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Interior and Cover Designer: Jennifer Hsu
Art Producer: Megan Baggott
Editor: Rochelle Torke
Production Manager: Michael Kay
Production Editor: Melissa Edeburn
Illustrations 2020 Christy Ni
courtesy of Rene Treece Roberts
Cover photo: Natalia Deriabina/Shutterstock
: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock
ISBN: Print 978-1-64611-995-0 | eBook 978-1-64611-996-7
R0
In memory of my father, who passed away
just as this book was getting started. He had
his own special nurturing ability that
Im certain helped inform my own.
Contents
My own motherhood journey started 18 years ago, and it ignited a passion for maternal care that guided me to my present work. From the time when my first son was born, I knew I wanted to become a doula and provide the much-needed birth support that I saw so many women (including myself) lacking. Because my boys were still young, I chose to start with massage therapy. I finished massage school in 2008 and got right to work, finding that I loved connecting with people in intimate ways.
When my sons were a bit older, I got my birth and postpartum doula certifications and began to specialize in pregnancy massage. I found that focusing my professional attention on women in this vulnerable and sensitive time made my heart very full.
My enthusiasm for the wonders of the womb didnt end with birth. I went on to train with Tami Lynn Kent in the holistic pelvic care modality, expanding my reverence for women and discovering what we are capable of healing through the portal of our wombs. Including this approach in my practice has magnified my ability to be of service to women in all stages of the motherhood journey.
I later pursued infant massage training. Ive led many workshops to teach mothers how to massage their babies. It is incredible to witness the motherbaby bond in these classes and to hear how the massage techniques help their little ones with issues like sleep, digestion, creating a routine, and soothing fussiness.
I have also had the pleasure of teaching massage workshops for couples, instructing them in the art of touch during pregnancy and labor. These workshops have taught me so much about what a simple, natural, and yet powerful gift massage can be during pregnancy.
As I have taught mothers in infant massage classes, I want you, the reader, to understand that connection is the first and most important goal of any massage. Loving touch is beneficial; the technique doesnt matter so long as the person giving the massage is doing it with care. That said, massage is even more beneficial when you have a little guidance on specific ways to offer it, which is precisely why this book exists!
Acquainting yourself with the foundational concepts of the childbearing year will be one of the most supportive ways you can show up meaningfully for your pregnant partner, friend, or family member.
This book follows the timeline of the childbearing year. It covers the pregnancy, labor-and-birth, and postpartum phases, outlining the most common issues that arise, addressing fears and questions regarding massage during these pivotal months, and offering simple touch sequences to get you started.
Perhaps you have been interested in giving massage before but found the process daunting. The techniques in this book can be applied by anyone. So, dont be intimidated if you are new to massage!
You will find recommendations regarding safety precautions as well as insider tips that I share from my vast experience working with hundreds of moms, so youll want to be sure to read each chapter thoroughly before trying the techniques. The goal is to be of service to the new or expecting mom throughout her journey with your loving touch.
This book is meant to make massage easy for the novice and can be used by anyone looking to learn some fundamental massage skills to offer to a beloved mom or mom-to-be. Use this book to learn some of the basics so you can get to the business of sharing massage with your loved one and enjoying the journey of bringing a new life into the world together.
Though I recognize that some mothers may not identify as women or use the pronouns she and her , I have chosen to use those terms in this book to preserve a sense of warmth and connection with the mother-to-be. It is not my intention to exclude any person in doing so.
P regnancy is an exciting time when so many things are changing in a womans world. From bodily shifts to relationship and household adjustments, this nine-month period is filled with transitions. Expecting mothers need all the physical, emotional, and spiritual support they can get, and massage from a friend, partner, or other loved one can be a beautiful means to that end.
Massage is a simple way to offer a mom-to-be the care and nurture she deserves as she rides the waves of pregnancy and prepares for life with a new baby. Massage not only gives her the sense that she is not alone on this journey, but also provides enormous health benefits for both her and her unborn child.
