£49.95 GBP / $65.00 USD
Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy, Third Edition
A comprehensive guide to prenatal, labor and postpartum practice
£49.95 GBP / $65.00 USD Free delivery in the UK and USA. Canadian customers please order from from Login Canada or Amazon.ca.
‘An absolute delight! Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy is a gem of a book. The authors have managed to coalesce many years of clinical experience and research findings into a delightfully readable manuscript. Warning, readers: you, too, may lose sleep when you can’t put it down! The layout is thoughtfully designed and the content excellent – all done with a sense of wonder and passion that is heart-warming and engaging. This is an important contribution to the field of massage therapy.’ Douglas Nelson LMT, BCTMB, President, Massage Therapy Foundation
Welcome to the third edition of a highly successful guide to using massage therapy through all stages of the birth process, from pregnancy, through labor and birth, and into the long postpartum period. It is primarily for massage therapists, but is also intended for physical therapists, other manual therapists and bodyworkers, nurses and midwives, physicians and doulas – any professional who wants to integrate more therapeutic touch in their work. The text combines what anyone who works with pregnant people needs: an exhaustive distillation of current scientific knowledge, alongside hands-on recommendations, specific techniques and business success from almost a century of the authors’ combined experience. The reader gains a detailed understanding of what is happening to the body during pregnancy and beyond; how massage techniques can impact those changes; and very concrete, applicable strategies for how to actually work with maternity clients to make them feel better. Amidst this abundance of detail about what to do, the authors also explore the flipside: what therapists need to modify and avoid to ensure that our work with pregnant and postpartum clients is safe. How to recognize high-risk factors or other complications, and then how best to adjust our treatment, and how to work with medical healthcare providers throughout the process.
What’s new for the third edition?
- Now in full color!
- Synthesis of new research reflecting the significant increase in massage-related research (and pregnancy, birth and postpartum-related research) over the last decade.
- Many of the images have been redrawn, with clearer anatomical overlays and clearer instructions for the therapist-reader.
- A greater attention to working with a more diverse clientele.
- More detailed discussion of the myths and misinformation that abounds in our field, and ways to talk with clients and healthcare providers about what we know and what we still don’t know.
- An expanded chapter on working with high-risk and medically complicated clients with far more information about how to modify your work, and how to talk both to these clients and to their healthcare providers.
- More specific tools and examples to ease your treatment decision making.
Chapter 1 BENEFITS: Helping Our Clients & Their Babies
Chapter 2 GUIDELINES: Massaging Safely & Effectively
Chapter 3 PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Caring for Your Clients & Yourself
Chapter 4 PRENATAL TECHNIQUES: Nurturing Throughout Pregnancy
Chapter 5 LABOR TECHNIQUES: Supporting a Positive Birth Experience
Chapter 6 POSTPARTUM TECHNIQUES: Facilitating Restorative Healing
Chapter 7 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: Working with Special Needs Clients
Chapter 8 PRACTICE CONSIDERATIONS: Growing a Satisfying Career
‘An absolute delight! Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy is a gem of a book. The authors have managed to coalesce many years of clinical experience and research findings into a delightfully readable manuscript. Warning, readers: you, too, may lose sleep when you can’t put it down! The layout is thoughtfully designed and the content excellent – all done with a sense of wonder and passion that is heart-warming and engaging. This is an important contribution to the field of massage therapy.’
Douglas Nelson LMT, BCTMB, President, Massage Therapy Foundation
‘This book has everything. Precise guidelines. Wise advice. Sensible, effective hands-on approaches. And a huge heart. The authors offer inspiration and encouragement and consider all that your pregnant, laboring, or postpartum client is going through. They guide you through clinical thinking, communication, massage precautions, and effective techniques. Their guidelines are clear, sensible, and impeccably researched. This comprehensive edition will benefit the profession – and our clients – for years to come. A must-have for every massage therapist’s library.’
Tracy Walton MS, LMT
‘I love a reading experience – on any subject, in any form – where the author has anticipated where I might need an extra explanation, a specific image, or a mental detour. This book did that for me. Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy possesses my three essential qualities of an educational text: it is eminently readable, effortless to navigate, and possesses an experienced and compassionate voice. Students and practitioners will be in very good hands with this book at their side.
