Mary De Pellegrin - Pregnancy Massage Specialist

Mary employs Deep Tissue Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy and Stretching in her Massage treatments, enabling her to treat a range of muscular problems. Mary's style is deep, but she takes care not to massage beyond her clients' pain tolerance. Although Mary believes minor discomfort may be necessary initially to release muscle tension, she does not think "Pain" during a treatment is beneficial to long-term healing.

As well as offering Deep Tissue, Relaxation and Remedial Massage and Naturopathy, Mary specialises in Pre- and Post-Natal Massage. Following her Post-Graduate training and focus on this specialist area, Mary has developed a specific massage and acupressure routine which she combines with guided visualisation for birth preparation. This routine has been designed for women who are 37+ weeks pregnant. Mary also offers training for women and their partners in a range of pressure points that are ideal to use during the birth, as well as posture, sleeping, meditation and lifestyle improvements for use both pre- and post-natal.

Mary offers her clients a unique treatment regime, combining both spiritual and mental approaches to health and well-being with the aim of improving the pregnancy experience for her clients.


Pregnancy Massage

Massage during Pregnancy assists in the management of stress as the body undergoes its many changes. The way that stress is managed during the pre-natal phase can have a profound effect on the health of Mum and baby. (1)

Massage sedates and is able to bring balance to the nervous system because it stimulates receptors situated deep in the soft tissue. These receptors are responsible for sending messages to the nervous system related to muscle tension and blood pressure. (2)

Massage can be of assistance when sleep is irregular. Research undertaken by The Touch Research Institute has shown anxiety, stress hormones, and obstetric complications in women who receive massages regularly during pregnancy are lower. (3)

Massage assists in the elimination of waste products (through the lymphatic and circulatory systems), causing an increase in energy for the expectant Mum. If there is swelling or oedema specific massage techniques can be used to reduce this. The increase in blood circulation is also beneficial for the lowering of blood pressure.

References:
(1) McKay S: Maternal stress and pregnancy outcome, Minneapolis, 1980, ICEA
(2) Stillerman, E Prenatal Massage A textbook of Pregnancy, Labor, and Postpartum Bodywork,
(3) Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Hart S, et al: Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy, J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 290:31-38, 1999.

Mary offers her clients the following services:

• Remedial Massage
• Pre- and Post-natal Massage
• Reiki
• Naturopathy

Depending on your cover, Massage and Naturopathy treatments are eligible for Private Health Fund rebates.