Pregnancy Massage

As I’m focusing on my health and worried too much, I’m dealing with a lot of stress that I am now in my last trimester of my pregnancy. I was once read a book entitled, “The Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy, Massage and Yoga” by, Carole McGilvery, Jimi Reed, and Mira Mehta. It helps me in any way to relax and release tension and discomfort. For all pregnant women like me, I want to share it with you what I’ve read and it is easy to follow with detailed step-by-step instructions with your partner or husband.

The Back:

After about the fourth month of pregnancy it becomes uncomfortable to lie on the stomach, so work with your partner sitting up with a towel-wrapped pillow or back of a chair to lean over for support.

1. Make sure your partner is comfortable and place your left hand over the forehead and the palm of your right hand across the back of the neck. Hold for a few moments and then release.

2. Apply a little oil of your fingers and using a slight but gentle pressure, softly massage each side of your partner's neck and shoulders, kneading mainly with the thumbs. This will help to relieve the tension often caused by the weight of enlarged breasts.

3. Stroke the oil evenly over the back and begin an effleurage movement (a soothing, stroking motion with two hands, moving up the sides of the spine and out over the shoulders). Repeat several times to establish a rhythm and relax your partner.

4. Using the thumbs, work upward on each side of the spinal column from the lower back to the neck to help release congestion along the spinal nerves. Repeat four times. Clear the movement by sweeping up the back using the calming effleurage stroke.

5. Starting from the center of the back, begin working up and outward across the width of the back with superficial effleurage movements. Repeat the movements several times until your partner is relaxed. This will help to stimulate the circulation and has a soothing effect on the nerve endings.

6. Using a double-handed movements, press down and then gently lift the muscles to the side of the neck, rolling with the thumb, and then release. Work out from the neck across the shoulder, and then repeat across the other shoulder. Performed slowly with rhythmic movements this is very relaxing and will alleviate stiffness.

The Abdomen:

For a pregnant woman, the weight of the uterus can constrict important blood vessels if she lies down flat on her back, so provide plenty of pillows, cushions, bolsters or rolled towels to support your partner behind the back, under the neck and knees and anywhere else she needs to feel comfortable.

1. It may seem alarming to massage the abdomen during pregnancy but, providing the strokes are light and careful, it is safe and relaxing for mother and baby. Gentle massage all over the abdominal area can be very soothing and is beneficial for relieving the stretched feeling often experienced during pregnancy. Apply oil evenly over the area to help feed the tissues and lessen the possibility of stretch marks.
2. Using the flat of your hands, carefully glide them up from either side of the waist, lifting your hands off as they reach the navel, and then start again. Continue to stroke the area with a light, soft touch, working over the whole of the abdomen to soothe and calm.
3. After a minute of gentle circular movements, place the fingertips of the solar plexus region and cover with your right hand. Rest both hands for a moment and then release to help alleviate stress.

The Legs:

Make sure your partner is comfortable, with the knees supported by cushions.

Begin gently stroking the leg with an effleurage from the ankle to the knee, smoothing up the shin and then glide around the calf. It can help to relieve the swelling, varicose veins or cramp which afflict many pregnant women. Do not use any heavy movements to the legs and avoid any reflexology movements to the feet, though gentle stroking around the ankles may well be appreciated.

To Finish:

With both hands positioned at the back of the neck, apply light circular pressures to the cranium (skull) with your fingertips working in an upward direction to help release tension. End the massage by smoothing the hair away from the neck and forehead, releasing all the negative energy. Allow your partner to rest for 15 minutes and then help her to get up very gently.

Recommended Oils for Pregnancy:

Chamomile, Geranium (in low doses), Lavender, Lemon, Neroli Orange, Rose, and Sandalwood

Earth Hour

March 28, 2009, is the call for the world to support Earth Hour. It's a kind of call that each one of us can make a stand about the global warming. And because of this, we are invited to turn off our lights in one hour, starting 8:30-9:30 pm. Thousands of countries will join and millions of people will make a difference. For me, in just one hour, the whole world can save energy and at the same time it's a starting process for us to stop global warming. It's not one place or country that was affected by this global warming but it's the whole earth already and it's the best time for us to start, to make actions and solutions to stop this calamity before anything else can happen. We have our own choice of what we want us to be in this planet. And we have our own will of what could be the best things that will happen on this earth. So, make a stand and it will make a difference.

