Bodywork during labor

[Dustin M]

Hi folks,

I'm curious about bodywork during labor, pros/cons, and such.

Which modality would you choose and why?

Which modality, if any, is best at helping with the pain of natural childbirth?

 

[libratiger924]

I voted other because I am not really versed in the modalities you mentioned, and indications/contraindications of each with massage.
I am not sure which modality I would want durring labor... I guess it would depend on which part of labor I was in

 

[XxXanYniiXxX]

I wasn't sure how to vote on this one.

In the early seforum.xxxes, there would likely be a place for some form of bodywork, especially with some energywork, reflexology or shiatsu to work with opening up the pelvic regions, or simply for the relaxation effect.

Personally when in labor I didn't really want touch of any kind. I was very focused on breathing, while at the same time feeling like I was diving deeply downward into the depths of the ocean.

Once labor gets really intense, somehow I can't really imagine, that bodywork would be a possiblity for many women, unless they were laboring in either a homebirth or
at the very least perhaps a birthing center. So many births
occur in the medical hospital setting, with every little thing being monitored, that it may not be permitted anyway - unless you were either a one of the family, or at least a birthing coach, midwife or doula anyhow.

 

[Joss]

I'd want stonegirl working her Ashiatsu on me, of COURSE!
(lol, juuuust kidding! maybe)

Having seen amazing things happen when I used acupressure on my DIL in labor, and knowing how it works on me for various dis-eases of my own body, I'd want acupressure.

Oh! how much different the birthing of my children would have been had I known then what I know now!

 

[Joey]

Here are some clinical discoveries of the application of CST to OB

* We have been able to use CST instead of Pitocin to both start and/or augment labor
*Adequate progress for the ACTIVE phase of the First seforum.xxxe of labor (4.10cm dilation) is 1.0cm per hour - while our numbers are still small, none of our patients have shown any evidence of prolonged labor
*Infants born to those mothers who have received epidurals have shown non-negative effects of the epidurals
*While having a baby quickly may imply more efficiency, our average second seforum.xxxe (time pushing) is less than without CST. However, speed is not a necessarily sought after goal. Optimizing whatever time it takes IS the goal
*None of the babies born have required resuscitative efforts
*Common phrases used by mothers/fathers after the first few weeks include: "good babies; alert; not fussy; at peace; calm ... "
*Mothers report recovering more quickly and that the adjustment to motherhood is not difficult/as difficult (compared to their other children)
*Breastfeeding seems more easily accomplished and parents seem to be enjoying their children more
*Applying CST to the first labor and delivery appears to help mom through subsequent labors and deliveries (positive use of cellular memory?)


The doctor who did the initial research with this is an ob/gyn on a military base. He is trained in CST and has a CranioSacral Therapist working with him in his practice. He has a lot of documentation from all the printouts during labor and delivery of the monitors before, during, and after application of CST; and shows the effects of the work on mom and baby.

It's pretty amazing to hear them talk about their work.

 

[Lost and Found]

I voted other.

Personally when in labor I didn't really want touch of any kind. I was very focused on breathing, while at the same time feeling like I was diving deeply downward into the depths of the ocean.

I felt the exact same way. I was actually surprised I didn't want to be touched, but I was way to focused and touch was a wildly irritating distraction.

However, heat to the low back felt good, as did the warm compresses to my perineum and the perineum massage my midwife did when the baby entered the vaginal canal.

I can see where reflexology or shiatsu would be helpful during the early seforum.xxxes, but once I started feeling painful contractions I did not want touch.

 

[Clint]

I'd want stonegirl working her Ashiatsu on me, of COURSE!
(lol, juuuust kidding! maybe)

ha!! yeah that would be a sight!

I'd have to agree with Cicerone that I would want acupressure. but I've never given birth - I don't really have an experience to base that on!!

 

[imogen]

I voted Reflexology because as a Reflexology Doula that's what my clients hire me for. :grin:

Reflexology during labor is great to help with pain management, to help contractions be more productive and less painful, and so gentle that most moms don't even know they are receiving Reflexology when I give it. I use combinations of Taiwanese, Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT), Metamorphosis, Linking, Universal and Ingham. I've started labors naturally, got stalled labors to pick up again, turned breech babies up to six days before they were born (it was awesome!!!), and Reflexology has the wonderful side-effect of making labors shorter and pain free. Here's some more info on it.

If I could vote for two modalities though it would be Reflexology and Acupressure: Meridians and Sens. I love the work of acupressure during a labor and use it right alongside Reflexology - often times it boils down to which pressure points I can access the easiest. : If I'm already feeling like a pretzel I'm not gonna' contort my body more to reach a point far away.

I love this poll Josh! Thanks for giving us all a chance to learn from each other. I'll have to look into CST work for labor, I already do CranioSacral Reflexology in the treatment room so I wonder how CST would look in the labor and delivery room.

