Suzie McDarra - Fertility, Pregnancy and Postnatal Massage

Massage therapist, Suzie McDarra’s core focus at Nurture Studio is to help women optimise their wellbeing through bodywork, wherever they are along

the spectrum of motherhood - prefertility, pregnancy or postnatal stages. Suzie has appreciated the healing power of bodywork for 15 years and holds qualifications in Pregnancy Massage from Copeland College in Victoria, and Swedish & Sports Massage Therapy and Personal Training from the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences(AIAS). She combined her qualifications as a print journalist with a Bachelor of Leisure Management and a Postgraduate degree in Creative Writing, and continues researching and writing on women’s health interests.

What does Suzie offer -

Flourishing Fertility – Support your prefertility planning process by helping your body return to its natural equilibrium

Blossoming Bellies – Create a space to connect with your growing baby and reduce the effects of stress on fetal development

Postnatal Pampering* – Release endorphins that balance your changing hormones, promote more restful sleep and assist the birth-recovery process (*Birth : 3 yrs)

Available:

Fridays 8.30 am – 1 pm
Mondays 8.30 am – 6 pm

*Gift vouchers available

About the modality of Massage

Fertility - Long before Western medicine recommended drugs that induce ovulation, artificial insemination or microsurgery, massage was used to help with infertility, menstruation, and menopause problems in women. With greater demands on women in contemporary society to balance career, family and relationships, increased levels of stress are inevitable. High stress levels have been shown to delay ovulation and prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. Massage may therefore enhance the conception process.

Pregnancy - Massage is one of the oldest recorded healing arts, with most cultures having midwives who utilized massage through all stages of pregnancy. Investigation and research over the last two decades has helped popularize pregnancy massage as numerous studies show evidence that prenatal massage therapy is instrumental in improving pregnancy outcomes, fetal development and maternal health. Evidence indicates a decrease in anxiety, stress hormones and obstetrical complications in women who received regular massages during their pregnancies.

Postnatal - Massage helps support the dynamic changes that a female’s postpartum body undergoes. The physiological changes throughout every system in her body occur immediately after birth and while six weeks is a general guide for recovery, that expectation is based more on historic Christian tradition and cultural beliefs and is considered unrealistic by contemporary standards. Evidence suggests the physiological reality is that many metabolic and hormonal adaptations continue for several more months. Massage can help the body return to its natural equilibrium at a faster rate. Most women seek massage to facilitate healing within weeks of giving birth as a continuum to their wellbeing plan.

What are the benefits of a “Flourishing Fertility” Massage?

“Flourishing Fertility” massages is one natural therapy modality which supports the body’s desire to find its natural equilibrium and increase the success rate of conception.

As well as helping reduce stress, boost circulation and stimulate the immune system, regular “Flourishing Fertility” treatments can –

• Improve the flow of blood, nutrients and oxygen to the reproductive organs
• Help your body produce and balance hormones naturally
• Strengthen the uterus and pelvic region
• Help remove blockage, blood stasis and toxins from the reproductive organs

What happens during a “Flourishing Fertility” session with Suzie?

The ultimate goal is to provide both muscular tension release and full body-mind relaxation. Individual concerns and issues arising in the body during the fertility planning process are discussed and treatment is adjusted accordingly.

Each 1 hour or 1 ½ hours “Flourishing Fertility” treatment aims to relieve congestion and blockages to improve the flow of chi and fluids of the circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems.

It may incorporate abdominal massage, which is a non-invasive, external, massage technique. Abdominal massage can help internal organs to find their optimal position for health. Abdominal Massage is not recommended under certain conditions:

• During active menstruation
• Immediately after ovulation
• When IUD (intra-uterine device for contraception) is present
• Following abdominal surgery
• During the first trimester (19 weeks) of pregnancy
• Hiatal Hernia (gentle massage required)

What are the benefits of a “Blossoming Bellies” Massage?

“BB” is not just a bra size you’ve fast outgrown, but rather a soothing and restorative massage experience for expectant mothers with “Blossoming Bellies”. In ancient civilizations, children were considered the “tree”, a symbol of blossoming new life linking Mother Earth and Father Sky. In many cultures, a tree is planted, often with the placenta placed in the earth below, to honor and celebrate the birth of a child. As with any seed, its growth, health and vitality are dependent upon the quality of physical, emotional and spiritual nourishment.

While it has been a long held belief that the mother’s emotional health affects her baby, this notion has been validated in recent years by studies that prove maternal stress during pregnancy does affect fetal development. Research shows stress can result in premature labor due to production of corticotrophin releasing hormones (CRH). It can further result in low birth weight which correlates with high blood pressure in mothers, long term infant behavioural problems such as ADD, and cognitive and neuromotor developmental delays.

Not only does massage help reduce the production of the stress hormone, cortisol, massage has the power to sedate and restore the nervous system to its natural balance and equilibrium. Beta endorphins and serotonin, a neurotransmitter, are secreted during a massage and work in tandem to inhibit the central nervous system and produce a relaxed state, thereby improving sleep patterns.

As well as helping reduce stress, treat physiological discomforts and generate an overall sensation of wellbeing, regular “Blossoming Bellies” treatments can help –

• Provide a nurturing space to connect with your growing baby within;
• Reduce the risk of preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders, which can be a consequence of increased blood pressure due to stress;
• Increase suppleness and provide relief from muscle stiffness and soreness, which can result from retained interstitial fluid;
• Sooth and relieve pain to the lower back, pelvic and uterine ligaments, which can occur due to the continuing muscle imbalance as the uterus expands, ligaments stretch and the centre of gravity shifts; and
• Assist in bringing nutrients to the tissues and eliminating waste products by easing lymph congestion, which can counteract oedema resulting from slower blood flow to the lower extremities.

