Women’s health massage in Brighton, Hove and online
Although we offer treatments for everyone, Hannah West Therapies specialise in women’s health. Having had two children, I understand the enormous strain pregnancy, birth and caring for children can have on our bodies and have spent years researching and practising how to best relieve this, pre and post-birth and heading into menopause.
Women’s health isn’t just about pregnant women; it’s about supporting and empowering women through any issues in their life (post-birth, post-op, post-injury, post-surgery, pre-menopause, menopause etc.) to return to or reach their goals.
Pregnancy Massage
Your body is going through a world of changes,
Although amazing, some of these can cause discomfort, anxiety or issues that can last post-pregnancy. Aimed to reduce common antenatal aches and pains, our pregnancy massage is unique in offering effective treatment, while still being a relaxing massage.
After getting you comfortable with as many cushions and blankets as you need, your treatment will involve a range of hands-on massage techniques. We're qualified in pregnancy massage to help ease calf cramps, pelvic pain, piriformis (buttock) pain, lower back/shoulder/neck pain, achy legs and feet, rib pain or SPD and more.
Pregnancy massage is available any time after your twelfth week of pregnancy and no matter how far along you are, we can work to make you more comfortable leading up to the due day.
After the massage, we will recommend any tips and help we can, so you can continue to feel as good as you did with us, at home and get any additional support you may need.
“Best pregnancy massage I've ever had! Thank you!”
— Elena Mile
Postnatal Massage
Restoring and reconnecting your body post-birth is often overlooked.
Pregnancy, birth and caring for a newborn can place a lot of stress on the body which needs time to recover, recuperate and relax.
Our postnatal massage focuses on addressing any issues that arose prenatally, through birth, or postnatally - whilst still giving you some much needed 'time out'.
In the treatment we address the muscular strains and imbalances from pregnancy, birth and all the new carrying, feeding and lifting you are now doing. It will help restore your body to a state which is ready for life with a newborn and enable you to exercise/move in a way that will heal, not hinder.
Using advanced massage techniques, we restore function, reduce pain and improve movement and mobility. The treatment is always tailored to the individual and their goals and can help new mums in the following ways:
Reconnect with your core - regain confidence in your body through massage and breath work to strengthen and stabilise your core and prevent pressure being applied down into your pelvic floor.
Restore correct breathing patterns - restore damaged breathing patterns through verbal coaching and hands-on treatment.
Softening tissue - ease tensions, help close any tummy separation by drawing the rectus abdominis muscles back together and reduce any stiffness and lack of movement in the tissue, to help bring your posture back to a more neutral, functional position.
C-section scar work (see scar massage below).
Restore correct alignment and imbalances between muscle groups - this helps to activate/relax any muscles that aren’t firing correctly - During pregnancy, hips widening, over extension or shortening through the core and rounding of the shoulders are common. As well of course is the stretching of the abdomen!
Improve pelvic floor function - being able to activate and relax your pelvic floor muscles correctly will help prevent urinary urgency, incontinence, vaginal or rectal prolapse, help strengthen and flatten your tummy and make sex feel better too!
“I have had several postnatal massages and have really got a lot out of them. She helped me overcome my fear of my c-section scar, and work out some problems in the area. I also enjoyed that Hannah was quite diagnostic. For example, she noticed a tightness in my upper back that I wasn't previously aware of but that I later realised had been contributing to core dysfunction. I would highly recommend.”
— Sophie Forster
Abdominal Scar Massage
T
his treatment can be included within your postnatal massage or as a stand alone treatment.
Our scar massage treatment uses hands on massage therapy and massage tools to address tensions and tightness from the scar as well as abdominal adhesions that can build up due to your scar and can cause discomfort as well as other issues.
People come to us for scar massage for a number of reasons as your scar can be contributing to; back pain, hip pain, incorrect breathing patterns, constipation, pelvic floor issues, urinary urgency, pain during sex and more.