Andrew Biel, author of ‘Trail Guide to the Body’
‘This is a welcome update to Carole’s two previous editions. It broadens the scope to cover the increasingly relevant issues of working with assisted reproductive methods, a diversity of clientele, and other new topics. I admire Carole’s willingness to constantly review her work and to collaborate with others, such as Michele and David. It is an important book for all those working in the maternity massage field.’
Suzanne Yates, Shiatsu and massage therapist, childbirth educator and founder of Wellmother, UK
‘Massage can be a wonderful gift for people who are pregnant, but the topic is rife with myths and traditions that are well-meaning but inaccurate. This book dispels those myths by providing current, evidence-informed best practices for this important group of clients. Anyone who is interested in pre- and perinatal massage therapy will find value in this beautifully written and produced text.’
Ruth Werner, author of A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology
‘An empowering text that brings proper focus to stress management and therapeutic touch, not only for immediate benefit to the pregnant mother but for transgenerational health and resilience in her child and in her grandchildren yet to come; an integral part of every optimized pregnancy.’
Leslie Stone MD, IFMCP, co-founder growbabyhealth.com and growbabylifeproject.org, and international lecturer in Developmental Programming of Health and Disease
‘Pre- and Perinatal Massage is an excellent guide – both comprehensive and accessible – through a rich and complex field. It is brimming with both practical tips based on extensive experience and serious scientific references. This work goes far beyond simple anecdotes and stories through a logical order, deep correlations with the research literature and practical illustrations and diagrams. I recommend this book most highly to both students and practitioners.’
Daniel J. Bressler MD, FACP
For therapists wanting to work with pregnant and post-partum clients, this book is a must to help better understand all the complexities of this population. Its dynamic writing will assist in integrating concepts with hands-on skills. This comprehensive book gives manual therapists all the information needed to feel comfortable working with the pregnant and postpartum body.’
Lynn Schulte PT, Institute for Birth Healing
‘Your book leaves no stone unturned with your detailed explanations for massage therapists and all body workers. Even mothers-to-be will benefit by knowing the information you have shared in your third edition. I know many of my patients would have found ‘ease’ in their stressful situations had they had your book as a resource! The anatomy, physiology, patient-based information and functional approach, together with the overwhelming evidence about the importance of touch from a cellular perspective to an emotional perspective, makes this book imperative for those studying pre- and perinatal health.’
Gail Wetzler PT, DPT, EDO, BI-D
‘This book is a remarkable guide for how to use touch throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Many childbearing professionals could benefit from its insight and skills as they touch those in their care. The co-authors, Carole, Michele and David, are top authorities in the field. They teach and model the skills and compassionate understanding needed for safe and effective work. Let them guide you as you discover the joy and satisfaction of providing massage therapy during this unforgettable time of life.’
Penny Simkin PT, CD (DONA), author of The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions (5th Edition, with Katie Rohs)
‘As a licensed midwife and former massage therapist I truly value the work that went into the creation of this textbook. In addition to comprehensive prenatal, labor and postpartum massage techniques, the authors, all seasoned massage therapists, offer research and additional online resources in an easy to read and enjoyable format. This is all accomplished with great sensitivity to and a deep understanding of the psychological state, and special circumstances, of the pregnant person. I highly recommend this book for massage students, practicing massage therapists, doulas, midwives, partners and anyone interested in supporting pregnant people. After all, if peace on earth begins with birth, what better way to facilitate this?’
Andrea Diamond MSN, CNM, LMT retired
‘This is a thought-provoking collaborative textbook that outlines the benefits of massage and relaxation techniques applied throughout the perinatal cycle and validates their roles. Emphasis is placed on the importance of human touch for both the mother and infant to reduce stress and anxiety. Massage therapy safety is stressed throughout each perinatal phase with a variety of photos to demonstrate massage techniques. Features like From the treatment room and What would you do? allow for thoughtful responses on the part of the readers. These features link massage practice to the clients they serve. A highly impressive book!’
Susan Ricci, author of Essentials of Maternity, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing (5th edition) and (with T. Kyle); Maternity & Pediatric Nursing (4th edition)
‘Masterfully written by experienced and well-known experts, this elegant book provides a clear, rational, and well-documented approach for practitioners of pre- and perinatal massage therapy. The authors’ commitment, caring and compassion is evident on every page.’
