Massage For Pregnancy and Birth - A Guide For Dads to Be

Massage for Labour and Birth

This will probably be helpful for any birth partner, but I've written it with dads in mind.

Disclaimer

These are peer to peer suggestions from a layperson, and do not replace medical advice.

Benefits

The benefits of positive, loving touch during birth can't be overstated.

• It can be soothing, helping with the intensity of the contractions.
• It's also calming for the mum to be.
• Being able to help in a concrete way and having something specific and positive to do is calming for the dad or birth partner as well.
• It helps to release tension, and lower adrenalin.
• It helps with the release of oxytocin (the hormone that causes contractions)
• It also helps the release of endorphins (the "feel good" hormone, and nature's painkiller - 200x the strength of morphine).

Feather strokes

Feathery light strokes using your fingertips and the backs of your nails.

Sacro release

Press your thumbs about half an inch or so either side of the mums back bone. What we are aiming for here is the dimples of the sacro iliac joint, but for mere mortals like you and me, think about a belt sitting on the hips and go a little lower than that. Circle slowly and firmly with your thumbs.

Bump release

This one leads on beautifully from the sacro release. Fan your hands out over her lower back and run them around her body and just under her bump.

I don't often do this; it feels too personal. In my opinion it's much better done by someone the mum is close with.

Crucifix press

Doesn't that name make it sound awful! This is the one where we applied pressure to the tailbone. Do it gently as a contraction begins, and increase the pressure as the contraction rises.

Containment hold

This is another one with a horrible name! It sounds like something a police officer might do when they're taking down a bank robber or something! It's much nicer than it sounds. It's a still touch, for times when the labouring mum might find other types of massage fussy or annoying.

Don't touch me!!

You can do this one when she is in any forward leaning position. Place one hand on her lower back and the other on her forehead.

(Tip for mum to be: Lean forward, letting your weight rest right into his hand.)

Important notes

Any positive touch can be helpful! This isn't an exhaustive list. The mum to be might experience cramps in her legs, or tension in her shoulders. Rub what needs rubbing!

Warmth can be really helpful and soothing as well, if you have any heat pads or hot water bottles.

You can use acupressure as well; this is only a short step from massage after all. It is thought to ne useful for relief and to help with progress.

Listen to the mother and watch closely for her reaction. It should feel good. If it doesn't, then stop!

Not everything is right for everyone. If a woman doesn't like it, well, maybe it's just not for her. Or maybe it's the wrong time; try it again later and see if it's more helpful then.

You really do need to tune right in to her. Pay attention to when contractions start, when they peak, and when they end. Notice her posture, her breathing, her facial expressions.

Note: Whatever you start doing, you need to be prepared to keep doing for as long as she needs you to. This could be hours. If her coping is really resting on what you're doing, stopping can really dent her ability to manage. At such a crucial time, this really isn't fair. Either don't start, or suck it up.

I'm afraid you aren't allowed to mention that you're tired, or that anything is aching or hurting! There is practically a law against it.

Consider using a tennis ball to help save your wrists.

Next time, I'll go through some of the rebozo techniques.

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Thank you for reading! Any questions, please get in touch.

For demonstration, practise, and more detail, book your Antenatal Classes in Shrewsbury