The Fever Lever Center

A coworker recently approached me to ask if her sister would be allowed to book a massage, even though she is six months pregnant.

“Of course! There is really no better time.” I replied.

Pregnancy massage is a wonderful way for mothers-to-be to relax, rejuvenate, and release some of the stress that their bodies are under for those nine months. While the massage obviously feels fantastic, there are many other benefits.

The benefits of pregnancy massage (also known as prenatal massage) are in many ways similar to that of standard Swedish massage. These benefits include but are not limited to:
• Encouraging muscle relaxation and tension relief
• Reducing heart rate and blood pressure
• Increasing blood circulation and lymphatic flow, therefore encouraging the body to release stagnant wastes held in the tissue
• Promoting deeper breathing, and an overall sense of well being
• Fostering faster repair and healing of stretched or strained muscular tissue
• Strengthening the immune system by encouraging the body to maintain or return to homeostasis (optimal balance in which the body best fights injury or illness)
• Satisfying the need for a nurturing touch

Other reported benefits from women who have experienced massage during pregnancy include:

• Fewer obstetric and postpartum complications
• Reduced premature birth rates
• Shorter or less painful deliveries and less days spent in the hospital
• Reduced swelling in the hands and feet
• Less lower back and sciatic pain
• Decreased instances of postpartum depression and anxiety (due to fewer stress hormones in the blood)

While any healthy, pregnant woman is able to receive massage, there are some precautions the massage therapist must observe to ensure that their client is safe during and after the massage. Since the woman’s body is in a state of such physical and hormonal change, massage is limited to the second and third trimesters. This does not mean the woman cannot receive any spa services during her first trimester. The Heads Up Massage, a facial, or a manicure are all great ways to de-stress during this time.

As with any massage service, the massage therapist should be alerted to any prescient health issues. This is especially important during pregnancy. Circumstances in which pregnancy massage should not be performed include high blood pressure, diabetes, fever, unusual abdominal pain or vomiting, or any malignant condition. Varicose veins and swelling are other conditions the therapist should be made aware of prior to the massage, though the service can still be safely performed in spite of these. Some standard precautions the therapist will take include abstaining from deep pressure and avoiding heat so as not to take blood away from the fetus. Certain pressure points on the body and feet will also be avoided since they are connected with promotion of early contractions and labor. While taking precautions before, during, and after pregnancy massage is important, most clients will have no problems; they can relax and enjoy the massage free from worries.

Pregnancy massage at a good spa is designed to accommodate the expectant mother at any stage during the second and third trimester. Prior to the massage, the therapist will prepare the treatment room specifically for the mom-to-be. Special pregnancy cushions are utilized to allow the mother to lay on her back and on her stomach, no matter how far along she is. For the expectant mother, this in itself is a luxury. The therapist will instruct the client on how to lie on the cushions so as to ensure complete support and comfort. Once the massage is in progress, the therapist will pay special attention to any areas of tension or discomfort developed during or even before the pregnancy. This is the perfect time to take a deep breath, enjoy the feeling of nurturing touch, and let the stress melt away. Often, Soft music, dim lighting, and warm linens allow the mother to unwind and relax in her environment.

While receiving one massage during pregnancy is certainly beneficial, treating yourself to an hour of massage once a month, or even just two or three times prior to giving birth, can do wonders for the health of mother and child. Pregnancy massage is a beautiful process - a delight for the mother-to-be, and an honor for the therapist.

Courtney Robertson is a graduate of the Onandaga School of Therapeutic Massage and has been a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist and Nationally Certified Massage Therapist since October of 2004. Courtney has performed almost 1500 massages and body work treatments since November 2004 as a full time LMT at Scott Miller - a salon, spa, and store in Rochester, NY (http://www.scottmillerstyle.com). She has taken workshops on Advanced Techniques of the Neck and Qi Gong and done coursework at Montgomery County Community College as well as Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. She is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

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When my first baby was handed to me I wasn’t sure what to do. Of course I was thrilled, overwhelmed, ecstatic and emotional but I had told everyone I was going to breastfeed. Now she was here and I was expected to get on with it, put her to my breast and nourish her… Well to be quite honest I was a little bit afraid. I was lying in a room full of medical equipment and strangers and my husband had just witnessed me in a state of distress and undress such as never before. All I really wanted to do was get washed, dressed and go for a sleep. But, there was a little tiny girl in my arms looking a bit hungry and everyone was watching and waiting.

Tentatively I showed her my breast and waited. She waited. I poked at her mouth, then at her nose with my nipple. She opened her tiny mouth wide and dived forward. Amazed at this tiny wonder of nature I gazed at her as she began to suckle. I marvelled as she guzzled and swallowed… I was breastfeeding!

As the days went by it wasn’t all that I expected. It was painful and burned every time she latched on. But I persevered and we made it. Sixteen months later she decided she had had enough of mummy’s milk and with tears in my eyes I concluded that breastfeeding had been a wonderful experience and one which I hoped to repeat.

So how do you breastfeed? Here are some tips…

Try to have skin-to-skin contact immediately after the birth, preferably before the baby has been cleaned up.

Get comfortable and hold the baby in a way that suits you both.

