Integrated Pregnancy Massage & Focus on the Belly

In the Fall of 2017 Allyson became trained in The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® and went on to receive the Advanced Pregnancy portion of the ATMAT® training. 

Belly work during a pregnancy massage will ensure ideal placement of the uterus and the health of the ligament structures that secure the uterus to the spine & pelvis. 

The work helps to provide comfort for both mother and baby during the pregnancy as well as create an optimal placement for the uterus to aid in correct positioning during the delivery process. 

Post Partum (afterbirth) work was included in the Advanced Pregnancy training, should these services be redeemed post partum, please feel free to bring baby with you. however from my own experience as a new mother, it can be more relaxing to have the time to yourself.

Prenatal Massage helps to facilitate a graceful adaptation to the many changes that come with carrying a child. General relaxation & Swedish Massage techniques are performed during Prenatal Massage. Myofascial Release techniques may also be utilized for women with specific needs: round ligament pains, sciatic pains & hip tightness to name a few... 

Receiving massage therapy during ones pregnancy addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts. The benefits of prenatal massage are physiological, emotional and psychological. 

Benefits include but are not limited to: 

• The alleviation of stresses on weight-bearing joints/muscles & facial structures like round ligaments.

• Aids as a remedy to the many of the common discomforts experienced during pregnancy: muscular discomforts, lower/upper back pain, headaches, fatigue, leg cramps, sciatica, stiffness, tension and knots, carpal tunnel syndrome, edema or swelling, heartburn and acid reflux, varicose veins, sinus congestion, shortness of breath, neck pain, sacroiliac and hip joint pain.

• An Increase in blood circulation, providing more oxygen and nutrients to both mother and baby, this stimulates the lymph system, increasing immunity and the bodies defense mechanisms.

• Stabilization of hormonal levels and helping to relieve depression & anxiety that can be caused by hormonal changes.

• Soothes and relaxes the nervous system by releasing endorphins into the mother’s body. The expectant mother will feel more relaxed, at ease & will sleep more soundly.

• Helps the mother to maintain good posture and adjust to her shifting skeletal alignment caused by the baby’s increasing weight & the mobility of her joints & ligaments

• Massage increases muscle tone which can enhance her ability to carry the extra weight while also relieving aches and pains.

• Deep relaxation eases the load on the heart and helps to regulate blood pressure.

• Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues which can alleviate itchiness & stretching of the skin.

• Supports the return of blood flow to the heart and increases blood flow to the uterus and placenta. A mothers blood volume doubles by the time she is 20 weeks along, this is an enormous demands placed on the circulatory system during pregnancy, As pregnancy progresses and the uterus enlarges and presses deep into the pelvic bowl, venous return to the heart can be hampered, proper positioning during the massage and while sleeping can take care of this.

• Prepares the mother-to-be for an easier delivery with its sedating effect on the nervous system, promoting relaxation & stress relief.

• Allows for bonding time between the mother and her baby, as well as time alone for the expecting women to reflect on her intentions for her pregnancy & birthing experience.

• Offers a natural, safe, drug-free alternative choice for pain relief, since taking medications are often limited during a pregnancy for the sake of the baby.

• Therapeutic Prenatal Massage provides pregnant women with the emotional support and nurturance through human touch and energy.

Doula Services 

A doula (/ˈduːlə/), also known as a birth companion and post-birth supporter, is a non-medical person who assists a woman before, during, and/or after childbirth, as well as her spouse and/or family, by providing physical assistance and emotional support.

Allyson is a trained doula, she completed her education with Patty Brenan at the Ann Arbor Center for the Child Bearing Year. 

For more information or to schedule a consultation please call: 517-295-3537

Integrative Prenatal Massage

$100 — 60mins

The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy Supporting Pregnancy from 20 weeks on. This session includes Full Body Massage and belly work with a focus on the proper alignment  of the Uterus, Sacrum, Pelvis and the supporting ligaments. 

Optimal positioning of the uterus will allow for proper alignment of the baby preparing for a successful vaginal delivery. It is ideal that the crown of the head be in alignment with the cervix for the gradual dilation when the baby is full term. 

correct positioning of the baby will be more comfortable for the mother while she is carrying the child inside. if the baby is presenting asynclitic (the head is not correctly lined up in the pelvis) labor can be stalled, prolonged and sometimes this position prevents vaginal birth all together. 

Any amount of relaxation and massage is good for both mother and baby, but I would recommend at least a monthly treatment of the Arvigo Techniques.

It is appropriate to receive massage therapy up until and beyond the babies due date. There are a number of techniques that will be applied to the mother once she has reached 38 weeks, including deeper sacral work and work with the pressure points that stimulate the contracting function of the uterus. 

I have helped many women avoid synthetic induction simply by providing an environment of deep relaxation while using physical manipulation techniques, pressure point therapy, belly work and specific essential oils. 

This specific work helped me tremendously in welcoming by third baby boy into the world, naturally at home. Birth work will always be intense but there are several tools & techniques that can help ease the epic transition from pregnancy to motherhood.