Massage Before, During, and After Birth - learning from Kristin Bergman, LPN, LMT, Doula

One of the best parts of bringing our member businesses together in Doulas of Iowa City is the chance to gather for continuing education from experts in our community as well as experienced member doulas.  This month we had the opportunity to learn about massage before, during, and after birth from Kristin Bergman of Conscious Caring.

Kristin Bergman brings together vast knowledge and over 20 years of experience as a doula in her work with clients. A licensed massage therapist, she specializes in pregnancy massage, instruction in self-healing, and family wellness. Kristin is also a licensed professional nurse offering respite care and assistance with recovery after hospital stays.  Taken altogether, Kristin draws on a variety of skills, techniques, and knowledge in her work with clients, expectant couples, and families.

We met with Kristin in the location of her massage practice, which also happens to be her home. Greeting us with coffee and tea, Kristin immediately made us feel welcome and at ease, and I could tell that such warmth and hospitality is what clients meet when they enter, as well.

Before demonstrating some massage techniques she uses when working with pregnant, birthing, and postpartum clients, Kristin shared a bit about the philosophy informing her approach to client care.  

Here are just a few takeaways that illustrate what makes Kristin's "conscious caring" significant:
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• Kristin encourages each client to develop their own intuition or "gut sense." She teaches self-healing and helps her clients explore their tension and where they find resistance in order to recognize it and make choices to feel safe.
• Even more than touch, massage is about listening - not fixing or telling how to fix. It is about witnessing the process.
• In her birth work, Kristin helps her clients move from a state of fight/flight to one of love and openness. Pregnancy and birth, in particular, hold a special opportunity. While there is no magic fix to our problems, pregnancy brings with it flexibility - this can be a magical time where we can ask ourselves what we can do with that openness.
• For Kristin, excitement comes in helping client find their healing path. The loving, compassionate presence in doula work and massage is all about giving power back to the client.

When we moved to her massage space, Kristin graciously allowed us the opportunity to hop on her table so we could feel her information as well as watch and learn. Here are a few specific suggestions she shared for massage before, during, and after birth:

• With pregnancy the center of gravity shifts, so we need to look for where we are taking on that tension and change.
• Pillows and support - Kristin demonstrated the way in which a variety of pillows and rolled blankets can be used to aid the pregnant person in achieving a relaxed state. (Pro tip: a roll of masking tape can be used to shape sheets or blankets into the perfect support pillows while in labor and delivery!)
• Effleurage - means "feather"- these light strokes, always directed to the heart, can assist with circulation and lessen fluid retention.
• Hands and feet are a great location to massage for relaxation between contractions.  Make sure to move small bones apart and find the soft tissue in between.
• Glutes and feet are like the slaves of the body - they work so hard even though you aren't always aware of their effort, making these key areas to attend to for relaxation.
• Always revisit and check in with the pregnant person - this is an awesome way for the pregnant person to practice telling everyone what feels good and articulate preferences.
• In massage as in yoga, you are looking to find your edge, see if you can move it, and breath is a powerful tool.

Some key details to note about the fabulous services Kristin offers:

• Massage instruction for the birthing couple - offered privately or in a group class coming up in October and November at Heartland Yoga
• Postpartum massage - newborn babes welcome to attend and breaks for nursing welcome as needed.
• Gift cards available - a great addition to your registry or to give to an expectant parenting!

Want to learn more about Kristin and the fabulous services she offers?  Head on over to Conscious Birth Iowa!

Thanks so much to Kristin from all of us at Doulas of Iowa City for this continuing education presentation and letting us share a bit on the blog, too!

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​​Johanna Tomlinson is a mother to three little ones and a doula, childbirth educator, and sleep educator with Nested Mama Prenatal & Postpartum Doula Support. Read more of Johanna’s writing on pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting here.