Raymond J. Hruby DO, MS, FAAO (Dist), author of ‘Exploring Osteopathy in the Cranial Field’ and ‘The Five Osteopathic Models’
‘I believe that smart movement is a vital tool in a healthy pregnancy and return to exercise postpartum, and that massage therapy is a must for optimizing the structural and musculature changes we see in this population. Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy is a deep dive into what you need to know when working with women during the pre and postnatal periods. Its pages provide an incredibly profound level of education and information that any pre and postnatal specialist would greatly benefit from. Every single massage therapist who works with pre- and perinatal clients should consider this book a must-have for truly understanding how to work with their bodies during this time.’
Brooke Cates, Founder/CEO of The Bloom Method, Pre + Postnatal Health + Wellness Expert, Movement Content Creator for Becoming Mama, a Mother.ly book
‘As a perinatal educator and LMT, I found this book to be an amazing tool! This is a wonderful and informative resource for massage therapists, healthcare professionals or anyone interested in perinatal bodywork. It balances beautifully, and in clear concise forms, perinatal physiology as well as the practical tools of bodywork.
Lara Kohn Thompson LMT, certified yoga teacher (ERYT-500/ PRYT), perinatal trainer, educator and mentor
£49.95 GBP / $65.00 USD Free delivery in the UK and USA
Buy eBook >
Carole Osborne CMT, NCBTMB C is an integrative bodywork practitioner, author, course developer/instructor and mentor based in San Diego, California.
Read More ›
Michele Kolakowski, LMT, CD & CPD(DONA), CLC has decades of diverse experience serving women and babies since 1992. She is an authorized instructor of Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy workshops and has taught maternity massage at massage schools, spas, destination resorts, hospitals, and conferences nationwide.
Read More ›
David M Lobenstine, BA, LMT, BCTMB has been massaging, teaching, writing and editing for over fifteen years. He is a licensed massage therapist, and a graduate of Vassar College and the Swedish Institute of Health Sciences.
Read More ›
for course
instructors Ordering for
your class? Get in touch >
You may also be interested in:
Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy, Third Edition
A comprehensive guide to prenatal, labor and postpartum practice
£49.95 GBP / $65.00 USD Free delivery in the UK and USA
Buy eBook >‘An absolute delight! Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy is a gem of a book. The authors have managed to coalesce many years of clinical experience and research findings into a delightfully readable manuscript. Warning, readers: you, too, may lose sleep when you can’t put it down! The layout is thoughtfully designed and the content excellent – all done with a sense of wonder and passion that is heart-warming and engaging. This is an important contribution to the field of massage therapy.’ Douglas Nelson LMT, BCTMB, President, Massage Therapy Foundation
Welcome to the third edition of a highly successful guide to using massage therapy through all stages of the birth process, from pregnancy, through labor and birth, and into the long postpartum period. It is primarily for massage therapists, but is also intended for physical therapists, other manual therapists and bodyworkers, nurses and midwives, physicians and doulas – any professional who wants to integrate more therapeutic touch in their work. The text combines what anyone who works with pregnant people needs: an exhaustive distillation of current scientific knowledge, alongside hands-on recommendations, specific techniques and business success from almost a century of the authors’ combined experience. The reader gains a detailed understanding of what is happening to the body during pregnancy and beyond; how massage techniques can impact those changes; and very concrete, applicable strategies for how to actually work with maternity clients to make them feel better. Amidst this abundance of detail about what to do, the authors also explore the flipside: what therapists need to modify and avoid to ensure that our work with pregnant and postpartum clients is safe. How to recognize high-risk factors or other complications, and then how best to adjust our treatment, and how to work with medical healthcare providers throughout the process.
What’s new for the third edition?
- Now in full color!
- Synthesis of new research reflecting the significant increase in massage-related research (and pregnancy, birth and postpartum-related research) over the last decade.
- Many of the images have been redrawn, with clearer anatomical overlays and clearer instructions for the therapist-reader.
- A greater attention to working with a more diverse clientele.
- More detailed discussion of the myths and misinformation that abounds in our field, and ways to talk with clients and healthcare providers about what we know and what we still don’t know.
