Date Night Notes

Thank you for joining us for Prenatal Date Night. To care for an expecting mother is an honor and a great privilege, and it is our great pleasure to welcome you into our space and offer you what guidance, comfort, and nourishment as we can on your path to parenthood.

Prenatal Date Night is offered every 2 months, and we have begun offering a Reconnection night for all couples, expecting or otherwise. Email Kia with any questions you have or for more information on our upcoming events. We thank you again for sharing your time and your journey with us. As promised, here are a few notes to help you remember all the material from the evening.

Massage Flow

1. Prepare: Warm hands, set intention (mental love letter)
2. First Contact: Grasp your partner's feet. Pressure point midline just behind ball of feet, compress arches alternating sides
3. Calves: Compress calves (not shins) with heel of hand
4. Leg Rotation: Supporting above joints, rest elbow on thigh
• Supporting: Up midline, out, down, in. Switch directions after a few.
• Pregnant: Outside midline, one direction only: up, out, down, in
5. Hamstrings: Stretch with micro-bend in knee
6. Tree: Release foot against opposite knee, lower leg slowly
7. Thighs: Align spine to partner's femur, butterfly hands, compress thighs up and down
8. Hip rock: Thigh to hip, then hip to hip
9. Release: Straighten leg, gentle shaking, stroking lines of energy
10. Repeat other leg, beginning with Leg Rotation
11. Back Release: Squat over partner, hold low waist, lean back with good form: straight back, thighs parallel to floor
12. Slow Dance: Lift partner's legs above ankle, about waist height, rock left-right very slowly
13. Release: Return legs to neutral, gentle shaking, lines of energy
14. Sun and Moon: Circular abdomen rub (w/ unrefined sesame oil), left hand (sun) makes full circle, right hand (moon) opposite left, across transverse colon, down descending
15. Shoulder mobility: Grasp partner's hand with near hand, use far hand to stabilize upper arm, rotate up and down
16. Pectoral: Release partner's hand behind their head, support their elbow, massage pectoral muscle insertion
17. Release: Return hand to neutral, shaking arm, lines of energy
18. Repeat other arm, beginning with mobility
19. Shoulders & Head
• Seated
• Position: Help partner to seated position, bend knees slightly, lean partner onto you for relaxing support
• Trapezius: Rock heel of hands into trapezium, alternating sides, also rocking your body if desired
• Reposition: Help partner sit up straight, seat yourself within arm's length of partner
• Grasp: Partner stretches arm to side, take them by the wrist/forearm (protect joint), then take other hand
• Back Walk: Bracing their arms, walk your feet up and down their back, between shoulders, etc
• Release: Slowly release partner, restoring arms and hands to neutral
• Closer: Move close to partner, legs around theirs, lean them back into your chest
• Jaw: Massage jaw muscles with circular kneading
• Sinus: First two fingers sweep down from alongside nose and out, just under bony ridge under eye, across cheek
• Temple: Massage temples gently
• Scalp: Knead scalp, stroke hair gently, release
• Reclined
• Position: Seat yourself at partner's crown, legs along partner's side
• Trapezius: First two or three fingers massage between shoulder blades, also sweep out across top of shoulder
• Neck: Two fingers sweep up just outside spine, hooking protrusion from skull, provide gentle traction
• Jaw: Massage jaw muscles with circular kneading
• Sinus: First two fingers sweep down from alongside nose and out, just under bony ridge under eye, across cheek
• Upper Sinus: Tap gently around "third eye", find pressure point under eyebrow ~1.5 finger widths out
• Temple: Massage temples gently
• Scalp: Knead scalp, stroke hair gently, release
20. Done: Trade places and get yours!

Other Notes:

Preparing Your Pet for Baby's Arrival (Dumb Friends League)