Comments on: Massage thoughts

By: Pregnancy Massage I, take 2, in which I beg for woo and e-support « Raising My Boychick

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 05:46:47 +0000

[...] Massage thoughts [...]

By: Backpocalypse 2010: Or, my silence explained « Raising My Boychick

Backpocalypse 2010: Or, my silence explained « Raising My Boychick — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:18:57 +0000

[...] Massage thoughts [...]

By: Brenna

Brenna — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:36:43 +0000

Oh definitely makes sense, it just (to me) seems like they would go hand in hand. If a woman realizes the benefits of massage during pregnancy, then she might be likely to realize and seek the benefits of infant massage for her and her baby after birth. It’s something that I think is an important, and underutilized, method of soothing and bonding.

By: Arwyn

Arwyn — Wed, 19 May 2010 03:26:20 +0000

Brenna — in these classes, it’s all about the perinatal woman (pregnant, labor support, and postpartum). My school also teaches pediatric massage, for children, but infant massage seems to be not something LMT schools teach. I’ve considered it as something to offer my clients (as well as babywearing instruction), but my focus is more on the woman/perinatal person, if that makes sense.

By: Brenna

Brenna — Wed, 19 May 2010 03:15:05 +0000

What an amazing gift you are giving to the women you touch through massage (and otherwise). Just curious if there is any infant massage in your class, or just pregnancy?

By: Arwyn

Arwyn — Mon, 17 May 2010 04:35:47 +0000

Oh Shana, that’s wonderful to hear. :) I’m hoping to have a combined office and on-site (hospital, client’s home) practice, but also to make it possible for more people to have access to it. We think of massage as a luxury, but so many can really use it, especially while pregnant, but not nearly as many can afford it.

By: Arwyn

Arwyn — Mon, 17 May 2010 04:15:48 +0000

Lucy — Ohh, I must find that article. Though I did know that about the ovum being active. I spent ten minutes on my lunch break that day ranting at The Man about how messed up the video was, and about how stupid sperm are (complete with wiggly arm swimming motions). The kid was amused. (The Man, of course, agreed, and was pissed they’d play something like that. He said he had editing software and wanted me to write a new voice-over…)

By: Arwyn

Arwyn — Mon, 17 May 2010 04:09:30 +0000

Sheri — I’m reading (and will soon review) the book Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation, which in parts talks about some of the language stuff, at least around menstruation. And Taking Charge of Your Fertility talked about how we say seminal fluid but cervical mucus. I’d recommend both of those books (not just for the language discussion, either).

I’m sure you do a great job in your classes, but so much of this is ingrained in our language, it’s pretty hard to avoid altogether (I know I can’t completely!).

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:28:11 +0000

So great Sheri to hear you are giving a full story in your health classes! Excellent and so needed! I still remember an old pamphlet from the late 70s called “It’s Wonderful Being a Girl” – except they didn’t mention any of the wonderful parts, such as pleasure! doh

As for pleasure, I’ve got to mention I had the most amazing massage while pregnant – at a remote studio on Saltspring Island. Did so much for me!

By: Sheri

Sheri — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:15:50 +0000

You’ve really got me thinking about the educational part. I’ve never really considered it sexist language, but at the same time I don’t tend to express it that way when I teach health (a subject I adore teaching, btw!) My description of periods is that the uterus needs to provide a rich layer for the fertilized egg to burrow in to; if the woman becomes pregnant, the fertilized egg grows and develops in to an embryo then a baby, etc. If the woman doesn’t become pregnant, the uterus needs to get rid of the old lining so that a new, fresh, healthy lining can be in place for the next cycle. The egg lasts about 24 hours, the sperm lasts about 3-5 days. Fertilization is when the egg and sperm join. I also point out that with the egg and sperm, each one contains half the DNA of each parent and both are essential to making a new person. Students in my health classes really end up knowing their stuff…lol I talk about how babies develop, how milk is produced in the breast, and I tell them about *GASP* the clitoris (explaining that it is the same kind of tissue and nerve endings as the penis and I alternate between saying the clitoris is kind of like a small penis and the penis is kind of like a large clitoris).

I wish it was possible to make sure that all health teachers enjoy what they are doing and are well informed. I had two girls in grade 7 this year who had NEVER had a single lesson about the changes during puberty, let alone having a clue where babies came from. Neither of their mothers had spoken to them about periods or sex, either (for cultural reasons). One girl said her mom had told her that in their home country people learned about sex “naturally” when they got married. I hate to be critical of other cultures, but hearing that makes me want to scream. Thankfully, neither girl had started her period before she heard about periods.