Karen Hobbis Remedial Massage

I am a NutureLife Practitioner and are therefore perfectly qualified to assist all women during their pregnancy journey, whether they are in their 1st trimester or beyond (including preconception and postnatal).

Pregnancy massage provides a myriad of benefits, from the relief of tension and pain, to better sleep and an improved state of mind, just to name a few.

Pregnancy massage has the same goals as regular massage

• To relax tense muscles


• Ease sore spots


• Improve circulation and mobility


• Improve your state of mind

It is also tailored specifically to the needs of pregnant women and their changing bodies. Carrying a baby inside you changes your centre of gravity and puts a lot of stress on your back, neck, abdominal muscles, and shoulders. Pregnancy also relaxes your ligaments, so that your pelvic joints are less stable, and changes your posture, pulling your pelvis forward.

As a trained pregnancy massage therapist I can target those sore spots and provide some relief, while knowing which areas, and what techniques, to avoid.

Benefits of massage during pregnancy:

• Reduces stress hormones and increases fell-good hormones, thereby reducing anxiety and depression


• Increases energy and a reduced sense of fatigue


• Brings deep relaxation


• Can relieve nausea and heartburn


• Relieves the everyday discomforts of pregnancy such as back pain, joint pain, neck pain, headaches, pelvic pain, and leg crams, by targeting specific trigger points and muscle tension


• Reduces excess fluid retention which generally manifests as swelling in the hands and ankles


• Reduces sciatica pain


• Improves circulation


• Improved sleep from being more relaxed, reduced muscle tension and feeling less uncomfortable


• A greater sense of relaxation which leads to the improvement in the progression of labour with better health outcomes for both mother and baby, and


• Creates a wonderful connection between the mother and baby.

First Trimester Massage

The common misconception exists that women in their 1st trimester are unable to receive a massage treatment, a myth which is often reinforced by massage therapists that are not qualified to provide pregnancy specific massages.

As a qualified NutureLife® Practitioner I am qualified to assist all women during their pregnancy whether they are in their 1st trimester or beyond. The specific benefits of receiving massage during the 1st pregnancy include:

• Helping with headaches associated with a change in hormones during the 1st trimester


• Reducing hip, back, shoulder and neck pain (some which can be pre-existing prior to pregnancy and need treatment to continue through pregnancy)


• Stabilise mild nausea


• Improve sleep patterns and reduce fatigue


• Reduce stress and anxiety, and


• Begin to help create the mother-baby connection.

Optimal comfort

Most women find it uncomfortable to lie facedown right from the start of pregnancy because of their tender, swollen breasts. It is also difficult to lie facedown on a traditional massage table once your belly has started to grow and it isn’t recommended that you lie flat on your back either, particularly once you’re past mid-pregnancy. For these reasons, once you are no longer comfortable lying on your stomach, or you are midway through your pregnancy (whichever comes first), I have you lie on your side with pillows and wedges for support. This position provides the optimum positioning for your spine and pelvis for receiving massage (as well as being the ideal position for sleeping on your side during pregnancy). You will find the position to be deeply relaxing and incredibly effective.

Massage can be extremely beneficial at any stage of your pregnancy, when given from a fully qualified Pregnancy massage therapist. However, with a high-risk pregnancy I may require clearance from your doctor or midwife before treating you.

Postnatal massage

It is as important to care for yourself during the postpartum period as it is during pregnancy. Massage can help you deal with the physical demands of caring for your newborn by:

• Easing muscle tension, especially in the neck, shoulders, and back;


• Increasing energy / decreasing fatigue


• Improving sleep


• Improving mood, and


• Improving breastfeeding (assisting with the milk letdown by reducing tension).

I understand it can be difficult to find time for yourself during this period, but the benefits are well worth it.