Frequently Asked Questions
Prenatal Massage
Is it safe? This is the top question I get, and the answer is "absolutely yes!" There is no eject button on your ankle. If a massage therapist could bring out a baby then we wouldn't need Pitocin, and Roe v. Wade wouldn't need to be an argument. That being said, we are always appropriately cautious around areas that are considered to be stimulating.
Can I get a massage in my First Trimester? Yes! we are very confident in our work, with decades of experience and the knowledge that there is no eject button. Miscarriage is much more common in the first trimester, which is one of the reasons other therapists are not willing to take the chance of that happening.
How close to my due date can I get a massage? Anytime! You are encouraged to schedule even past your due date. That is often when women need a massage the most. If you go into labor you can simply text to cancel your appointment with no cancellation fee.
Do I need to wear/bring anything? Nope! You will always be draped in a sheet and your therapist will leave the room for you to get on/off the table, unless you require assistance, in which case we've seen it all and make no judgements. Underwear is optional for your comfort level.
Do you have one of those pillows you put your belly in and lay face down? I've gotten a massage on my side before and it wasn't good. We use a cushion system that was specifically designed for pregnancy and supports you very comfortably on your sides. Many women lay down and ask where they can get one for their bed... they are quite pricey! Side-lying massage is what we do, we are very good at it, and you will not be disappointed. It is likely that the therapist you had before was not comfortable working in side-lying and so you did not get good work, even if she is normally a great therapist.
Do you do induction massage? No... We do labor preparation massage. What's the difference? "Induction" gives the sense that a therapist can bring on labor by using massage techniques and acupressure points, including that non-existent eject button mentioned above. When babies are ready to be born they send a hormonal signal to mom's body to begin labor. Massage therapists can not force a labor to begin... that is for doctors and strong medicine. We get the body ready for labor so that it will go more smoothly once it begins naturally (or medically). But my friend had an induction massage and it worked! Your friend was likely past her due date and would have gone into labor on her own without the massage. It is possible that the hormones that are released during massage may have sped up the process a bit but that's not for certain.
Is it safe? This is the top question I get, and the answer is "absolutely yes!" There is no eject button on your ankle. If a massage therapist could bring out a baby then we wouldn't need Pitocin, and Roe v. Wade wouldn't need to be an argument. That being said, we are always appropriately cautious around areas that are considered to be stimulating.
Can I get a massage in my First Trimester? Yes! we are very confident in our work, with decades of experience and the knowledge that there is no eject button. Miscarriage is much more common in the first trimester, which is one of the reasons other therapists are not willing to take the chance of that happening.
How close to my due date can I get a massage? Anytime! You are encouraged to schedule even past your due date. That is often when women need a massage the most. If you go into labor you can simply text to cancel your appointment with no cancellation fee.
Do I need to wear/bring anything? Nope! You will always be draped in a sheet and your therapist will leave the room for you to get on/off the table, unless you require assistance, in which case we've seen it all and make no judgements. Underwear is optional for your comfort level.
Do you have one of those pillows you put your belly in and lay face down? I've gotten a massage on my side before and it wasn't good. We use a cushion system that was specifically designed for pregnancy and supports you very comfortably on your sides. Many women lay down and ask where they can get one for their bed... they are quite pricey! Side-lying massage is what we do, we are very good at it, and you will not be disappointed. It is likely that the therapist you had before was not comfortable working in side-lying and so you did not get good work, even if she is normally a great therapist.
Do you do induction massage? No... We do labor preparation massage. What's the difference? "Induction" gives the sense that a therapist can bring on labor by using massage techniques and acupressure points, including that non-existent eject button mentioned above. When babies are ready to be born they send a hormonal signal to mom's body to begin labor. Massage therapists can not force a labor to begin... that is for doctors and strong medicine. We get the body ready for labor so that it will go more smoothly once it begins naturally (or medically). But my friend had an induction massage and it worked! Your friend was likely past her due date and would have gone into labor on her own without the massage. It is possible that the hormones that are released during massage may have sped up the process a bit but that's not for certain.
Postpartum Massage
How soon after birth can I get a massage? Anytime. We work on clients as soon as they are able to come in, whether you've had a vaginal or cesarean birth. All work is adjusted for your particular situation and we make every effort to make sure you are comfortable.
How does it work if I can't lay face down? Due to abdominal and breast tenderness, we continue to work in side lying until you are ready to switch to face up and face down, and most women choose to continue with side lying until she they have finished breast feeding.
Do I need to wear/bring anything? Underwear is optional for your comfort level, and is expected until bleeding has stopped. Some women are more comfortable wearing a bra due to lactation, so please wear a bra that unhooks in the back so we can get to your entire back. Leaking happens and is not a problem for us. You will always be draped in a sheet and your therapist will leave the room for you to get on/off the table, unless you require assistance, in which case we've seen it all and make no judgements.
How long am I considered "postpartum"?
Generally the postpartum period is one year after birth, then you would switch to a regular therapeutic massage.
