Synthesis: Pregnancy and Maya Abdominal Massage

By Samantha Corsiglia

ATMAM Practitioner & Instructor

I am often asked if the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy (ATMAT) are effective for pregnancy and the answer is a resounding – “ABSOLUTELY!”

I personally can attest to how ATMAT brought my uterus back into optimal position, healing my unhealthy menses, therefore, optimizing my fertility so I could conceive, carry and experience a healthy pregnancy, labor and homebirth a healthy child, after more than 15 years.

ATMAT DURING PREGNANCY, LABOR, AND DELIVERY

Midwives, doulas, and massage therapists who have been trained as ATMAM practitioners report that pregnancy, labor, and delivery is greatly assisted with the use of MAM. Rosita Arvigo, D.N., has specialized in the treatment of women for over 30 years. She has a large number of patients who birth up to 15 children each. Her patients report that receiving regular MAM treatments during pregnancy facilitates a more comfortable pregnancy and leads to a much easier and safer labor and delivery.

Maya Abdominal Massage has been able to alleviate much of the discomfort of abnormal pressure from the dropped or tilted uterus. This abnormal pressure during pregnancy can lead to low backache, sciatica, leg swelling, varicose veins, hip pain, constipation, headaches, difficult labor and delivery. Weekly MAM treatment through 38-40 weeks is suggested. If labor is delayed beyond this time; 1-2x/day treatment is highly recommended. We are currently collecting statistics to evaluate these reports of shorter, easier labors and reductions in the rate of cesarean sections. Labor time has shown to be decreased by 30-40%. First-time labors report being easier and shorter.

During labor, MAM performed in great, sweeping circles around the abdomen is most helpful because the uterine muscles are contracting in all directions. A circular, rhythmic massage promotes the flow of oxygenated, hormone filled blood throughout the uterine muscles and ligaments to help efficiently deliver the baby. Due to the weight of the gravid uterus, the laboring woman should not lie flat on her back, so the massage can be performed with her lying on one side with a pillow to support her belly or in a semi-sitting position propped on pillows.

Ideally, the laboring woman will be allowed to respond to her bodies urges for the pushing phase of delivery. This physiologic pushing can prevent prolapse of the uterus. Each month with menses it has to overcompensate for its poor blood supply by severe cramping to clean itself.  Often it is unable to flush out the menstrual fluids because of clotting and malposition.

TRADITIONAL MAYA WISDOM

Miss Hortence, midwife of generations in Belize, Central America, says she always burns copal incense during the entire time of labor and delivery to give the mother courage and to avoid any spirit attachment that, she reports, commonly occurs during delivery.

Miss Hortence also suggests that mothers in labor be given warm allspice tea to sip on constantly. To prepare this boil two tablespoons of powdered or whole allspice berries in one quart of water for 10 minutes and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Sweeten with honey if desired and strain into a thermos to keep warm.

Hortence recommends the mother's perineum be massaged every 5-10 minutes with warmed olive or almond oil. She urges that women have the soles of their feet in good and strong contact with a surface such as the bed, her partner's chest or the floor if squatting. She believes that having the feet in stirrups or the legs spread open with the feet in the air in the usual hospital position causes tearing of the perineum. Other midwives report that walking up and down the stairs in between contractions has been a great help in re-starting delayed labor or assisting the cervix to open. Massaging the area around the cervix just above the pubic bone may stimulate dilation, which in turn triggers the rest of the uterus to respond.

POSTPARTUM MAYA CARE

The midwives in Belize perform MAT in conjunction with vaginal steam baths starting 3 days after the delivery. There should be no vigorous massage of the uterus postpartum due to the lingering effects of progesterone/relaxin on the smooth muscle. You do not want to stretch these muscles as they need to contract to non-pregnant length. You do not want to interfere with the formation of the scab over the placental site or the healing of a vaginal tear.

Therapeutic Massage is nurturing in recuperating from the aches and pains of labor and delivery and is suggested in the post-partum phase of healing.

By approximately 3 months post-partum, a woman can receive a full MAT treatment with clearance from her midwife or obstetrician for abdominal massage. A woman who has had a Cesarean Section very much needs MAT. When her surgeon has determined that she has fully recovered and can receive an abdominal massage, MAT can be applied.