We work to release tension and restrictions caused by ther scar both around the scar area and distally. Hannah West Therapies is qualified in scar therapy which can help; reduce sensitivity, improve numbness by re-stimulating the nerve endings, reduce 'overhang' or stomach 'swelling' and ease any adhesions, allow your organs and tissues to 'unstick' from each other. And get everything functioning optimally.
Scar Massage is perfect for anyone who has had a C-section, hysterectomy, appendectomy, hernia repair or laparoscopic surgery. We will work on the problem area with you respectfully and at a pace that works for you, to enable your scar tissue to move more freely, giving you less restricted movement and pain and help you to reconnect with the area.
“Highly recommend Hannah for a postnatal core massage. She really knows her stuff! Everything feels a lot better including releasing tightness and relieving numbness around my c-section scar and helping with pregnancy/new baby-related back pain.
— Sarah de Malplaquet
Soft Tissue Massage/ Deep Tissue Massage/ Sports Massage
And relax….
Soft Tissue Massage, Deep Tissue Massage or Sports Massage is great for both keen exercisers and anyone who wants to relax, reduce pain, restore function and improve movement within the body. You don’t have to be a marathon runner to need a sports massage!
Before your appointment, we’ll ask you what your goals are from the treatment to ensure you get exactly what you need from your massage. So whether you’re suffering from general aches and stress from work or home life, or looking for a way to improve your sporting performance/keep injury free between training - we can help.
This treatment is one of our most popular. It works with the body as a whole, not only releasing pain and restrictions in the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) but we use neuromuscular techniques to reset the brain and nervous system too.
The treatment involves a variety of advanced hands-on massage techniques including (if suitable for you) stretching techniques, muscle energy technique, trigger point work, friction, instrumented assisted massage and medical acupuncture/dry needling.
This massage can help ease stiffness, tensions, muscular spasms, reduce swelling, help prevent injury/speed up recovery and improve energy levels.
Best of all, following your treatment, follow on advice, stretching and additional strength or functional information will be provided. Our aim is always to help you understand your body better and for you to be able to continue your care at home - we believe in long term not short term help.
“It was my first session with Hannah and I was blown away by her knowledge and experience. My back feels so much better and more flexible after my massage. Hannah also checked my muscle tissue and gave me some very practical exercises to do at home to help with day to day function of the back. I would highly recommend.”
— Pati Plociennik
Techniques used during massage sessions:
Dry Needling/ Medical Acupuncture
Dry needling can help decrease pain and improve the function of myofascial trigger points (or knots in the muscle). This treatment isn’t offered as a stand alone therapy but is often included within all our treatments if we think it will be beneficial to you.
Dry needling involves a sterile, fine filament needle inserted through the skin into areas of tension or pain (trigger points) and briefly left in position. The number of needles used is different for each client (depending on their individual case) but sometimes is as few as two. By doing this, we're encouraging the contracted muscle fibres to relax by drawing fresh oxygen and nutrients, as well as flushing away any waste products.
Medical acupuncture is already available in most hospital pain clinics and it is provided by an ever-increasing number of GPs and hospital doctors. Dry needling can help release muscle knots, assist with pain management, and restore movement of joints.
IASTM
IASTM or Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation therapy is available for clients suffering from limited motion, pain during movement, motor control and muscle recruitment issues.
It’s believed the tools work by introducing a new stimuli to the nervous system, drawing attention to the area through friction and taking the focus away from the pain. It deliberately creates microtrauma to facilitate healing and create change in muscle tone to help improve the range of movement.
Using IASTM, our aim is to help desensitise the tissue affected and help release soft tissue adhesions and fascial restrictions. Adhesions within the soft tissue can happen to anyone and can be developed due to surgery, immobilisation, repeated strain and more.
“WOW! Hannah is simply wonderful, I had a very painful shoulder and booked in with Hannah after being recommended by a friend. Very welcoming space, Hannah was very knowledgable and put me at ease that she could help. Immediate relief from a very painful shoulder, the massage I received has increased my mobility and I have no pain now. Very impressed, will book again, thank you .”
— Mary Meadows