- An expanded chapter on working with high-risk and medically complicated clients with far more information about how to modify your work, and how to talk both to these clients and to their healthcare providers.
- More specific tools and examples to ease your treatment decision making.
Chapter 1 BENEFITS: Helping Our Clients & Their Babies
Chapter 2 GUIDELINES: Massaging Safely & Effectively
Chapter 3 PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Caring for Your Clients & Yourself
Chapter 4 PRENATAL TECHNIQUES: Nurturing Throughout Pregnancy
Chapter 5 LABOR TECHNIQUES: Supporting a Positive Birth Experience
Chapter 6 POSTPARTUM TECHNIQUES: Facilitating Restorative Healing
Chapter 7 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: Working with Special Needs Clients
Chapter 8 PRACTICE CONSIDERATIONS: Growing a Satisfying Career
‘An absolute delight! Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy is a gem of a book. The authors have managed to coalesce many years of clinical experience and research findings into a delightfully readable manuscript. Warning, readers: you, too, may lose sleep when you can’t put it down! The layout is thoughtfully designed and the content excellent – all done with a sense of wonder and passion that is heart-warming and engaging. This is an important contribution to the field of massage therapy.’
Douglas Nelson LMT, BCTMB, President, Massage Therapy Foundation
‘This book has everything. Precise guidelines. Wise advice. Sensible, effective hands-on approaches. And a huge heart. The authors offer inspiration and encouragement and consider all that your pregnant, laboring, or postpartum client is going through. They guide you through clinical thinking, communication, massage precautions, and effective techniques. Their guidelines are clear, sensible, and impeccably researched. This comprehensive edition will benefit the profession – and our clients – for years to come. A must-have for every massage therapist’s library.’
Tracy Walton MS, LMT
‘I love a reading experience – on any subject, in any form – where the author has anticipated where I might need an extra explanation, a specific image, or a mental detour. This book did that for me. Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy possesses my three essential qualities of an educational text: it is eminently readable, effortless to navigate, and possesses an experienced and compassionate voice. Students and practitioners will be in very good hands with this book at their side.
Andrew Biel, author of ‘Trail Guide to the Body’
‘This is a welcome update to Carole’s two previous editions. It broadens the scope to cover the increasingly relevant issues of working with assisted reproductive methods, a diversity of clientele, and other new topics. I admire Carole’s willingness to constantly review her work and to collaborate with others, such as Michele and David. It is an important book for all those working in the maternity massage field.’
Suzanne Yates, Shiatsu and massage therapist, childbirth educator and founder of Wellmother, UK
‘Massage can be a wonderful gift for people who are pregnant, but the topic is rife with myths and traditions that are well-meaning but inaccurate. This book dispels those myths by providing current, evidence-informed best practices for this important group of clients. Anyone who is interested in pre- and perinatal massage therapy will find value in this beautifully written and produced text.’
Ruth Werner, author of A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology
‘An empowering text that brings proper focus to stress management and therapeutic touch, not only for immediate benefit to the pregnant mother but for transgenerational health and resilience in her child and in her grandchildren yet to come; an integral part of every optimized pregnancy.’
Leslie Stone MD, IFMCP, co-founder growbabyhealth.com and growbabylifeproject.org, and international lecturer in Developmental Programming of Health and Disease
‘Pre- and Perinatal Massage is an excellent guide – both comprehensive and accessible – through a rich and complex field. It is brimming with both practical tips based on extensive experience and serious scientific references. This work goes far beyond simple anecdotes and stories through a logical order, deep correlations with the research literature and practical illustrations and diagrams. I recommend this book most highly to both students and practitioners.’
Daniel J. Bressler MD, FACP
For therapists wanting to work with pregnant and post-partum clients, this book is a must to help better understand all the complexities of this population. Its dynamic writing will assist in integrating concepts with hands-on skills. This comprehensive book gives manual therapists all the information needed to feel comfortable working with the pregnant and postpartum body.’
Lynn Schulte PT, Institute for Birth Healing
‘Your book leaves no stone unturned with your detailed explanations for massage therapists and all body workers. Even mothers-to-be will benefit by knowing the information you have shared in your third edition. I know many of my patients would have found ‘ease’ in their stressful situations had they had your book as a resource! The anatomy, physiology, patient-based information and functional approach, together with the overwhelming evidence about the importance of touch from a cellular perspective to an emotional perspective, makes this book imperative for those studying pre- and perinatal health.’
