FERTILITY MASSAGE – WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

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If you have been trying to conceive you will know how much it takes its toll on you, both emotionally and physically.

You may have been trying naturally to conceive or gone through the channels of IVF. Either way, the longer this cycle of trying goes on, the more your mind can panic emotionally sending you into overwhelm and distress.

When trying to conceive, the physical body and hormones are tested, examined, poked and prodded, your BMI, weight and age is recorded and your physical body is relied on to get you pregnant. However very little is paid to the emotional side of your journey and this can be the biggest key to falling pregnant. The pressure and expectations to conceive can be cripplingly stressful and this is where fertility massage and be of great assistance.

Fertility Massage Therapy

Fertility Massage Therapy is a deep, yet gentle and non-invasive therapy that works by bringing the organs within the abdominal area back into alignment, releasing pressure and strengthening the surrounding muscles and ligaments.

Some of the benefits of fertility massage

  • Fertility Massage Therapy aims to re-position your internal abdominal organs, including the uterus, as the positioning of your uterus helps optimise your chances for fertilisation and implantation.
  • Improves organ function by releasing physical & emotional congestion from the abdomen.
  • Improves circulatory, lymphatic & nervous systems by encouraging more blood flow to reproductive & pelvic organs by resolving any congestion & misalignment to these organs.
  • Helps to tone & strengthen the uterus & surrounding ligaments to optimise fertilisation & implantation.
  • Breaks down scar tissue or adhesions surrounding reproductive, digestive & pelvic organs which improves organ function & health.
  • Helps to subdue parasympathetic nervous system & induce rest & relaxation….which is always welcome.

WHEN TO HAVE FERTILITY MASSAGE

If you are trying to concieve naturally…

….the ideal time to have fertility massage is the end of menses to ovulation. This is commonly from day 7 to day 14 of your cycle.

If you are undergoing fertility assistance…

….with IUI the ideal time for fertility massage is from menses to ovulation & insemination.

…. with IVF then the ideal time for fertility massage is from suppression of your cycle to embryo transfer is recommended, as long as no tenderness is felt.

Our Fertility Massage Therapist

Kyla Mayer is our skilled and experienced fertility massage therapist. Kyla has a special interest in pregnancy & remedial massage, lactation support, pregnancy, women’s health, fertility, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine and you can read more about her here.

To book an appointment with her you can call (02) 9211 3811 or book online here.

Have aching shoulders? Come and get help from our Osteopath and Physiotherapists at Wholistic Medical Centre

Massage to the rescue when shoulder pain gets in the way

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 Men, women, and teens can experience restricted movement due to shoulder pain

Shoulder pain can impact on your day. It can disrupt your sleep and make the simplest actions like brushing your hair or reaching for items on the top shelf of the pantry unbearable.

What can be done to break the cycle of shoulder pain?

Jane* was seeking help for her persistent right shoulder pain that was aggravated when she raised her arm above her shoulder. This pain had been ongoing for three months and had been limiting her ability to exercise and move freely. Remedial massage had been recommended to improve movement and reduce pain.

I approached the consultation as I always do with a thorough history and background of Jane’s condition. I conducted a thorough assessment of both shoulders, comparing movement, symmetry and strength in each arm and closely observing posture that can affect how the shoulders are positioned.

What I noticed first was that the affected shoulder was brought forward and held higher compared to the unaffected shoulder indicating that those muscle groups of the chest and top of the shoulder were creating the problem by raising the shoulder and scapula up and forward and limiting movement of the right shoulder. This was confirmed with palpation of the muscle groups to the chest, upper shoulders and those muscles surrounding the scapula.

The initial treatment targeted those affected muscle groups to the chest, shoulders and upper back, improving blood flow and softening those affected muscle tissues. After the first treatment Jane could raise her arm above her shoulder and her pain had been reduced considerably. She was happy with this initial result.

Jane returned for a further three weekly massage treatments and her pain had resolved after the fourth treatment. Jane was able to return to regular exercising and was even able to help her sister move house at our last consultation.

* Name has been changed

By Kyla Mayer – Pregnancy and Remedial Massage, Lactation Consultant, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Many of our practitioners specialise in helping expectant mums throughout their pregnancy

Are you pregnant, exhausted, lying in bed awake? Pregnancy massage can help!

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  When sleep just won’t come!

Dealing with pregnancy insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep is common in pregnancy. While fatigue can grip all pregnant women, insomnia is most common during the third trimester. This is when you are constantly getting up to pee, struggling to manoeuvre into a comfortable position, or simply because you might be lying awake worrying about the things you have to do before your baby arrives. No matter what the cause, this can be helped with massage from a trained pregnancy masseur.

Massage helps increase our levels of the ‘feel good’ hormones: serotonin and dopamine. It also decreases levels of the ‘stress hormone’: cortisol. This leads to an overall improvement in mood. It will optimise a better night’s sleep and promote relaxation which will help you enjoy your pregnancy.