How long after birth can I get work at Hands on Mom Massage? Forever! We work on all women and are happy to provide you with excellent bodywork for as long as you'd like.
How soon after birth can I get a massage? Anytime. We work on clients as soon as they are able to come in, whether you've had a vaginal or cesarean birth. All work is adjusted for your particular situation and we make every effort to make sure you are comfortable.
How does it work if I can't lay face down? Due to abdominal and breast tenderness, we continue to work in side lying until you are ready to switch to face up and face down, and most women choose to continue with side lying until she they have finished breast feeding.
Do I need to wear/bring anything? Underwear is optional for your comfort level, and is expected until bleeding has stopped. Some women are more comfortable wearing a bra due to lactation, so please wear a bra that unhooks in the back so we can get to your entire back. Leaking happens and is not a problem for us. You will always be draped in a sheet and your therapist will leave the room for you to get on/off the table, unless you require assistance, in which case we've seen it all and make no judgements.
How long am I considered "postpartum"?
Generally the postpartum period is one year after birth, then you would switch to a regular therapeutic massage.
How long after birth can I get work at Hands on Mom Massage? Forever! We work on all women and are happy to provide you with excellent bodywork for as long as you'd like.
Mercier Therapy
Is it painful? Most of it feels really good and therapeutic. There are some techniques that might feel uncomfortable or even intense to certain people, but we can adjust for that to make it more comfortable. Remember that we are working through tissue that needs to be realigned so the work is necessary for optimal functioning of the area.
Is there anyone who can't get Mercier Therapy? Yes! If you are currently pregnant, or currently have any of the following: IUD, tubal clips, surgical mesh or cancer.
What if I become pregnant before I complete all 6 sessions? YAY! (if that's your goal). We stop the sessions for the duration of your pregnancy and can complete them beginning 12 weeks postpartum OR you can choose to transfer them to prenatal or postpartum massage sessions instead.
Are there any potential changes I should expect after beginning Mercier? It is not unusual to have some soreness or tenderness in the areas where work was more intense but, just like workout pain, it should fade over several days. You might have changes in your cycle like duration, length of time between cycles, the quality of bleeding or cramping. Some women might even pass large clots as we are clearing out dysfunction. Think of it as cleaning out a messy closet... as you pull things out the mess can get worse, but when you put it all back in an organized way it works so much better. Some people store emotions in their abdomen so it is not unusual for feelings of sadness, anger, etc. to surface, which is good because you are no longer storing them in your body. Since one of the uses of Mercier Therapy is to help women get pregnant you should use extra precautions if you do not want to become pregnant.
Do I have to pay for all 6 sessions up front? Yes. This is a commitment to your health.
Can I get a refund if the work is not right for me? Sorry, but no. Again, this is a commitment and the healing comes with all 6 sessions. If you really don't want to continue you may use remaining sessions for massage instead.
I am Mercier-curious but not sure if I'm ready to make the commitment. You can book a regular massage and I can demonstrate some of the techniques during the session to help you decide if Mercier is right for you.
Do you offer additional support for women trying to get pregnant? I do not, however I can recommend some colleagues who do.
Is it painful? Most of it feels really good and therapeutic. There are some techniques that might feel uncomfortable or even intense to certain people, but we can adjust for that to make it more comfortable. Remember that we are working through tissue that needs to be realigned so the work is necessary for optimal functioning of the area.
Is there anyone who can't get Mercier Therapy? Yes! If you are currently pregnant, or currently have any of the following: IUD, tubal clips, surgical mesh or cancer.
What if I become pregnant before I complete all 6 sessions? YAY! (if that's your goal). We stop the sessions for the duration of your pregnancy and can complete them beginning 12 weeks postpartum OR you can choose to transfer them to prenatal or postpartum massage sessions instead.
Are there any potential changes I should expect after beginning Mercier? It is not unusual to have some soreness or tenderness in the areas where work was more intense but, just like workout pain, it should fade over several days. You might have changes in your cycle like duration, length of time between cycles, the quality of bleeding or cramping. Some women might even pass large clots as we are clearing out dysfunction. Think of it as cleaning out a messy closet... as you pull things out the mess can get worse, but when you put it all back in an organized way it works so much better. Some people store emotions in their abdomen so it is not unusual for feelings of sadness, anger, etc. to surface, which is good because you are no longer storing them in your body. Since one of the uses of Mercier Therapy is to help women get pregnant you should use extra precautions if you do not want to become pregnant.
Do I have to pay for all 6 sessions up front? Yes. This is a commitment to your health.
Can I get a refund if the work is not right for me? Sorry, but no. Again, this is a commitment and the healing comes with all 6 sessions. If you really don't want to continue you may use remaining sessions for massage instead.
I am Mercier-curious but not sure if I'm ready to make the commitment. You can book a regular massage and I can demonstrate some of the techniques during the session to help you decide if Mercier is right for you.
Do you offer additional support for women trying to get pregnant? I do not, however I can recommend some colleagues who do.
Topics Coming Soon:
Therapeutic Massage
Senior Massage
General Questions