Even a 300+ page book cannot hold all of our massage therapy, childbearing and baby caring experience! That’s why we have created these online resources to accompany the third edition of Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy. Welcome! We are delighted you are learning with us, and we hope these resources deepen your own work.

Click on each of the expandable sections below for discussions, video clips, our curated recommendations lists, and more, for the resources applicable to each book chapter.

Massage therapy educators and administrators, have a look at the “Resources for Instructors” link for materials designed specifically for your pedagogical needs.

Send us your questions or comments. We are glad to be working with you!

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

A new client spends her entire massage animatedly sharing the details of her pregnancy. She also asks you many questions. You share in her excitement, yet you also know that she is missing out on certain benefits of the session. Why might it be important for her to turn inward and “focus” in her treatments? What can you do to encourage that – with your words, your hands and your environment – while honoring her wish to share?

TEACHING PARENTS (read more)

Teaching basic massage to expectant parents can be both exciting and overwhelming. If working with expecting parents in this way intrigues you, then we encourage you to explore further.


TECHNIQUE VIDEO: POSTPARTUM POSTURAL GUIDANCE

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you’ll find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you’ll see, nearly all of these questions have multiple answers).

COMMUNICATION AND CONSENT FORMS (read more)

Each page of this document offers a different template to get you started in developing materials that enhance communications between you, your clients and their healthcare providers.

MATERNITY MASSAGE TRAINING POSSIBILITIES (read more)

We believe that there is no substitute for hands-on education. Everything you learn from our book, and from these online resources, will be vastly improved by working directly with qualified teachers and practicing with other people.

SUPPORTING YOUR CLIENTS EMOTIONALLY (read more)

With all of our clients, but especially those navigating big life changes and potentially traumatic situations, we should aim to be present for their emotional needs as well as their physical ones. But being present requires that we are clear about our own role as massage therapists, and our own individual abilities..

DEEP ABDOMINAL MASSAGE (read more)

In Chapter 2 we discuss when and how to massage the pregnant abdomen, and just as important, when not to. Later, in Chapter 4, we’ll discuss and demonstrate specific techniques for abdominal massage
during pregnancy.
But since working the abdomen is such a crucial, and debated, component of prenatal massage practice, we want to offer some additional thoughts here, specifically on the possibilities for and efficacy of deep work into the abdomen during pregnancy.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

As you spread oil on the feet of a new pregnant client, her eyes suddenly pop open in alarm, and she exclaims, “I heard that having my feet massaged could cause a miscarriage.” How will you respond to her concerns, ease her worry and proceed with an appropriate session?

ESSENTIAL OILS AND PREGNANCY (read more)

If you want to incorporate essential oils into your work with pregnant clients, we strongly encourage you to consult a qualified, certified aromatherapist. The chemistry of essential oils, and their potential impact on childbearing, is a complex topic. We should not use these substances without thorough, reputable training, or unless following the specific recommendations of a certified aromatherapist.
This document is not intended to offer specific guidelines for you to follow; none of us authors are certified aromatherapists ourselves. It is only intended to give you a very basic outline of the possibilities for when you might (and when you shouldn’t) use essential oils with pregnant clients. Because clients may ask you about essential oils, we hope that this basic summary is useful to stay safe and within your scope of practice.

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you’ll find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you’ll see, nearly all of these questions have multiple answers).

RECOMMENDATIONS: EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES (read more)

Throughout Chapter 3 we offer numerous suggestions for the practical ways that you can adapt your massage space to fit the needs of pre and postnatal clients. Below are details about the various kinds of equipment that we discuss, as well as a variety of books and DVDs that we have found to be useful resources for us and our own clients.

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: DRAPING THE BACK

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: POSITIONING FOR SIDELYING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: POSITIONING FOR SEMIRECLINING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: LEG DRAPING FOR SIDELYING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: TRANSITIONING TO SIDELYING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: TURNING FROM SIDE TO SIDE

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

Your 38-week pregnant client comes into your office breathing heavily, red-faced, and sweaty from the 90-degree heat outside. You notice that her feet and ankles are very swollen, but all else seems normal with her pregnancy. When you return to the room, she’s on the table, wearing only her underpants; all supports except her head pillow and the cover sheet are pushed aside. She comments gratefully about cooling off. How will you handle positioning and draping this client for her session?

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you’ll find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you’ll see, nearly all of these questions have multiple answers).

