A: As a massage therapist and midwife my philosophy of care integrates across both professions. I offer weekly massage appointments 3-4 days at week, intentionally limiting my schedule to two sessions per day. Midwifery clinic days are two full days a week where I devote my time to clients for prenatal and postpartum care. This approach allows me to stay focused, and provide high-quality care, whether through massage or midwifery. It is important to understand that as a practicing midwife, I may be unexpectedly called to attend labor or birth. This means appointments might occasionally need to be rescheduled on short notice. Shelly’s ideal massage clients have some flexibility in their schedules to accommodate these necessary changes, typically allowing for a reschedule within the next few days or week. This approach ensures holistic and personalized care while maintaining availability for urgent birth-related responsibilities, reflecting the birth center’s commitment to empowering and supporting clients throughout their childbearing journey.

A: Yes, I provide massage services to non-pregnant clients. My bodywork services apply to all women and LGBTQAI+ individuals who identify as female or retain female anatomy. My knowledge and expertise in female anatomy and physiology allows for comprehensive care throughout a person’s entire life, not only during pregnancy. Many clients who are not currently pregnant seek these services to support overall well-being, address musculoskeletal concerns, and enhance their health during their childbearing years and beyond. This approach aligns with the center’s mission to empower and serve individuals holistically throughout their reproductive journey and personal health.

Speaking from experience. It is important to understand that a massage ALONE cannot induce labor if your body is not already moving in that direction. However, a therapeutic massage provided by someone who specializes in pregnancy can support you body and evolution towards labor in several ways. Here are the TOP THREE THINGS I CAN DO : 1. I can help you be in a better mental place to relax and release good hormones that facilitate physiological labor and the onset of natural labor. 2. I help support good musculoskeletal alignment in pregnancy to ease maternal discomforts and ensure that baby has plenty of room to be in an optimal position for an efficient, dare I say “faster” labor and birth. 3. I can also support a labor that is stalling or appears to “stop and start” to be more efficient by using acupressure, relaxation, massage, essential oils, etc. and using Spinning Babies and Rebozo techniques. 4.There are lots of natural to help put you into labor. None of those things are within scope of practice for a massage therapist, but could be accessed from a midwifery approach.

Yes, you can receive a massage in the first trimester, but it may depend on your individual health and purpose of the massage. First-trimester massages are typically safest when you are generally healthy, exercise, eat well, are well hydrated. Shelly will help to analyze your unique situation to ensure massage supports your well-being without compromising your baby's safety. We recognize is that massage increases maternal circulation and therefore also circulation to the baby. The pregnant metabolic waste gets filtered the lymphatic system. If you do not have a healthy lifestyle, this could mean a lot of free-floating toxins getting activated and being pushed into your circulatory system. We must proceed with education and awareness.

Please access the FAQ section on the Placenta encapsulation page: https://www.shellyvarelli.com/placentaencapsulation(https://www.shellyvarelli.com/placentaencapsulation)