Pregnancy massage

Pregnancy massage is different to regular massage as posture and anatomical changes in pregnancy are considered by the pregnancy masseuse. This means you will not be lying on front or back, but lying on your side propped up with pillows. Your masseuse will help with setting you up to be comfortable.

Pregnancy massage is gentler than regular or deep tissue massage as joints, tendons and ligaments are influenced by pregnancy hormones making them vulnerable. So, expect long, flowing and gentle movements. Some will benefit from a little more pressure than others – this is negotiated with each pregnant client at the start.

For pregnancy massage, it is recommended that your appointments mirror you midwife/doctor visits. This means once a month until 27 weeks, then twice a month until 36 weeks. After that it is recommended that you transition to weekly appointments until you give birth. This way you are in the best condition for childbirth and those feel good hormones are maximised. Don’t hesitate to inquire about pregnancy massage today by ringing 02 9211 3811 or email info@wholisticmedicalcentre.com.au 

Some other tips to improve sleep

Along with the changes to the body that occur during pregnancy, there are also changes in sleep patterns. These are quite normal. As the pregnancy progresses, women have less deep sleep and wake up more often during the night. Sleep is less refreshing, which is why expectant mothers should spend more time in bed asleep. Sometimes an afternoon nap of an hour or two will help.

If falling asleep is the problem, a warm bath, soothing foot massage, or gentle stretching exercises, even a glass of hot water may help you feel sleepy and ready for bed. Try to go to bed at the same time each night. The body has an internal clock and hormones that control sleepiness and wakefulness. This clock works best if there is a regular sleep routine. When working well, you will feel sleepy at bed time. Try not to ignore this by staying up, as this is a window of opportunity for sleep. Going to bed too early can disturb your sleep.

In the hour before going to bed, it is important to have a relaxing sleep routine. Although this will vary from person to person, some things that you may find relaxing include having a warm bath, reading quietly or a warm milk drink. Going to the toilet is important to avoid having to get up in the night. It is also recommended to turn off all screens (e.g., computers, mobile phones) 1-2 hours prior to bed, and if possible, do not have them in the bedroom.

Sleep is not something that you can force. If you are not asleep within 20 to 30 minutes of going to bed you could get up. Go to another darkened room and sit quietly. Do not have screen time (e.g., television, mobile phone or computer). Do not eat, drink or do household chores. When you feel tired and sleepy again go back to bed. This helps your mind link bed with sleep – not with being frustrated and not sleeping. Rest is good – it does not have to be sleep.

Don’t label yourself as an insomniac as this will increase your worry and frustration. Activities that are stimulating should be avoided in the hour before bed. This includes moderate exercise, computer games, television, movies, having important discussions, using social media and responding to emails and text messages. Being in a brightly lit environment or the blue light of the computer can reduce evening levels of the sleep-promoting hormone, melatonin. Don’t fall asleep on the couch during the evening as it reduces your sleep pressure and makes it harder to fall asleep when you go to bed.

If these tips are not working and you find your mind racing, try using a guided relaxation app to settle these thoughts. Our thoughts continue all the time, so try to make them calmer through the application of a guided relaxation or simply replacing these racing thoughts with a favourite holiday destination.

Relaxation apps such as:

may assist to reduce the stress around falling asleep when sleep won’t come and help to train the mind to calm those active thoughts.

I hope this is helpful.  Sweet dreams…

By Kyla Mayer – Red Tent at Wholistic Medical Centre, Surry Hills

B.Hlth.Sc.TCM, Cert.TCM (Beijing), B.Nursing, Grad. Dip. Midwifery, Lactation Consultant, Adv. Dip. Rem. Mass.

Massaging forms an integral part of many of our practitioners services. Find out more at the WHolistic Medical Centre

Is your pregnancy uncomfortable? Silence those aches and pains with pregnancy massage.

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Pregnancy is a wonderful time when your body is growing a brand new life inside you but it can be accompanied by discomfort and muscle aches and pains.

With your growing belly there is an increased weight shift towards the front. This can tip your pelvis forward causing stress on your lower back and pelvis. Added to this, due to increased breast size and growing baby bump there can be upper back pain. The growing baby places stress on your pelvic floor and impacts on your core strength.

These general musculo-skeletal changes during pregnancy can be relieved and managed safely with massage by a fully trained and experienced masseuse.

  • Pregnancy massage is performed while lying on your side – so no shortness of breath or light headedness.
  • Pregnancy massage is gentle with no joint manipulation and will improve your mobility and blood flow.

By Kyla Mayer – Red Tent at Wholistic Medical Centre B.Hlth.Sc.TCM, Cert.TCM (Beijing), B.Nursing, Grad. Dip. Midwifery, Lactation Consultant, Adv. Dip. Rem. Mass.

Kyla Mayer has a special interest in Remedial & Pregnancy massage, pregnancy, women’s health, fertility, Traditional Chinese Medicine and lactation support.