CLIENTS’ SELF-CARE OPTIONS (read more)

Often clients’ own self-care, lifestyle changes and activities can profoundly improve their prenatal comfort and enjoyment—and just as powerfully negatively impact their pregnancy experience too.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

An established, very athletic client of yours comes in for their quarterly massage and happily announces that they are 9 weeks pregnant! They usually enjoy a very deep Swedish and deep tissue massage, particularly addressing their tendency toward constipation and an extreme lumbar lordosis. They have also recently increased their preparation for a 10K race next month that they still intend to run, if the intense nausea eases up by then. This is the third pregnancy for this 28-year-old person. They have no high-risk factors and have had no problems with previous pregnancies. Their midwife expects this to also be a low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancy.
What changes in your usual positioning and techniques to address their constipation and lumbar lordosis are advisable? Staying within your scope of practice, what might you teach them and what techniques might be effective in helping them be more comfortable with their pregnancy-related discomforts?

ASSISTED RESISTED CALF STRETCHES (read more)

Intention: To both prevent and alleviate cramps in the gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneals.

TEACHING PARENTS (read more)

Teaching basic massage to expectant parents can be both exciting and overwhelming. If working with expecting parents in this way intrigues you, then we encourage you to explore further.

INFANT MASSAGE*****

EASING RIBCAGE SORENESS (read more)

Often knees, feet or other body parts repeatedly rub on the same spots of the abdominal walls or the ribcage. That friction may result in sore spots, sometimes so intense that side bending and other postural distortions seem necessary to ease the discomfort.

BABY LIFT PRIOR TO LABOR (read more)

To provide maternal relief from the weighty uterus; to increase femoral circulation and reduce edema and varicose veins in legs and vulva; to reduce strain to the abdominal and spinal muscles; to reduce referred pain from the uterine ligaments; to reduce compression on various pelvic nerves; to create more empathy and connection with the mother when performed by partners and/or family members as they temporarily “share the load.”

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: INTRODUCTION

SAMPLE SESSION OUTLINES FOR TYPICAL CLIENT NEEDS (read more)

The book’s Technique Manuals have taught you individual techniques by body areas and for before, during and after giving birth. We have collected here some starting places for orchestrating those techniques with your other skills to create fluid and effective sessions.

TECHNIQUE NAME CHANGES FROM THE SECOND EDITION TO THE THIRD: A NOMENCLATURE GUIDE (read more)

To help those transitioning from earlier editions, and frankly to aid ourselves in that process too, we created a complete listing of the technique manual techniques (including figure number) paired with their “old” second edition names. Use that list below to help you navigate this change.

SESSION NOTES – ANNE GILBERT MT (read more)

SESSION NOTES – NANCI NEWTON, MT (read more)

SESSION NOTES – RONNIE ALLEN (read more)

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: AUTONOMIC SEDATION SEQUENCE 3-1-1

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: BREATHING ENHANCEMENT

BREATHING ENHANCEMENT ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE (read more)

After observing your client’s breathing patterns, restrictions and potentials, you may determine that different instructions from those in the book’s technique manual are needed. Try out these additional strategies to enhance your clients’ breath. They may be performed with the client in any table position, while seated on a chair or while standing.

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: OCCIPUT TRACTION and ROCKING & CERVICAL TRANSVERSE ROCKING

FOOT REFLEXIVE ZONE THERAPY (read more)

Intentions: To promote normalization of function throughout the body and in specific areas, and to stimulate relaxation.

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: STRUCTURAL BALANCE EDUCATION

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: ABDOMINAL MASSAGE

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: LAMINAR GROOVE INCHING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: LATERAL PELVIS DEEP TISSUE SCULPTING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: PARAVERTEBRALS DEEP TISSUE SCULPTING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: PECTORAL GIRDLE MOBILIZATIONS: STRETCHING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: PECTORAL GIRDLE MOBILIZATIONS: CIRCLING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: SPINAL ROCKING

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: HIP JOINT INFINITY MOBILIZATION

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: LEG SWEDISH MASSAGE

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you’ll find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you’ll see, nearly all of these questions have multiple answers).

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION, BIRTH DOULA WORKSHOPS & PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING (read more)

To learn more about the many medical and non-medical options for childbirth, explore childbirth education classes, birth doula workshops and networking opportunities in your local community with other maternity, birth and parenting professionals.

TEACHING PARENTS (read more)

Teaching basic massage to expectant parents can be both exciting and overwhelming. If working with expecting parents in this way intrigues you, then we encourage you to explore further.

GLUTEAL DOUBLE SQUEEZE OR DOUBLE HIP SQUEEZE AND PELVIC PRESS TECHNIQUES (read more)

Intention: To relieve back pain in labor; to create more space in the anterior of the pelvis by widening the space between the ilea.

PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISE (read more)

Pelvic floor exercise is for pregnancy, postpartum and throughout life! Follow your scope of practice regarding teaching exercise to your clients.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF GIVING MASSAGE DURING LABOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU? (read more)

Here are a few of the considerations and questions to ask yourself.

WHAT’S IN YOUR BIRTH BAG? (read more)

If you are supporting a birth, have your birth bag ready to go at a moment’s notice and at your fingertips while you are on call.

CRAMP RELIEF (read more)

The following technique is described for cramps in the gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneals.

BABY LIFT AS LABOR SUPPORT (read more)

Intention: To lift the baby’s head from the pelvic inlet to allow more room for a rotation from occiput posterior to anterior..

LABOR TENS UNIT (read more)

TENS is an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Labor TENS is a safe, non-pharmacological method of pain control in labor and especially of back pain.

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: CERVICAL AND PELVIC FLOOR RELAXATION

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: GROUNDING HOLD

FOOT REFLEXIVE ZONE THERAPY (read more)

Intentions: To promote normalization of function throughout the body and in specific areas, and to stimulate relaxation.

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: MUSCLE TENSION AND JOINT PAIN RELIEF DURING LABOR

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: SACRAL COUNTERPRESSURE

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you’ll find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you’ll see, some of these questions have multiple answers).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

You may aspire to assist birthing clients in response to the increasing rates of birth medical intervention. The very nature of your work may lead you to be a natural birth supporter. What if your client chooses a hospital birth with pharmaceutical pain relief as soon as it is possible, and she is open to any and all medical interventions? Can you objectively and non-judgmentally support her during her birth?

FLEXIBILITY IN YOUR POSTPARTUM SESSIONS INCLUDING BABY (read more)

Offer flexibility in your postpartum sessions for clients to be with their babies if they so choose. Some clients may not be able to imagine how to care for their babies and receive a massage at the same time, so bring a positive spirit of collaboration and creativity to these sessions.

DIASTASIS RECTI EVALUATION (read more)

Intention: To evaluate the extent of separation of the rectus abdominis after pregnancy.

CESAREAN SCAR MASSAGE (read more)

Understanding scar tissue can improve your technique and client education about Cesarean scar massage. The benefits of scar massage potentially include stress reduction, a greater sense of embodiment, improved range of motion, and better quality of life (mood and sleep).

SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING WITH BREAST MASSAGE (read more)

More Detail on Teaching Breast Self-Massage: Intentions: To improve circulation in breast tissue for promoting robust milk production; to prevent clogging of milk ducts that may result in pain and/or breast infection (mastitis); to increase women’s comfort with touching their breasts in a practical way that may lead to ease of manual milk expression and to preventing breast engorgement; to familiarize women with the texture and feel of their breasts for greater self-awareness and preventative breast care.

NEW MOTHER BODY MECHANICS POINTERS (read more)

Take the time to take good care of yourself when lifting, carrying, holding, diapering, and feeding. It only costs a few extra seconds to move with awareness and integrity.

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: ABDOMINAL TRIGGER POINTS

FOOT REFLEXIVE ZONE THERAPY (read more)

Intentions: To promote normalization of function throughout the body and in specific areas, and to stimulate relaxation.

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: UTERINE FUNDAL MASSAGE

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you’ll find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you’ll see, some of these questions have multiple answers).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

Your client appears for her first postpartum massage with her newborn in arms. Her daughter is sleepy after a recent feeding. Your client requests full-body massage with a focus on her back, neck and arms. What sequence of client and baby positions and techniques would allow you to meet her request, given that the baby recently fed? How would you be creative and flexible if her baby cues for interaction and attention? How can you interact with your client, keeping focus on her rather than her adorable baby?

RESOURCES FOR CLIENTS WITH HIGH RISK CONDITIONS AND COMPLICATIONS (read more)

Be mindful of how you can support your clients with high risk conditions and complications with additional resources.

RESOURCES FOR CLIENT COPING WITH PREGNANCY LOSS OR INFANT DEATH (read more)

Be mindful of how you can support your clients coping with pregnancy loss or infant death.

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you’ll find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you’ll see, some of these questions have multiple answers).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

You volunteer to provide massage at a local organization that serves teenage mothers. What risk factors and complications might you encounter in this situation? What types of technique and positioning modifications might you make? If a client there is considering whether to keep her baby as a single mother or relinquish her baby for adoption, how would you support her contemplations while staying within scope of practice?

CREATIVE PERINATAL PROMOTIONAL IDEAS (read more)

Get ready for a brainstorm! The brilliant ideas on these next pages were culled from brainstorming sessions in several classes of massage therapists studying Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy.

