Prenatal Massage Classes & Pregnancy Massage Classes

The Prenatal, Labor, Postpartum Massage Therapy Certificate Program offers the most comprehensive training in the theory and hands-on practice of touch therapies for childbearing women, and sets the highest standard for training massage therapists and other perinatal health care professionals.

PRENATAL, LABOR, POSTPARTUM MASSAGE
Massage for Healthy Pregnancies
This introductory class focuses on the art of prenatal massage therapy and gives therapists the basic knowledge and skills to work safely and effectively with healthy pregnant women and explores the structural, physiological, and psychological changes of pregnancy, as well as how these relate to prenatal massage therapy. The course is balanced with hands on practice of safe prenatal client positioning, draping, and prenatal massage techniques and also details prenatal
massage therapy contraindications, a prenatal health history intake, and some of the signs and symptoms of complications to a healthy pregnancy. The course finale is a practice session with healthy pregnant women.

Massage for New Mothers
This introductory module focuses on the time from delivery through the next two years – the postpartum period. The course explores the birthing process briefly and how this, and the new joys and challenges of childcare, affect a woman's structure, musculature, physiology, and emotions. Hands-on techniques focus on immediate postpartum concerns including: positioning a postpartum woman safely and comfortably, after both vaginal and Cesarean births, and
reawakening the core musculature of the abdomen, back, and pelvis that restore postural integrity. It will include musculofascial treatment to Cesarean birth scar tissue.

Creative Support for Laboring Women
Using massage therapy for pain management has become a popular and effective choice for laboring women, and many therapists are being asked to attend births for their nurturing support. This module explores using intuitive touch and specific techniques and positions
that can relieve pain and support the progress of labor. Students will deepen these intuitive skills through experiential exercises and by watching and analyzing the videos of many different types of births, practicing these support techniques with classmates, and teaching an expectant couple these techniques in a practice session. A visit to an area hospital birthing center is included in this weekend.

Advanced Techniques
This course is for students who have completed the introductory classes and are looking to broaden their skills. The first part of the class will focus on understanding the needs of a client experiencing a high risk pregnancy. Students will learn how to gather the information necessary to determine what (if any) modifications need to be made to a prenatal massage in order to safely support these challenges. Hands-on time will focus on specific pregnancy pain complaints and massage for women on bed rest. The second half of the course addresses the long-term pain complaints common to women in the postpartum period and focuses on techniques and
exercises to help regain core stability and strength. Students will also deepen their understanding of the emotional challenges facing new parents and how to support postpartum depression.

Testing, Review, and Research for Prenatal, Labor, and Postpartum Massage Certfication
In addition to this module, 21 hours of self-directed homework, practical sessions, and outside class requirements complete the certificate program.

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the Boulder College of Massage Therapy may be right massage therapy school for you. To learn more about our classes, please visit our Why BCMT page or contact us today.