Massaging pregnant women - special qualification necessary?

[Mike M NUMBER 5]

I have a two regular clients who have fallen pregnant. They would like to continue with massage. I can very easily devise techniques in sidelying, using pillow and bolsters to perform back massage and also know many techniques to massage the legs in supine. Basically, I can perform a really good full body massage this way and I've researched contra-indications and do's and dont's myself.

I don't feel it necessary to do a special course or gain a separate qualification for this. What is the common thinking out there regarding massaging pregnant woman? Do other do it without special qualifications?

Thanks!

Melinda

 

[cul8r07]

Hi Melinda

I do pregnancy massage and have a qualification to do so. I would think about getting a qualification of some sort for insurance reasons if no other. I know you said you have researched it and if your confident go ahead. Personally I would be really wary about working of pregnant women without a qualification as the bodys physiology really changes during pregnancy and you should be aware of those changes. You can do a one day course that highlights these issues, and I'm sure your clients and new clients would feel more comfortable knowing you are trained in this area.

Good luck

 

[Dances4Demeter]

Hi Melinda,

I did a module on my aromatherapy course on massaging during pregnancy and did a more recent CPD course on massaging during pregnancy, which I found very useful. Strangely enough after I did that course I had several pregnant women come to see me.

Are you required to do any CPD - as quite a few therapists have to do so many hours of CPD over a one year or two year period, as a requirement of being a member of an association (I have to have 36 points over three years).

Such things as pregnancy or baby massage are quite good courses to add to your skills base, that way you feel more confident about giving a treatment, know that you have covered relevant points and have acquired new skills, under the watchful eye of the tutor during practicals. Why do it the hard way?

Luv Binah
x
x

 

[pitila]

I am in the middle of a pregnancy massage course which I am really enjoying it. I decided to do this because I wanted to feel confident in the treatments I give but also as a mum myself had I have been more aware of holistic therapies 10-12 years ago and wanted a massage when I was pregnant I would have had more confidence in a therapist who had done further /specialist training for pregnancy.

Your circumstances are slightly different because the ladies were already your clients but maybe a workshop or course would show you things that you are not already aware of.

 

[Encametaddefe]

Someone mentioned a one day course on pregnancy massage - surely doing a one day CPD course doesn't qualify you legally for your insurer?

 

[parisa]

as far as I am aware anyone who holds a massage qualification can massage pregnant women. There are or were several therapists who have previously posted to this effect on this forum. It depends what you are taught on your massage courses, I didnt not get any instruction re pregnancy massage, in fact along with not seeing any flesh or flashing nickers it was almost taboo but then that was an ITEC course.

I chose to do a diploma course for my own instruction and confidence as per my previous post. The school I go to did say that new legislation is coming to cover aromatherapy and massage in cancer and pregnancy care sometime in the next couple of years (date has been put back) but Embody said that there were not aware of this and as long as you were a qualified massage and or aroma - therapist then you were/are covered- at least by them

from what I can gather it is part of the effort to bring in voluntary regulation within the Prince's Intergrated Complementary Therapy Trust (sorry not correct title but in a hurry - going out and cooking dinner)

 

[dahabiyapseeml]

Yes you are quite correct homelgirl, as long as it is a straight forward pregnancy without any complications, then pregnancy is not a disease or dysfunction and any qualified massage therapist can help with their various aches and pains during and after their pregnancy.

Obviously if people are not confident about their skills to massage pregnant ladies then a short course that covers pregnancy will obviously help to give them the confidence they require to perform this valuable service

 

[Gracie]

Thanks - makes perfect sense.

 

[Lalala!]

Hi ya

There are many one day massage/reflexology in pregnancy courses that are insurable as a named therapy. Just search the web.

Last year I was at the MBS show in London. There was a stall there representing a school in the Middlesex/London area. She said to me about new regulations coming in for pregnancy & palliative care. I asked her, "By who's authority", and she wouldn't answer. Since this school is a provider of such courses, how do I know this isn't vested interests at play. At this point my B...S... detector switched on. I asked a straight question, I expect a straight answer. I just remembered that she did said that she couldn't guarentee (bad spelling night!?) that these courses would be up to spec anycase if such rules came in.

Does any one know any different???