 

[iluvme123]

I voted "Other" because the modalities listed don't cover most of the techniques I learned for labor support from Kate Jordan's "Bodywork for the Childbearing Year (R)". Some of the techniques we learned included fascial work from Bindegewebsmassage, and there were many techniques for assisting with positioning, with helping the pelvis open the birthing channel, etc. The doulas in the class I took all said the labor support portion exceeded all of their prior training in depth and breadth. :shock:

That said, I'm not about to get pregnant, and only hope that more women benefit from bodywork during labor in the future.

 

[ModAdministrator]

Other -- I needed good old Swedish compression on the low back and shiatsu points all over during labor. My husband provided all that support, with my insistent direction!

 

[rjp3526]

This is great, thanks folks. Any more?

 

[Naomi]

What I've observed is that women in early labor often like slower, broader strokes - think "spreading effleurage".

As contractions pick up any physical touch must much their personal rhythm or make them nervous and frustrated (ie piss them off! hahahaha). This can mean just a gentle pressure, a hard counter pressure - especially in back labors where sacral counter pressure helps relieve pain, or faster effleaurage strokes.

Scalp massages are particularly well-recieved. As are hands and feet.

Depending on positions adopted by the mother, and her personal preferences, modesty levels, comfort levels, etc hips/buttocks and/or back and/or legs (especially thighs for some reason) are all areas I've seen massage be well recieved.

Usually not a deep tissue work although I have seen mothers who really wanted a trigger point type hold during the peak of conractions - maybe more acupressure than anything??

I've seen a woman who laced her fingers through her hair and would PULL during contractions. *laughing*

Angela

 

[ohbrother]

A good book with techniques and perspective of providing massage during labor is Carole Osbourne-Sheets "Pre and Perinatal Massage Therapy"
http://www.bodytherapyassociates.com/P&Pbook.php

The bottom line is the woman isn't going to know what she is going to love or what is going to irritate her until she's actually in labor. You try something, if it is received well, keep doing it... if not, stop and do nothing.

During my labor, I ranged from needing strong counterpressure, to scalp massage to light massage on my shoulders to guide them down and remind me to send my energies down to my baby, instead of letting my shoulders climb up to my ears.

Just a reminder, no deep work on the inner and lower legs during prenatal, labor or immediately postnatal because of clotting issues.

 

[AshRay]

Interesting question! I wish I'd been "here" before I had my last child. Heck, I wish I'd been 'here" before I had my FIRST child!

Typically, I have wanted either pressure to the low back (lumbar/sacral areas), or "DON'T TOUCH ME!!!!!"

I did have a midwife do some reflexology on me to help start labor, but I didn't realize what she was doing at the time.

Mostly, my favorite "bodywork" during labor has been the sensation of water- as in, wamassageplanet.netirthing. Not something a bodyworker could offer for profit, though- LOL!

Now that I know what I know (which is honestly just the tip of the iceburg- I know this!), I think I might like to try CST, hair-pulling (my hubby has a magical touch with this!), and possibly some sort of shiatsu/acupressure/reflexology, IF I were to ever have to do that again.

But, I think I may prefer to look into this from a practitioner's standpoint, rather that "experimenting" from the mom's standpoint. :grin:

 

[Sad Blonde Knight]

I did have a midwife do some reflexology on me to help start labor, but I didn't realize what she was doing at the time.

Wow, there's a whole conversation on ethics we could have about that. Better start a new thread if you want to pursue it.

 

[Cord]

I did have a midwife do some reflexology on me to help start labor, but I didn't realize what she was doing at the time.

Wow, there's a whole conversation on ethics we could have about that. Better start a new thread if you want to pursue it.

Ok, hang on there! I didn't word that properly! I KNEW She was trying to help me go into labor (and at 42 weeks, that was definitely "OK". What I didn't understand was that what she was using was reflexology (or maybe it was acupressure). I knew nothing about massage/bodywork at the time!

 

[cul8r07]

What I didn't understand was that what she was using was reflexology (or maybe it was acupressure). I knew nothing about massage/bodywork at the time!

Most midwives are trained in a bit of acupressure, rarely Reflexology in this country.

 

[coopchic]

I had a great midwife with both deliveries who believed in massage and did it herself during labor. Both hospital deliveried but midwives run the labor how the patient wants it. When she did it, it felt sooooo good. But it wasn't any particular modality. Effleurage on the belly. Lots of gentle thigh work. Comforting strokes on the back when I was sidelying. And lots of pressure on the lower back during back labor.

All this was earlier on and midway though. After awhile, even a gentle rub felt like sandpaper going over my skin and I didn't want anyone touching me. I felt like I was trying to hard to keep on top of what was going on and focusing on my body and all this...crap...these people around me kept doing, asking me questions, touching me, fussing, was driving me crazy. 'These people' just being my husband and friend, lol. The only time I snapped at my husband during labor was when he tried to massage me and I growled "TELL me before you touch me next time!" Mostly after a point, any touch is just annoying.