SITES AND RESOURCES FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS (read more)

We have compiled some of our most helpful sources from our decades in this specialization and then added some from trusted colleagues. Most importantly, we asked a few of our 2019-2021 clients to point us to their own most valuable social media, websites and books.

TEACHING PARENTS (read more)

Teaching basic massage to expectant parents can be both exciting and overwhelming. If working with expecting parents in this way intrigues you, then we encourage you to explore further.

CLIENT EDUCATION AS MARKETING (read more)

Visit these sites for examples of how highly trained pre- and perinatal massage therapists educate their clients and potential clients. We believe that sharing our knowledge with the public is both a part of our responsibility as therapists, and can also be a highly effective form of marketing. These therapists are also role models of successful, ethical therapist.

COMMUNICATION AND CONSENT FORMS (read more)

Each page of this document offers a different template to get you started in developing materials that enhance communications between you, your clients and their healthcare providers.

BUSINESS SITES AND BOOKS (read more)

With so many sources for business guidance widely available, we want to direct you to those that we have found particularly targeted to therapeutic massage and bodywork practitioners.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (read more)

You are accustomed to taking a thorough health and pre- and perinatal history on your private practice clients. At your part-time spa job, scheduling and company policies do not easily allow for this type of client intake before your massage session begins. How can you secure the information that you need to design safe and effective sessions for these clients? What strategies might you try to make changes at your spa toward more information gathering?

TECHNIQUE VIDEO: INTRODCTION

SAMPLE SESSION OUTLINES FOR TYPICAL CLIENT NEEDS (read more)

The book’s Technique Manuals have taught you individual techniques by body areas and for before, during and after giving birth. We have collected here some starting places for orchestrating those techniques with your other skills to create fluid and effective sessions.

HIPPA AND YOU (read more)

Confidentiality is an integral part of our professional ethics. This applies to personal communications as well as electronic records of our work. That’s where HIPPA becomes relevant for you, maybe.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS (read more)

Now is the time to look to preventing burnout, managing your own self-care, and finding sources for professional supervision, mentoring, and continued education and development. These career- lengthening strategies carry over from other aspects of your massage therapy practice, but some maternity-related issues merit some comment.

INSIGHTS FROM PERINATAL MT EMPLOYEES (read more)

When you are in private practice, all the marketing and business concerns covered in Chapter Eight are in your hands; that’s the beautiful and the ugly side of being your own boss. Perhaps you prefer to have someone else responsible for creating the business so your hands can focus more on doing the work you love. If so, then you may want to seek employment at a business that appreciates your interest in childbearing people.

ETHICAL ISSUES IN MATERNITY MASSAGE THERAPY CARE (read more)

As a pre- and perinatal massage therapist, you inevitably will encounter many nuanced and often challenging ethical issues regarding scope of practice, boundaries, power imbalances, transference, countertransference, confidentiality, and legalities.

ETHICAL ISSUES IN MATERNITY MASSAGE THERAPY CARE (read more)

As a pre- and perinatal massage therapist, you inevitably will encounter many nuanced and often challenging ethical issues regarding scope of practice, boundaries, power imbalances, transference, countertransference, confidentiality, and legalities.

SUCCESSFUL MASSAGE THERAPISTS DON’T GO IT ALONE (read more)

You might have started your massage therapy career with high ideals and ambitious goals, but now feel adrift. Perhaps you feel alone in navigating client treatment situations, relationship challenges with business associates. Maybe you have ethical concerns. Or you might long to renew your career enthusiasm, have a more robust income and receive regular encouragement, insight or more information.

HOSPITAL BASED POSTNATAL MASSAGE THERAPY (read more)

One 30-minute massage in the hospital following birth has the potential to have a significant, positive impact on the mother’s body, mind and spirit, which can translate positively into her care of her new baby.

ADDITIONAL STORIES FROM PRE- AND PERINATAL MASSAGE THERAPISTS (read more)

Two key elements helped me develop a busy practice which focused on pregnancy and postpartum work, as well as therapeutic massage for acute and chronic pain problems.

THINK IT THROUGH (read more)

Below you will find a list of questions that will test what you have absorbed from this chapter. Below each question are the possible answers (as you will see, nearly all of these questions have multiple answers).

Instructors who adopt the third edition of Pre-and Perinatal Massage Therapy as a required text can gain access to a wealth of resources to complement courses that you design. Select figures and instructional boxes prepared in PowerPoint slides that are ready to drop into presentations. Tap the test bank of over 160 multiple choice test items and their correct answers for your quizzes and exams.

Simply email our publisher — hello.usa@jkp.com — and request access to the instructor resources.

See and explore this work with us directly in one of our courses soon!