Pregnancy massage???

[sugaree]

I am a fairly new massage therapist and have my first appointment this weekend with a pregnancy woman (in her 3rd trimester). When I was in school they always said that we needed to get a doctor's release before EVER massaging a pregnancy woman, however there were times when pregnant women would come into the student clinic and we would do their first massage and send them home with a release. Also several of my instructors said that although the school promotes this that they don't do it in their private practice.

So, I am curious - how many of you require a doctor's release before the first pregnancy massage and how many of you don't?

 

[Lady in Waiting]

I don't require a doctor's release. I'd only want permission from a doctor if it were a high-risk pregnancy, and an expectant mother (I assume) has been told if this is the case by a doctor already.

 

[Welsh are best at rugby]

Usually people are only weird about massaging a woman in the first trimester of her pregnancy. I've never heard of requiring a release in the 2nd or third trimester. Obviously your school didn't even take it too seriously. Did they give you a rationale?

 

[abhi n]

Usually people are only weird about massaging a woman in the first trimester of her pregnancy. I've never heard of requiring a release in the 2nd or third trimester. Obviously your school didn't even take it too seriously. Did they give you a rationale?

Their only rationale was liability, and as far as taking it seriously - the clinic instructor could have gotten into trouble if they found out she/he okayed it. I know one instructor got a good talking to for allowing a woman who came a second time without the release to get another massage.

 

[SleepyJ]

Usually people are only weird about massaging a woman in the first trimester of her pregnancy. I've never heard of requiring a release in the 2nd or third trimester. Obviously your school didn't even take it too seriously. Did they give you a rationale?

Their only rationale was liability, and as far as taking it seriously - the clinic instructor could have gotten into trouble if they found out she/he okayed it. I know one instructor got a good talking to for allowing a woman who came a second time without the release to get another massage.

That is too bad. I agree the instructors should follow school policy - it is just sad that pregnant women are treated like toddlers by so many people.

 

[veritypendragon]

That is too bad. I agree the instructors should follow school policy - it is just sad that pregnant women are treated like toddlers by so many people.

I totally agree. I also work as a labor doula so I am very familiar with pregnancy and have done massages during labor (mostly when the woman has back labor). It was at times very hard for me when I was in school to keep my mouth shut when pregnancy was concerned.

 

[Bogey]

Seebs wrote: I don't require a doctor's release. I'd only want permission from a doctor if it were a high-risk pregnancy

:iagree:

 

[Pompal 09.]

I require a release if I'm working on an injured pregnant woman. Both a liability release and a prescription for massage, or a scrip that clearly states "No contraindications for massage" or "Standard pregnancy cautions," etc.

Otherwise, it's just my normal intake, and I do a verbal regarding contractions, water retention, swelling, etc.