Can Massage Therapy Induce Labor?
We all know the classic sequence. When a woman is close to giving birth, she and her partner live with their hospital bag packed, ready for that "any time now" moment when contractions start and she announces "It's time!". This usually triggers a mad dash to the hospital, but may still be followed by hours of pre-labor contractions. What if you could influence your moment of labor in the most soothing way possible? Labor stimulation massage therapy is a series of 1-3 massages that can help your body understand that it is safe and ready to give birth at the time of your due-date when your birthing team is on-deck and ready to assist. Acupuncture services to encourage labor are also available. What Is Labor Stimulation Massage? Labor stimulating massage is a series of 1-3 massages that can let your body know that it's time to give birth. While every woman responds to the massage process at a different rate, these massage techniques are designed to decrease your body's stress, increase your production of oxytocin, guide your baby into position, and relax your muscles so that labor might be easier. Massage is the most natural way to encourage labor to happen when it is intended. Rather than inducing labor, massage can ensure your body is ready to be in labor and can help you go into labor "on time" by creating the right physical conditions. Every woman responds uniquely to labor stimulation massage, which is best used with the approval of your doctor or midwife at the right time. Massage Decreases Stress Hormones It's only natural to be nervous about giving birth, but stress hormones can cause your body to try and put off labor until you feel safe. Massage can help reduce the stress hormones in your body like cortisol and adrenaline so that you are able to relax and allow labor to happen at it's natural time. Massage Increases Love Hormones The other half of feeling safe is the sense of love and comfort that can be induced by releasing oxytocin through massage. Oxytocin is the hormone that makes you feel comforted and cuddly. Oxytocin is released when you're feeling loved up, ready to give birth to your baby, bonding with your baby, and when breastfeeding. Massage that stimulates oxytocin release can help your body understand that you are safe to have the baby and emotionally ready to welcome the little one into the world. Massage and Acupressure Helps Guide the Baby Acupressure points can help you contract and relax certain muscles to guide the baby into place for birth while assisting with the dilation of your cervix and uterine contractions. Massage Relax Your Muscles Birthing mothers are often encouraged to relax wherever possible so that labor can happen naturally without undue tension. Massage can help you relax despite the nerves and discomfort of birth. Acupressure and Acupuncture for Labor Stimulation Acupressure points can be used to help prepare your muscles and the baby's position for easier labor, and they are used in our labor stimulation massage. Acupressure applies gentle but firm pressure to specific points on the body to trigger certain responses including hormone release, relaxation, and muscle response. Some of the acupressure points used for labor stimulation massage include:
Acupuncture is the use of thin needles applied in very specific places to have similar effects. You can pair an acupuncture treatment with labor stimulation massage services on the same day or in the same week to double down on your efforts of stimulating labor. The Wellness Hub here in Jacksonville, Florida also offers acupuncture services. Acupressure and acupuncture can have a direct affect on your muscles, neurotransmitters, nervous system, and connective tissue which can help prepare your body go give birth. These techniques are those most often used to help guide the baby into position, increase healthy blood flow to the uterus, influence hormonal response, and stimulate uterine contractions with your doctor's approval. What Can You Expect from Using Massage for Labor Stimulation? After your 38th week of pregnancy, labor stimulation massage can be used to help your body understand that it's a good time to go into labor. It will make you feel safe, stimulate certain muscular responses, and prepare the baby to enter the birthing canal. After well-timed labor stimulating massage, women will usually go into labor within 24-72 hours. Most women do not go into labor immediately after labor stimulation massage, but within the next 1-3 days. A series of massages every 2-3 days can be used to encourage the best results and reduce delays caused by stress or tension. It should be noted that labor stimulation massage is not labor induction nor a type of obstetrics. This process is a gentle and natural encouragement that works when your body is ready to give birth. Trying Labor Stimulation Massage Therapy in Jacksonville, Florida If you are in Jacksonville, Florida, and are near your pregnancy due date, one of the best things you can do for your body is to enjoy a labor-stimulating massage. The massage techniques can help you reduce stress and feel safe, which encourages the body to go into labor near the intended date when your birthing team is available and ready to assist. A labor-stimulating massage may improve the quality of your labor by increasing your physical readiness to give birth. You can find labor-stimulating massage therapy, acupressure, and acupuncture services at The Wellness Hub in Jacksonville, FL. Contact us and our massage team will gladly help you schedule your labor stimulation massage. You can swing by to become familiar with the massage therapy space so you are fully comfortable and ready for the massage element of this joyful moment in your life. Contact us or visit The Wellness Hub in person to discuss labor stimulation massage therapy for your pregnancy. --- We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more.
