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A heavenly massage for expecting mums

All the expanding and stretching that takes place during pregnancy takes its toll on the skin, feet and back. At seven months, my bump is beginning to weigh me down, and aches and pains are emerging.

LIFE

All the expanding and stretching that takes place during pregnancy takes its toll on the skin, feet and back. At seven months, my bump is beginning to weigh me down, and aches and pains are emerging.

According to my chiropractor Michelle Zhou, pregnancy affects the woman's body in many ways: "The growing bump places extra strain on muscles, ligaments of the spine and pelvis. Pain as a result of muscle spasm is a very common complaint among pregnant women, especially during their final trimester."

But regular massage can alleviate muscle tension and pain build-up from these physical changes, she says.

Looking for some relief, I book a pregnancy massage at the Sutherland-Chan Centre in Central. Like her peers there, my therapist Marcia Reyes is a Canada-trained specialist. This means she has completed two years of training in anatomy, physiology, neurology and pathology at a college in Ontario, including 2,200 hours of massages.

Reyes asks how pregnancy has affected my back and neck - the two areas that most need attention. She points out that bumps not only make us stand and walk differently, but also sleep in unusual and unvaried positions which can strain the spine and supporting muscles.

Being told which muscles are tight, Reyes tells me exactly how I sleep at night (on my left side with my arm stretched above my head). It turns out this is making my upper shoulder region tense.

The difference between a pregnancy massage and a normal massage is in the configuration of the bed. A series of interconnected support cushions on the couch makes it possible to lie on your front - this is like manna from heaven to most pregnant women who have been sleeping on one side for several months. Reyes jokes that many patients just pay to be able to lie face down again.

I lumber onto the couch and, for an hour, Reyes kneads and stretches muscles I didn't even know were wound up. The treatment is relieving and relaxing - so much so that, on several occasions, I almost fall asleep.

: The pregnancy massage, HK$800 for one hour, is a fantastic way to relax and iron out any trouble spots in your back and neck.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Helping mums over the hump
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