What happens during a “Blossoming Bellies” session with Suzie?

“Blossoming Bellies” is a full body massage experience designed to ease aches and muscular tension and increase the flow of relaxing endorphins, balancing the use of releasing sports techniques with relaxation enhancing strokes. A blissfully comfortable and highly supportive body cushioning system is used, which allows face-down and side-lying comfort and correct postural alignment regardless of tummy size. Communication regarding sensitivities ensures you are in control of pressure at all times. Nourishing organic Almond oil is used as the base with the option for adding safe and suitable aromatherapy oils.

Each 1 hour or 1 ½ hours massage treatment starts with a soothing foot treatment utilizing reflexology to treat physiological discomforts if necessary. During pregnancy, blood flow to the legs often becomes sluggish and so broad superficial massage techniques are used on the calves and legs to encourage increased circulation. Lighter strokes rather than deep tissue techniques also avoids the risk of dislodging blood clots, which are perfectly harmless in the veins of the legs, but which could be life threatening if they move into general circulation. The femoral vein on the inside of the leg is avoided for the same reason.

The upper body can tolerate stronger pressure and sports techniques are used to relieve the glutes, lower back, mid thoracic and tension in the neck and shoulders. As a massage therapist working with prenatal clients a major goal is to help stabilize the pelvis and hips. Hypermobility of the joints due to the hormone relaxin is produced in the body from the first trimester at 10 times its normal concentration and can contribute to instability as the centre of gravity shifts and more strain is placed on the hips, lower back and pelvis.

Chronic compression of the lower spine and an anterior pelvic tilt or increased arch in the back, common during late pregnancy, can shorten the lumbar muscles, particularly the lower segment of the erector spinae, quadratus lumborum and the lumbosacral fascia. Overstretching can occur in the anterior hip flexors. One of the lateral hip rotators, the piriformis, often becomes tight and the sacroiliac joint can be affected by an imbalance of pelvic muscles.

While massage is considered beneficial during any stage of pregnancy, specific clearance tests are performed prior to treatment to determine whether the client should receive bodywork. Tests will determine whether the client has contraindications to massage including blood clots, preeclampsia and excessive swelling from oedema. Ask your doctor, midwife or obstetrician for medical clearance if you have:

• a history of pre-term labor
• experienced severe swelling
• high blood pressure
• are considered a high risk pregnancy
• or have pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH)

What are the benefits of a “Postnatal Pampering” Massage

“Postnatal Pampering” massages are a combination of nurturing and nourishing, utilizing both relaxation and sports techniques, which help facilitate and ease the body’s transition to recovery post childbirth. Unfortunately in modern society maternal needs receive little attention post birth and many women go through this recuperative process with minimal understanding of physiological postpartum health concerns. Learning how your body changes and what to expect during this intense period of recovery can help a woman accept and enjoy her changing postnatal physique.

As well as helping treat specific musculoskeletal problems which arise as the body realigns it’s centre of gravity, regular “Postnatal Pampering” treatments can help –

• Promote the continuing release of hormones that repair the immune system, which are released during labour;
• Stimulate the circulatory system to eliminate toxins and encourage the removal of any leftover fluid and swelling in the joints, which can result from slower blood supply during pregnancy;
• Ease muscular aches and pains, which can result from nursing and carrying your newborn;
• Relieve postpartum headaches, which occurs in about one-third of women during the early weeks following childbirth;
• Help keep new mothers free from anxiety, depression and stress due to the release of the mood-enhancer, serotonin, thereby promoting more restorative and restful sleep;
• Support the body’s return to it’s natural equilibrium and help accept the body’s natural process of recovery, which is changing continuously due to hormonal shifting;
• Create feelings of centeredness in the body, which can increase confidence in body image and raise self esteem; and
• Aid the healing of a Cesarean section birth scar by keeping the connective tissue pliable and flexible, which can help reduce the formation of adhesions between the soft tissue layers.

What happens during a “Postnatal Pampering” session with Suzie?

As no two bodies recover at the same rate, each full body massage experience is designed to treat individual concerns arising at the time. Generally, the massage will incorporate a balance between postural and pampering, with sports techniques used to relieve muscular aches and relaxation techniques utilized to enhance the positive flow of chi. A highly comfortable body cushioning system is available, which allows prone lying while providing support for women with enlarged or tender breasts.

One of the objectives of postnatal massage is to continue treatment to help stabilize the pelvis and hips as the centre of gravity realigns itself. Generally, hypermobility of the joints stabilizes between eight and ten weeks, although relaxin may remain in the body for four to six months. Treatment times are generally 1 hour or 1 ½ hrs, however a 15 minute rate is applied for lesser treatments in the understanding that flexibility is needed according to newborn feeding and sleeping routines on the day. This allows a treatment to last for a minimum of 15, 30 or 45 minutes should the situation not be conducive to a full treatment.

Qualifications

Certificate IV - Massage Therapy - Sports, Swedish and Reflexology (AIAS)

Certificate IV - Fitness / Personal Training (AIAS)

Certificate IV - Pregnancy Massage (Copeland College, Vic)

Certificate IV - Small Business (SRI)

Graduate Certificate - Creative Writing (QUT)

Bachelor of Arts - Leisure Management (GU)

Print Journalist