Gail Wetzler PT, DPT, EDO, BI-D
‘This book is a remarkable guide for how to use touch throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Many childbearing professionals could benefit from its insight and skills as they touch those in their care. The co-authors, Carole, Michele and David, are top authorities in the field. They teach and model the skills and compassionate understanding needed for safe and effective work. Let them guide you as you discover the joy and satisfaction of providing massage therapy during this unforgettable time of life.’
Penny Simkin PT, CD (DONA), author of The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions (5th Edition, with Katie Rohs)
‘As a licensed midwife and former massage therapist I truly value the work that went into the creation of this textbook. In addition to comprehensive prenatal, labor and postpartum massage techniques, the authors, all seasoned massage therapists, offer research and additional online resources in an easy to read and enjoyable format. This is all accomplished with great sensitivity to and a deep understanding of the psychological state, and special circumstances, of the pregnant person. I highly recommend this book for massage students, practicing massage therapists, doulas, midwives, partners and anyone interested in supporting pregnant people. After all, if peace on earth begins with birth, what better way to facilitate this?’
Andrea Diamond MSN, CNM, LMT retired
‘This is a thought-provoking collaborative textbook that outlines the benefits of massage and relaxation techniques applied throughout the perinatal cycle and validates their roles. Emphasis is placed on the importance of human touch for both the mother and infant to reduce stress and anxiety. Massage therapy safety is stressed throughout each perinatal phase with a variety of photos to demonstrate massage techniques. Features like From the treatment room and What would you do? allow for thoughtful responses on the part of the readers. These features link massage practice to the clients they serve. A highly impressive book!’
Susan Ricci, author of Essentials of Maternity, Newborn & Women’s Health Nursing (5th edition) and (with T. Kyle); Maternity & Pediatric Nursing (4th edition)
‘Masterfully written by experienced and well-known experts, this elegant book provides a clear, rational, and well-documented approach for practitioners of pre- and perinatal massage therapy. The authors’ commitment, caring and compassion is evident on every page.’
Raymond J. Hruby DO, MS, FAAO (Dist), author of ‘Exploring Osteopathy in the Cranial Field’ and ‘The Five Osteopathic Models’
‘I believe that smart movement is a vital tool in a healthy pregnancy and return to exercise postpartum, and that massage therapy is a must for optimizing the structural and musculature changes we see in this population. Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy is a deep dive into what you need to know when working with women during the pre and postnatal periods. Its pages provide an incredibly profound level of education and information that any pre and postnatal specialist would greatly benefit from. Every single massage therapist who works with pre- and perinatal clients should consider this book a must-have for truly understanding how to work with their bodies during this time.’
Brooke Cates, Founder/CEO of The Bloom Method, Pre + Postnatal Health + Wellness Expert, Movement Content Creator for Becoming Mama, a Mother.ly book
‘As a perinatal educator and LMT, I found this book to be an amazing tool! This is a wonderful and informative resource for massage therapists, healthcare professionals or anyone interested in perinatal bodywork. It balances beautifully, and in clear concise forms, perinatal physiology as well as the practical tools of bodywork.
Lara Kohn Thompson LMT, certified yoga teacher (ERYT-500/ PRYT), perinatal trainer, educator and mentor
£49.95 GBP / $65.00 USD
Carole Osborne CMT, NCBTMB C is an integrative bodywork practitioner, author, course developer/instructor and mentor based in San Diego, California.
Read More ›
Michele Kolakowski, LMT, CD & CPD(DONA), CLC has decades of diverse experience serving women and babies since 1992. She is an authorized instructor of Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy workshops and has taught maternity massage at massage schools, spas, destination resorts, hospitals, and conferences nationwide.
Read More ›
David M Lobenstine, BA, LMT, BCTMB has been massaging, teaching, writing and editing for over fifteen years. He is a licensed massage therapist, and a graduate of Vassar College and the Swedish Institute of Health Sciences.
Read More ›
You may also be interested in:
for course
instructors Ordering for
your class? Get in touch >