsu helps to prepare for and encourage labour, and in labour strengthens the contractions, relieves pain and can help with other difficulties if they occur.

Sessions can be arranged for the mother and her birth partner to come together, and for the partner to learn about connecting with the mother and techniques to use to encourage labour and to give pain relief. These are then tools that can be used to support the mother and significantly help her to cope with and have a positive experience of labour.
 

Following birth
 
Shiatsu is hugely beneficial to aid recovery and breast-feeding and renew energy through what is often an exhausting time.
 

Baby shiatsu

is a wonderful way to connect with your baby.

It uses the principles and understanding of shiatsu to add a new aspect to baby massage. By encouraging and developing the parent's instinctive touch it deepens the bonding between parent and baby, and increases the baby's trust and ability to explore its world.

It can be taught to parents or given as a treatment by the practitioner. It is helpful with colic, problems from difficult births, sleep, feeding and generally for settling babies.

Baby massage groups can be arranged to teach shiatsu with baby massage.

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link: www.wellmother.org             www.aquabirths.co.uk                 www.littlebirthkits.com     

http://www.pregnancyandbeyond.co.uk