Best Wishes

RP

 

[Dodger Town]

hiya

I think this was the middlesex school of complementary medicine which is where I have just done my pregnancy massage, I am surprised that Anita didnt give you a definitive answer - they were in the final stages of comprising the courses at that time.

I didnt do the course because of the impending legislation, I did it for my benefit and my clients, also because it was closer to me than the Suzanne Yates course

legislation if it does come in has already been put back 3 times that I know of

 

[Umair]

I believe the legislation is only applicable for those working in a healthcare environment, ie, hospitals, hospices, etc.

 

[Clinton]

Hi ya Aromababe & Hemelgirl

Who is drafting this legislation and how is it going though parliament?

Why am I asking this? It's because over the years I have heard so many rumours that I can't believe them any more. VSR seems to be highly problematic; reading the Sports Therapy forum on HP, I get the impression that sports therapy are not going to be HPC'ed for a very long time; Aromatherapy Council is disbanded; its still legal at the moment for anyone to practice acupuncture or prescibe herbal medicines; and so on and so forth.

My reflexology tutor used to go on and on about how our AoR qualification was going to be the only one exceptable when the European legislation comes in. Well 10 years later I'm still waiting. Luckily my B...S... detector was switched on and I knew that wasn't going to be the case.

So once again I ask the question: who is drafting this legislation and how is it going though parliament?

Proof please sent on a postcard to Reiki Pixie.

 

[rbhcnjnd]

I think (and am not a hundred per cent on this one), that any healthcare organisation with over a certain amount of employees, has to register with the Healthcare Commission which sets its own guidelines, which include membership of the Aromatherapy Council and/or Reflexology Forum (or whaterver they ae called now). They, in turn, have their own conditions of membership which include initial and additional training to a particular standard.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi ya Aromababe

I have just looked at the Healthcare Commission website, and I can't find no such information.

From what I have read the Healthcare Commission seems to be more interested in medical trained professionals and procedures, the NHS of course, beauty salons that use medical lasers, private clinics and private hospitals, and hospices.

There is hardly a mention of complementary therapies and therapists. They is one document written in 2006 that makes a suggestion of looking at regulation of non-medical practitioners in 2011. Then later it mentioned complementary therapies but no details.

As for professional bodies and insurance I'm going with what Hemelgirl has said in post #6, and I use Embody's insurance company. Unless I have been informed otherwise, I such treat all rumours with great suspicion. Unless you or anyone else can say otherwise.

Cheers RP

 

[resortmotel]

No, there is no legislation covering independent therapists, only those working in the organisations required to register with the HC, such as hospices, charitable organisations and hospitals, etc. They do not single out specific employees in such organisations, so there are no specifics references to complementary therapists, but if you were a therapist working for a hospice or hospital, they would have to ensure that you had the appropriate qualifications.

If you are self employed and want to treat cancer patients or pregnant ladies in your own clinic or treatment room, then no such legislation applies to you.

 

[roadster9879]

hemelgirl, whereabout in London are the 4 day Well Mother Courses held? I see the one day course is at Essentials for Health - my old school. I looked on their site but they didn't state where the 4 day one is held. Thanks!

 

[iuefpuxbihjimueoh]

Hi ya Aromababe

That sounds a bit more like it. What you are really saying that staff should have an appropriate qualifications. Is that right?

Actually, I used to work at a hospice as a therapist a few years ago. There criteria was 2 years experience, a recognised bulk standard qualification/s, and proper references.

One thing I said before leaving that I should of been on at least an induction course, rather than dumping me in the deep end.

Cheers

RP

 

[kozlovoy]

Yes, that's it. I know that when I applied to work for a hospice, I wasn't considered because I didn't have the appropriate qualification, even though I've done various post grad training in aromatherapy and reflexology for cancer care and palliative care.

The cancer charity where I work now were completely happy with my qualifications and provide ongoing training for it's therapists. But I believe that they haven't yet had to register as they have less than a certain number of employees.

 

[Kora]

Hi Melanie

sorry, I have lost the email with location details. If you email wellmother they will let you know

Fulham rings a bell but I wouldnt be too sure

hth

 

[tinaluvsunset]

As you've already taken a massage course I think you are qualified to massage pregnant women. Only issue I can see is maybe insurance, so you might want to take an extra course.
Good luck!

George