How is prenatal massage done?
“The technique is really Swedish-based massage,” said Griffin- Owens, who earned a special certification in prenatal massage in 2004. The woman patient typically lies on her side on a massage table with pillows cushioning her head, belly and between her knees, Griffin-Owens said. Massage tables built for pregnant women with cut- out holes for her stomach may be uncomfortable, she said, so she doesn’t use one in her office. The massage focuses on areas where the woman is having pregnancy- related pain, including hip and leg joints, upper and lower back areas, and the neck and shoulders. “The first thing most women talk about is the relaxation. Late in pregnancy, it’s hard for women to find a comfortable position,” said Griffin-Owens. “A lot of the women joke that they’d like to stay on the table and just go to sleep right there.” Growth industry These days, massage of all varieties is a growth industry in Western New York and across the state. The last five years have seen high numbers
