phone call got me thinking

[StiniuttyTat]

I have a friend who is almost 9 months pregnant. She has worked all through her pregnancy . Shes a hairdresser so stands on her feet all day and accumulates alot of tension in her upper back, neck and shoulders.
She phoned me up and asked if I would give her an Indian Head massage. I explained because she was pregnant that I wouldnt be able to treat her. She practically cried down the phone saying her shoulders really need massaging please would I treat her.
I explained that were told not to treat because it could bring on a mis-carriage (supposedly) or stimulate the body into giving birth earlier. Her argument was that she was so tired now that giving birth 5 days early would be a blessing. Apart from that her partner gives her a back rub the odd night and shes found it to be beneficially, easing her achey muscles.
Although I still wont agree to treat her ( much to her dissatisfaction- but were still friends) it has led me to think more about the contra-indications. If massage of any sort is so bad during pregnancy why are pregnant women not warned about the dangers of their partners massaging them during the first and last 3 months?
Are those who have been specially trained in pregnancy massage not allowed to carried out treatment during this time?
And is there any concrete evidence that Indian Head can cause problems during pregnancy? or is it just for insurance purposes?
I think I would like to research contra indications on a deeper level . Anyone know of any medical websites that could help with this.
Has there been any actual research into all this?

 

[schwendelicious]

a gentle IHM should not be a problem - lots of therapists treat pregnant women - I am not trained in IHM but know of several therapists who do a light treatment and avoid any meridian points (depends on your training as to if you use them, as I said I am not IHM trained)

Ultimately it is your decision, if you would be happy to treat her then you should if she doesnt have any other contra-indications such as high bp etc

 

[abcdefg]

Hi Tracy
I agree with hemelgirl. A gentle massage would be beneficial to your friend at this late stage of her pregnancy. I have been practicing for several years now and regularly massage pregnant ladies. Some of them recommended a massage by their midwives.
Maybe you could get your friend to speak to her midwife, see what she thinks but yes ultimately the decision is up to you if you decide to treat her.

Helen

 

[Sandman]

GB21 and the Triple Heater are the main meridan concerns for IHM. Then the ear is another concern for reflexology.

GB21 doesn't cause miscarriages, it stimulates uterine contractions. I actually think it is pretty difficult to work an acupuncture point with massage, which is why partners working on them usually have no issues, partners tend to just do something for less than a minute and ask if that's enough (at least as reported to me and my own experience), they don't do any long work in one spot, not going to stimulate something with that type of work. Therapists sticking to a fairly light massage would not have a problem either, from the ribcage up.

If she is due in 5 days, feel free to work GB21. I've found it usually will help speed things up if they were already heading that way, even if they hadn't realised it, but if it's meant to be next week, it doesn't make any difference. Most of my clients either have the baby within 24hrs of me working GB21 (and a few other points) OR it will be a week or more later, hardly anyone seems to have the baby 2-5 days after a massage, it's usually straight away, or a week or more later. I would still avoid much work on the triple heater spots, just because it can warm someone up and that's usually the last thing a pregnant client wants.

If you google 21 forbidden pregnancy you should easily find lots of info on the 21 forbidden points of pregnancy. Some of the sites give good info as to WHY they need to be avoided.

 

[Bubbly Bee]

With the fear of initiating miscarriage with stimulation of certain points, has anyone actually ever heard of spontaneous abortion following a treatment? Is it documented anywhere? Has any therapist been sued?

 

[Scotty]

as cola says, at this late stage you would not be causing a miscarriage
it is down to how experienced Tracy is and actually feels.
As to has anyone been sued - probably somewhere who knows, but who wants to take the risk of either causing problems or getting sued for them

I am in the middle of a maternity massage practitioners diploma - its enough to put you off having babies - glad mine are 7 & 10

 

[kakita]

I would have no issues with giving IHM to a pregnant client.

I would just check their blood pressue level with them and give a light massage if they had high blood pressue. I would also give exta care when they stood up in case they felt dizzy.

I would also ask them to check that their mid wife is happy for them to receive IHM.

 

[Mizz G]

Thankyou for all your replies. They are really appreciated.
I've never heard of the triple heater or GB21 but i'm going to put it in a search engine and do some reading up on it.

Thanks again for all your input

Tracy x

 

[Soulja G]

If there was enough anecdotal evidence that certain points caused miscarriage/uterine contractions there would be no unwanted pregnancies, and what the points were would be well known.

Pretty well all the 'don't touch' rules are for the benefit of the therapist, so they can't be blamed for anything, there are enough text books and courses that say 'avoid GB21' that if there was an issue it could be a problem for the therapist. If there was a problem, it's a terrible time for the was-to-be-a-mother - it's highly emotional and irrational and add grief; gee, even post-partum is a highly emotional and irrational time for a mother, all the hormones going all over the place. Many people under those circumstances will look to blame someone else, it had nothing to do with her body, it must've been some outside influence, what was different? ah the massage, that did it, bit of research and GB21 causes uterine contractions is easy to find. Easiest way to avoid that type of confrontation, don't work GB21, etc.
There is a huge difference between a massage trying to help with a bad back where they feel worse the next day, and loosing a baby. Bad back person probably won't have a massage again in a hurry, or will find someone that knows what they are doing. Miscarriage and you've got hormones and grief add a sue happy environment, and who knows what could happen.

