Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has tried using/uses one of the belly bags when massaging pregnant clients. I'm thinking of getting one to use for the rest of my pregnancy and they say on the website that they can be used by massage therapist as well (they're basically a bean bag with a hole in the middle for the womens bump). However I'm not exactly sure how the therapist uses this and it doesn't seem to explain on the website. Does you have to have it on the floor and do the massage from floor height or can it go on the couch?? If anyone has any experience I would love if you would share your thoughts!
Many thanks
Missy xx
RE: Belly Bag
Sounds intriguing! - never heard of them, I'll have to look into it.
I ahve usually done my pregnant ladies seated for thier back massage - using a posture seat and resting forwards against a pile of pillows on the couch (onsite massage style)
RE: Belly Bag
A belly bag is great for home use, though I don't recommend it for using for a long time (ie no sleeping on it), just to give the backa bit of a rest, plus you can adjust it a bit more, when you are lying in it yourself, you know when you've had enough.
I know of someone that uses it in their business - they put it on the table. It's quite thick, so the table has to be pretty low for the threapist to be able to work the back easily, but since pregnancy massage is not exactly deep tissue it isn't as important to have it low. It doesn't have a face hole, so the head is turned to one side.
Personally I don't like them on a table - it ends up being like on a pregnancy massage table, you're lying across a hole, not very supportive for someone that is not pregnant, add the weight of the belly and concerns about uterine ligaments, I don't like it. I use a bodyCushion which has the client halfway between on all fours rather than flat over a hole - on all fours is your standard recommended stretch the back out position in pregancy yoga, scrubbing floors, etc.... it's not doining any damage. Add the head turned to one side with the Belly Bagand it starts to defeat the purpose for using it on a massage table.
The BIG advantage a Belly Bag has over the bodyCushion is price, it's MUCH cheaper, so it is ok for someone to buy one to use at home, afterwards kids love playing on them (hide in the hole etc), animals like them, of you can pass it on to someone else. For a business, I made the more expensive investment of a bodyCushion and it's paid for itself MANY MANY times over.
I'd say about half of my pregnancy massage clients just see me for my bodyCushion 🙂 They didn't know what it was when they first came to me, but they are a convert to a bodyCushion in the first 30seconds 🙂 Pillows, pregnancy massage tables, sidelying, sitting up, just won't do.
RE: Belly Bag
Thanks Vetiveria and Cola for your replies. Cola, I kind of thought the bellybag would be lovely for me to use but a bit akward to use with clients later on. The bodycushion you mention sounds great thought & I will certainly look into it. Oh yes and I could get my partner to try it out with me!:)
Missy xx
RE: Belly Bag
Hello Missy
I bought the belly bag and had my first client on it today. it was fantastic and the client thoroughly enjoyed being in it too purely because this is the first time in ages that she was able to lie on the tummy without bump being in the way. I found it excellent to use as well and laid it on the floor. The only downside i found was that it was 1 foot too short but this was fixed with a pillow and bolster under the clients legs.
I had a pregnant client at the weekend where i used a thick matress and massaged the client laying on their side as taught in my massage class but i will def consider buying a belly bag for home (the one i bought and used today was used at the gym).
I had a look at the body cushion but could not justify the great expense at the moment. Maybe in a years time or so when business is doing really great but for now i know that the belly bag will suffice.
RE: Belly Bag
Hi Rakhee,
Just wanted to say thanks for your view. Sorry for such a late reply, I haven't been online for ages!
I'm glad to hear your first experience with the bellybag was successful. The only thing I would worry about is that I'm only used to massaging on a table, with the client at waist height but I guess it is something I would get used to. I am definately going to enrol on a pregnancy massage course after I've had my baby though. Let me know how you continue to get on with the belly bag and lots of luck with your business.
Thank you
missy
I am now a distributor for Belly Bags in Australia as I found it very affordable for when I massage pregnant woman. I use it daily since I am pregnant myself. It is the only way I can ease my back pain. And its great for recieving a back massage! My baby was also in breech position but now is in the correct position because of the belly bag.
Hope you enjoy your Belly Bag as I am.
Hi Missy
Since then I have used the belly bag quite a bit - I don;t use it on the table but on the floor and its fantastic. I move around on the floor with a pillow under my knees. My clients do love it. I think its a good investment that I made.
I've probably averaged about 3 pregnancy massages per week for the last 7 years (it is seasonal, some weeks are zero, some are up to 10). I couldn't imagine doing that many on the floor. The bodyCushion paid for itself in the first couple of months, it took a while to figure out where to list on the internet, but ever since I got that right, it's been fairly solid. 9 months after Summer or Christmas/New Year are the usual peak times for babies, the peak pregnancy massage time starts about 3 months before that, so this should be a busy time (it is for me).