The use of massage to support emotional and physical health in a pregnancy after stillbirth : a case study

Objective: To observe the effects of massage aiming to support a mum in her pregnancy after a previous stillbirth. The client's goal varied over the course of her pregnancy, but her main motivation was to help manage the anxiety and stress of pregnancy after a previous stillbirth. Methods: A 32-year-old pregnant woman received seven massages over a seven-month period. The Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) outcome measure was used at each session to identify the client's concerns at that time point. Written feedback was also sought f rom the client just prior to her giving birth. Results: The client's concerns included anxiety, sciatica, stress, shoulder tension/ soreness, and a lack of sleep. The client experienced a decrease in each concern after each treatment over the seven sessions and experienced improved well-being after each session. The client self-reported that the massage helped her cope, saying: "I'm not sure how I would have coped if I didn't have her sessions." Conclusions: Massage is a treatment option for women experiencing pregnancy after stillbirth, which can provide physical and emotional support.