Stop Global Warming...

feel grief

Have you been in a situation were you received an unexpected news first thing of your day? Never mind if it's good news but how you deal with it if it's a bad news? You can't figure it out how but sometimes you just stay quite and tears run out from your eyes without knowing it.

Early this morning, my husband and I received a bad news from his cousin that his mother died. It's a big lost for us for she is the only sister of my mother in law. I know how difficult it is to accept the reality but it's a cycle of life. Anyway, the doctor informed us before that she will live a shorter life because of her condition but still we're not expecting that she will died as early as this time. We're just talking yesterday about another visit of her but now the person we wanted to see is lost. I know she's with her daughter who died not long ago and rest in peace with our Creator. We grieve her lost and pray that eternal peace will grant her and may her souls rest in peace.

baby's things

It's time to prepare the things I need when I deliver my baby. I didn't buy new things because I have old baby's layette and etc. from my nephews and nieces. Their all look new and you have to wash it again and dry. It's more practical and economical. I don't need to waste my money to buy anything which I don't need it again in some other time. Babies are so fast they grow. You can have their needs like clothing from any of your family members which they didn't use but can be of use to you. My mother helps me everything in ready. My husband finds time after work to fix and to repaint the wooden crib. We have so much fun preparing and everyone is excited to see the baby soon. I'm so happy, blessed and flattered that every family members were very supportive to us. I just only hope and pray that I will have a normal delivery and my baby is healthy. I don't need anything right now but only for my baby to be brought safely to this world.

just knew...

I've just arrived from my prenatal check -up. I am now in twenty-nine weeks and five days pregnant. Everything is OK. My baby is in normal condition. I just knew from my doctor that I'm in a high risk pregnancy due to my asthma. I inherited it at my mother's side. It attact me at the middle of the night sometime but it didn't bother me that much. I just keep myself calm and drink a lot of water and it will disappear for a couple of minutes. The doctor advice me to consult an internal medicine (IM) just to be sure. You can never know when asthma attact during labor. And if it will happen, I will have a caesaren delivery (hope it will not). I will be back two weeks from now to my doctor for check-up. I hope and pray that I will have a normal delivery soon. I know God will help me and answer my prayers. Fingers cross...

busy day...

It’s a busy day for me. I did a lot of household chores except for the laundry. After my accident and a couple of days of bed rest, I kept myself on the move right now for me to exercise. My husband didn’t want me to do walking without him so I just stay at home, cooking food, swiping the floor, and fixing the bed and more. I just make sure that I did it slowly and took a rest when I felt stress. It’s just like doing what you used to do. I can’t wait to see my husband get home from work because I prepared him his favorite food for his dinner; vegetable soup and fried fish. I’m sure he’ll be happy what I did the whole day.

Thankful...

This month, my husband and I went to the market to buy some electrical stuff but I was accidentally slipped and fall after I stepped down from a tricycle when we arrived home. I was panic, cried and didn’t know what to do. My husband brought me to the hospital right away before anything else happened especially that I’m pregnant. The doctor asked me questions if I felt intense pain in my womb and behind my back. She conducted a pelvic examination to know if I had a blood clot inside my womb and fortunately the result is negative. She also told us to take an ultrasound as a final medical test just to be sure if the baby is doing fine and safe. I’m so happy then that my baby is doing well and nothing to worry about. But, the doctor cannot determine if it’s a girl or boy and it’s in frank breech position. She told us that it’s normal like I’m in twenty-four weeks pregnant. And now, the doctor advice me to take a bed rest for a couple of days. I’m so thankful to my husband for always there beside me, to comfort me. And to our family for their prayers and undying support for us, as we begin a new life as a couple, and as a family. Thank you…