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Your body and mind are two systems woven tightly together. You can feel emotions with your body. You can change your feelings through your actions. Exercise can make you happier in your day-to-day, and meditation can help your body relax. But these are things that occur in passing. What happens when your mental health challenges are translated through your body in the long-term? Often, mental health has physical symptoms, and taking care of your body can help improve your mental health challenges. This is why massage therapy is a cherished way to improve your mental health. By understanding the relationship between your body and mind, it is possible to benefit your emotional and psychological state through soothing massage. We are massage therapy experts in Jacksonville, Florida and we are excited to help you along in your path to physical and mental health. 5 Physical Manifestations of Mental Health You can identify the close ties between mental and physical wellness by observing the way they influence one another. These five physical manifestations of mental health challenges are often the signal, telling you that it's time to seek a solution to your long-term struggles. 1. Inability to Relax Your Muscles Do you find yourself tense and tightly coiled at all times? Is it hard to sleep or sit still because you can't relax? Muscle tension is often the reflection of anxiety and your mental or emotional inability to relax. 2. Stress Headaches When you are overworking yourself or worrying too much, stress headaches are a common result. If your headaches are occurring with greater frequency, you may need a direct way to help yourself unwind, unclench your jaw, and let go of your worries for a while. 3. Stomach and Digestion Troubles Nerves, fear, anger, and other strong emotions often tie up the stomach. You may be having trouble with your appetite or experiencing uncomfortable digestion as the result of mental health challenges. 4. Difficulty Sleeping or Waking Up Sleep disorders are closely tied to mental health. Many different mental and emotional conditions can make it difficult to sleep, hard to wake up, or cause you to be tired all the time without getting proper sleep when you lay down to rest. 5. Persistent or Elusive Pain and Soreness Lastly, persistent pain and soreness without an injury or other cause can be a sign of mental health distress. This could be the result of tension or the release of unhealthy neurotransmitters that are not processing well in your body. How Massage Can Help Massage therapy offers many ways to help your body ease your mind. Just as your mental condition can translate stress and pain into your body, your body can communicate safety, relaxation, and confidence to your mental self. First, massage therapy treats the symptoms. Using a combination of techniques, your therapist can remove painful lactic acid built up in your muscles, unknot muscles that have been tensely clenched for months, and help your soft tissue systems to fully relax for the first time in a long time. This simple physical relaxation can provide a lot of relief - enough to help you focus on your mental health journey without discomfort or distraction But it goes beyond that. Massage therapy can also convey to your mind through your body that it is safe to relax. Gentle touch and a safe, curated space can ease anxiety, soothe trauma, and help a depressed body feel loved. 5 Mental Health Challenges that Benefit From Massage Therapy What kind of mental health challenges can massage therapy help you overcome? Studies have shown that massage therapy is a beneficial part of a self-care and treatment program for several mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, accumulated stress, seasonal affective disorder, and PTSD. Massage therapy can also help with other conditions, but each mental health journey should be assessed and treated on a personal basis. 1. Anxiety Massage therapy allows someone experiencing acute anxiety to finally relax. The relief of feeling safe and taken care of through gentle touch can provide you the ability to take a break from your anxiety. As tension is removed from your muscles, the anxiety feedback loop is broken and those who struggle with anxiety can begin their journey from a fresh and relaxed state. 2. Depression Depression often leads to self-neglect and translates through the body. Massage releases positive neurotransmitters to counteract the depression while communicating the opposite of neglect: self-care and wellness from the inside out. Those struggling with depression who make massage part of their routine have an easier time getting energized and treating themselves well at home. 3. Work Stress Work stress and other accumulated stress disorders have a direct relationship between the body and mind. Feeling tense and sore increase stress, which increases tension. Massage can break this vicious cycle, allowing you to fully unwind and let go of that long-held stress from both your body and your mind. 4. Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a reaction to the reduction of sunshine during the winter. It can be detected as an increase in anxiety and a drop in serotonin levels. Massage can help to ease that anxiety and boost serotonin levels to help minimize the symptoms of SAD in those winter months. 5. PTSD Massage can help those with PTSD process their trauma through gentle touch and a safe environment. Massage has been found to be beneficial in many PTSD treatment plans allowing you to relax and let go of the built-up stress that occurs as a result of the condition. Treating Mental Health with Massage Therapy and Finding the Best "Massage Near Me" in Jacksonville, Florida If your mental health is manifesting as physical symptoms, one of the best places to start is a stress-releasing massage. Allow all the tension that your mind has stored in your body to flow out of you through massage therapy and experience the reflective benefits in your mental health. Explore massage therapy for mental health here in Jacksonville, FL, at The Wellness Hub. --- We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more. August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. We are celebrating with mothers everywhere the beauty and benefits of breast feeding your new child. Of course, part of awareness is also acknowledging the challenges and solutions associated with breastfeeding your baby.
Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to boost the bond and immune system benefits shared between mother and child. However, you may notice after just a few weeks that breastfeeding also comes with surprising new aches and pains. Holding your baby, curling forward to make eye contact, and the posture you assume during breastfeeding all play a role. The simple fact is that breastfeeding, while beautiful, can take a toll on your musculoskeletal system. The good news is that there are several ways to ease these aches and get back to physical comfort, strength, and balance. For many new mothers, receiving regular massage therapy while breastfeeding is a game-changer. The Physical Challenges of Breastfeeding Breastfeeding typically comes with more than a few sources of pain and discomfort that accumulate over time. The two biggest challenges are the effort of holding your baby and the posture you use while breastfeeding. If you always breastfeed in one or two postures, any stress created by those positions will build up into tension and pain. Breastfeeding mothers often experience:
Benefits of Massage Therapy for Breastfeeding Pain If you experience pain during or after breastfeeding, massage can help. Newborns often breastfeed up to 3 total hours a day. That's a long time in your breastfeeding position as muscles tighten and knot. A little stretching and new postures can help, but the tension that's already built up should also be released. That is where massage can really help. Professional massage therapy on your neck, shoulders, back, and arms can help relieve the tension accumulated during breastfeeding. You will feel your body letting go of the need to hunch over as your muscles loosen and the knots are worked out. Tension headaches can be relieved and long-term aches can fade away with the help of a skilled massage therapist. Massages Keep Your Body Happy During Breastfeeding The effort involved in breastfeeding is no small feat. A mother may look reclined, but breastfeeding can be a lot of work for your arms, shoulders, neck, and back. No matter what posture you select, the hours each day of breastfeeding are a form of static exercise. Massage can help you keep up your routine comfortably and help you achieve the best possible support posture while breastfeeding your child. Breastfeeding often takes 6-18 months for each child, and many mothers have their next child not long after they stop breastfeeding the one before. Regular massage can help you maintain your physical best for each year you have a baby to nurture. How to Reduce Breastfeeding Pain and Build Strength Breastfeeding pain is a signal that your body is ready to get on the road to recovery after giving birth. Often, mothers find that a combination of posture, support, exercise, and massage are the key to easing pain not just during (or because of) breastfeeding, but also feeling stronger overall after having a baby. Making Breast Feeding More Comfortable
Easing the Aches and Pains of Breastfeeding
Massage Therapy for Breastfeeding Mothers in Jacksonville, FL If you are a mother experiencing aches and pains from breastfeeding, relaxation and comfort are just a massage away. The Wellness Hub in Jacksonville, FL would be honored to help you work out those knots and tense muscles that come from holding and breastfeeding your infant. Breastfeeding is hard work, and we're here to make it a little easier. Contact us today or stop by to meet with our massage therapists and find the tension relief you need to breastfeed in comfort. --- We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more. Teachers are responsible for molding the next generation of thinkers, doctors, computer scientists, and artists. Teachers work hard, and they deserve to have some "me time" all to themselves, especially with back-to-school around the corner.
If you're a teacher located in Jacksonville, Florida, then you need to visit The Wellness Hub for a private, relaxing massage. There are so many benefits that come with getting a massage as a teacher, so let's go over them in more detail. Back to School for Teachers: Special Offers from The Wellness Hub Before we talk about why teachers should get a massage at The Wellness Hub, you should know that there are some super special promotions going on this back-to-school season. At The Wellness Hub, we believe that all teachers should be able to get affordable, high-quality massages, and that's why we have some spectacular promotions going on right now. Why Should Teachers Utilize Massage Therapy? Teachers are superheroes, but they can't do the work they do without taking some time for them! Here are some reasons why teachers need to utilize massage therapy: You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup: Teachers have to give, give, give to their students all year long. That said, if you're lacking energy and confidence, you won't be able to give your students what they really need—your time, care, and attention. As they say, "you can't pour from an empty cup," so teachers should get a massage at The Wellness Hub to rejuvenate before the summer ends. Massages Can Soothe Any Physical Pain: Unfortunately, sometimes teachers can feel chronic pain or achiness because of the demands of the job. Teachers are often expected to stand up for long periods of time, which might lead to sore feet. Teachers are also expected to bend over to talk to students at their desks, which can lead to teachers having a sore back and neck. Massages can help reduce the amount of physical pain you feel as a teacher. Your Confidence Will Increase: There's nothing more important than teachers feeling great about themselves and having confidence in the classroom. As a teacher, you deserve to feel your best, and when you get a massage, your confidence will increase, and your anxieties will decrease. You have to get a massage! What Can You Expect from Regular Massage Therapy in Jacksonville at The Wellness Hub? There are several things you should know prior to coming to The Wellness Hub. Here is a list of things you should know before getting your first massage: There Is Nothing to Be Anxious About: A lot of people get really nervous before their first massage therapy appointment, but you should know that there is nothing to be anxious about. At The Wellness Hub, our massage therapists will talk you through any concerns you have to alleviate your anxiety. Our Massage Therapists Want to Help You: Our massage therapists are helpful and kind, so just tell them what your goals are for your massage therapy session, and they'll ensure you leave feeling fulfilled. You Will Leave Feeling Like a Better Teacher: By the end of your massage at The Wellness Hub, you will feel empowered and ready to return to the classroom. You'll leave feeling like a better teacher! Teachers Matter, Massages Matter, Choose The Wellness Hub for a "Massage Near Me" This back-to-school season, we want to honor all the incredible teachers in the Jacksonville area. At The Wellness Hub, we know how hard teachers work, so we know that they can benefit from our massage Jacksonville services. If you have any questions about what we offer at The Wellness Hub, reach out, and be sure to book an appointment with us before the summer ends! Available Massage Therapy Specials to Celebrate Back-To-School 2024
--- We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and more. |
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