Gently place your nipple under baby’s nose, and above her top lip. The baby should instinctively begin to root about for it.

Wait until baby opens her mouth really wide and gently position the nipple and as much of the areola (the area around your nipple)as possible into baby’s mouth.

Baby will begin to suckle very quickly at first. As colostrum (pre-milk rich with antibodies) begins to flow the sucking will become much slower and you may even notice baby gulping as she swallows this pre-milk.

When baby has had enough she will let go of the breast and may even fall asleep.

Within about three days the colostrum will be replaced by mature milk.

The first feeds may last a long time or they may occur very frequently for short periods of time. Just as mum is learning how to breastfeed so too is baby. Within a few weeks a routine of sorts will have become established!

Breastfeeding is by no means easy but it does get easier after the first four weeks or so. At times it is painful but always satisfying. It’s always convenient and requires no advance preparation or sterilising of bottles! Most problems occur as a result of incorrect positioning of baby at the breast. Don’t let the baby suck at your nipple - she must have lots of the areola as well otherwise you will get sore and this is when many new mums give up.

By breastfeeding your baby she will benefit tremendously and there are numerous health benefits for mum too. Persevere - it’s worth every minute of it.

Sinead Hoben is the proud mum of three beautiful breastfed children. A former English teacher she is now a full-time mum and owner of a website devoted to breastfeeding. Visit her website, http://www.breastfeedingmums.com for breastfeeding support and practical advice. Email sinead@breastfeedingmums.com

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The method know as 3d ultrasound scanning is used in early pregnancy, it provides 3d images of the unborn child. Most of the time the ultrasound pictures are collected and joined together and made into a movie to produce a 4d ultrasound scan.

Three dimensional scanning works similarly to the traditional ultrasound except that the ultrasound waves are directed from multiple directions. The ultrasound pulses are reflected back and captured and provide information to construct a 3-dimensional image in in the same way as 3d pictures. 3 dimesional ultrasound was devised by stephen smith and olaf von ramm.

It’s important to understand that sonologists worldwide always pictured three-dimensional images of the body in their minds whilst doing 2d scans. However, until recently it was impossible to do this type of reconstruction on on information using ultasound scanning. With the advent of baby scans for the first time allowed us a view into the thinking of a sonologist and allowing us to reconstruct the images on the ultrasound machine.

3d/4d ultrasound imaging should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. While there is no information of harm due to 3d ultasound scanning, its use in none essential situations needs to be undertaken with an understanding of the risks that may exist.

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Babies are born with nothing but a great set of parents and a great set of lungs. But it doesn’t stay that way for long. As soon as the birth announcements go out, the baby gifts from family and friends start to show up. And who doesn’t want to give a unique gift? Baby gifts last forever. They stay in a family for years, handed down to subsequent children and enjoyed for years to come. From child to child. From family to family. A perfect baby gift is worth its weight in gold. That’s why it’s so important to put a lot of thought into choosing new baby gift or something to welcome a wee one to the world.

Even though all baby toys have the potential to be educational, only some are true baby learning toys. They are exploring their senses, their environment and themselves. In short, they are learning about EVERYTHING… from the ground up (literally!). That is why baby toys are so important . They are stepping-stones at each stage of development.

In today’s wired world is it impossible to ignore electronic baby gifts - high-tech gizmos with blips and zaps that teach babies about everything from numbers to letters to colours and everything in between. Toy companies such as VTech offer a line of electronic baby toys- classic stacking rings that play sounds, phrases and music. Leap Frog is another inspired brand that makes electronic baby toys. Electronic baby toys make great new baby gifts as they open up a whole new world of learning for newborns and older infants alike.

There are many important types of baby toys that will encourage a child’s well-rounded development. Each type of toy has something new and wonderful to offer a child. Plush toys and soft toys, for example, are extremely important in the early months when babies’ tender little hands are just learning to reach out to new and interesting toys. A soft plush animal or soft toy is a classic idea for a baby shower gift that will be well-loved by both parents and babies alike. Indispensable in any new parent’s diaper bag, a soft plush animal will entertain a baby for ages! With fanciful bright colours, funny sounds that crinkle and squeak they will go everywhere with baby and keep them laughing and learning wherever they are (baby goes).

Toys that feature black and white will immediately intrigue a newborn’s desire for high-contrast visual stimulation. When shopping for the ultimate, unique baby gift, a book is often a wonderful choice. Babies can enjoy books from the moment they’re born. In fact, many babies have been known to love hearing stories from within the womb, so books make excellent baby shower gifts, as well. When selecting books for a baby, it’s best to choose a variety of styles so that they can have a well-rounded library. Goodnight Moon is, of course, the book that parents know by heart before a child’s first birthday, but it’s not the only book out there! And no baby library is complete without some books featuring photographs of other cute babies. A compilation of nursery rhymes is an important first book, too (especially for new parents who have long forgotten all the classics!). Lift-the-flap books, touch-and-feel books, books by well known authors Sandra Boynton, Eric Carle, and others are all wonderful options for a baby’s library.

Lisa Bronart writes for mastermindtoys.com. For more is the perfect place to find every book for baby. If you’re looking for educational baby toys or baby gifts - http://www.mastermindtoys.com is only a click away.

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