People have sued in America (of course), I don't know of any that have actually gone through with the judgement, but defending something like that is stressful and expensive for everyone involved. (People have sued for burns caused by hot stone treatments, and they HAVE resulted in large payouts)

Pregnant clients need touch even more than the average person, they have become a host organism for the growing baby, they are loosing nutrients to the baby, some loose their sense of self. They need to be looked after. It's just that you don't do anything that is commonly reported as a possible concern. They've had to modify their behaviour a bit (no steaming hot baths, no sky diving, etc) because of possible concerns, I have no problem modifying their massage because of possible concerns. Most pregnant clients won't eat raw cheese due to listera concerns, I don't bother asking if anyone has been sued, there is a level of common sense and general knowledge that is generally accepted. There are enough textbooks saying avoid such and such a spot for it to be approaching general knowledge (or general hysteria - you would not believe how many emails I get about - 'I had a massage before I knew I was pregnant, will my baby have 3 heads?' Some of them are panicing!)

I can't understand what the big fuss about modifying the treatment because they are pregnant, they feel hotter than usual, they have more blood in their system, they have a bulging belly, they need to be treated differently than when they are not pregnant. I keep them as comfortable as possible and that involves keeping them comfortable emotionally by avoiding all the textbook areas that are meant to be avoided.

 

[cultura_10]

I was taught not to give IHM in the first trimeseter of pregnancy purely from insurance points of view as that is when a miscarriage is most likely and although it is unlikely to be down from a treatment its just sensible to protect yourself from any accusation. I also follow this for my other therapies but will happily treat pregnant ladies after this point, IHM can be very beneficial in pregnancy and is sometimes advised by midwifes as a good way of relaxing if the lady in question has something like high blood pressure.
Cx

 

[BoliviaTravel]

Hi ya

Yes common sense is important within massage therapies.

As for GB21*, it is said that in China they use GB21 to try to induce a miscarriage. If no miscarriage occurs then the baby is healthy. Whether this is true, I don't know. If I do work that area on a pregnant woman, I don't press so hard just in case. (I generally do firm massage on most other clients with my bony elbow and forearm.)

As for the 1st trimester. You always get the client to sign a disclaimer. I would like to see how a therapist would be sued for miscarriage with gently performed Indian head massage. Just because a few people "try it on" doesn't mean we should all live in fear.

The problem with common sense is that it is not so common!

Best Wishes

Reiki Pixie

Indian Head Massage & Oriental Bodyworker

*GB21 (Jian Jing - Shoulder Well)
Location: at the mid point between the depression below the spinous process C7 and the acromin.
Properties: clears the heat and expels wind, reduces oedema and alleviates pain.
Applications: mastitis; protracted labour; pain in the shoulder and back.
Caution in pregnancy!
Information from "The Serin Pictoral Atlas of Acupuncture" by Yun-Lin Lian et al, page 230

 

[podophymmerly]

it is a good idea for pregnant women to sign disclaimer so that if anything happens ( natural miscarriages for example) they cant sue you. if they loose baby after their treatment they look for someone to blame understandably.so you would need to protect your reputataion as a therapist.some miscarriages happen naturally to foetus abnormailties. thats my view anyway.

Ameethystfairy

 

[Good gone girl]

Hi interesting stuff. I have done IHM on a few pregnant ladies. More often than not it tends to be when they are at the end of their pregnancy and they are feeling fat and fed up. I have loved giving these treatments. I don't know it's just so lovely giving somebody a relaxing treatment when they are feeling fed up and fat as you know that at the end they will feel great and relaxed and more energised. One lady at 40 weeks couldn't get enough and came for three days in a row!

I think Cola has some great points and I think is right in that when you treat a very pregnant lady there's no way that you're going to go in there and give them a rough treatment. The ihms that I've given to my pregnant ladies have been so relaxing. I have trained in pregnancy massage (seated and lying down) and we weren't told to avoid the shoulder area atall just to be really gentle. Which to be honest I think is only natural in these treatments.

It's a tough game that we are in isn't it sometimes. Yes I would avoid mums in their early pregnancy just because of the miscarriage worry and being blamed for that sad event - but I have to ask myself if we did do treatments then, would we really bring a miscarriage on. I also do maternity reflexology and again whilst it's safe to do reflexology throughout a pregnancy we are advised not to touch pregnant mums until their three months is up. And yet this is when we could really help with morning sickness etc etc.

IT's a tough subject this one and I hope to goodness that we don't get into the suing mentality in our work.

p.s. Reikie Pixie what do you put in your disclaimer? Is it different that your normal disclaimer on your consultation form?

 

[DrIG]

OOh this has scared me, because I have been told when I did my course that you cannot do IHM on a lady within the first three months of pregnancy. Wasn't told anything about the middle or latter stages. It's worrying.

I thought is was within the first twelve weeks? I wouldn't do this treatment within the first 12 weeks.

I mean I had reflexology at the end of my pregnancy, the aim to induce labour. I was still 10 days late, but did go into labour naturally.

So pleased with that result lol!

 

[Time for your examination]

I don't think you can call it a miscarriage - if you are nine months pregnant - sounds like your friend would be grateful would that you could induce labour - this I doubt very much with an IHM or massage. You would have to be skilled in working the points to induce. I also think acupressure/shiatsu/acupuncture practitioners would be inundated with people wishing to terminate their pregnancies if this method was so effective.

If someone is pregnant you should always adjust your massage to suit the needs of pregnancy and if you are not sure then get some more training so that you feel more confident and knowledgeable to treat. As said before pregnancy is not an illness.

Luv Binah
x

 

[ninety9point8]

As Binah quite rightly says, pregnancy is not an illness.

Bexx: as for a suitable disclaimer, it's not something I'm prepared to discuss on here. It too contriversial (bad spelling day) even for the Pixie!

RP