New study published about home births!

Exciting news for home birth advocates like myself. The Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health has just published the largest ever study on US planned home births (almost 17,000 women and their babies). The findings provide some nice concrete statistical data to back up advantages of home births that we in the home birth community have known about for a while now. Hopefully the study will help to inform and inspire more health care providers towards making improvements for the needs and safety of expectant mothers and their babies.

From the study, advantages of home births included:

• lower rates of c-sections
• lower rates of birth assisted by forceps or vacuum
• lower rates of episiotomies
• less need for oxytocin to speed labor
• less use of epidural analgesia
• higher rates of VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean) than hospital births 
• very small percentage of newborns with low Apgar scores (measure of newborn health in first five minutes following birth)

The full study should be available to read online soon. For now, you can read key findings from the study at the Midwives Alliance North America's website.
 

Love Mueller Orthopedic and Medical Massage? Why Not Write A Review!

Attention loyal Kingfield and Blooma clients! We are currently looking for folks to write about their experiences with Mueller Orthopedic and Medical Massage on Yelp and Angie's List. As an incentive, reviewers will receive either 15 minutes added on to their next massage, or a $20 bodywork gift certificate to give to a friend. As always, we greatly appreciate your continued support and business!

To write a Yelp review, click here
To write an Angie's List review, click here

It would seem that reviewing on Yelp is slightly less involved than on Angie's List, though supposedly Angie's List reviews imply more credibility. Either way, whichever review service you choose to use is golden by us!

Package Deals

Scheduling in Bulk

Save on your bodywork sessions when you schedule in bulk, priced as follows for 60-minute sessions: $150 for 2, $225 for 3, $280 for 4, $350 for 5, and $420 for 6. Though packages are non-refundable, they can be shared with a partner or other worthy substitute. Additionally, deals can be adjusted as needed for 90-minute sessions.

Complementary Doula Services

Until June 30, 2014 expectant parents can receive complementary doula services with the purchase of four or more 60-minute bodywork sessions.

What Is A Doula?

A doula is a non-medical, trained support person who assists laboring women through the birthing process. The doula provides emotional and physical support to the expectant mother, and can also serve as an assistant in creating and advocating for wishes specified in a birth plan. Doulas use massage, aromatherapy, and positioning suggestions to facilitate the birthing process. A doula who can provide craniosacral therapy is highly beneficial in promoting a healthy pregnancy and birth, as craniosacral therapy helps to alleviate aches and pains, nausea and morning sickness, fatigue, emotional difficulties, and other pregnancy-related complications.

As a recently certified doula, Julie recommends prospective mama clients to schedule services at 32 weeks, 36 weeks, 40 weeks, during labor, and postpartum. Please call, text, or email with any further questions, or to request services.

Valentine's Day Gift Baskets and Certificates

Well friends, it is already mid-January, can you believe it? Retail outlets are becoming more pink and reddish by the day, so Valentine’s Day must be right around the corner. If you are looking for a unique gift for your loved ones this year, why not order a Valentine's Day Gift Basket from Mueller Orthopedic and Medical Massage? Each gift basket will include a bottle of Weleda Rose Oil, Mueller Signature Bath Soak, a 60 or 90-minute bodywork gift certificate, and your choice of any of the following wines, teas, sweets, and savory snacks:

Cremant D'Alsace Chardonnay ($25.99)
Rosemary Crackers ($2.49)
Dessert Macaroons ($4.99)
Mushroom Pate ($3.99)
Columbia Crest Cabernet 2011 ($11.99)
Parmesan Crisps ($3.99)
Olive Tapenade ($2.99)
Double Chocolate Black Angus Cookies ($4.99)
Mrs. Kelly's Earl Grey Tea ($10)
Stonewall Scone Mix ($3.69)
Meyer's Lemon Cookies ($3.99)
Devonshire Clotted Cream ($6.99)

And as always, bodywork gift certificates can be ordered on their own, and also make a great gift!

Call, text, or email Julie with questions and to order.
612-205-4453
muellerbodywork@gmail.com

Massage For Couples

Looking for a new date night activity? We now offer a private 90-minute session for couples (both prenatal and non-prenatal) that can be scheduled at any time, based on Julie’s Minneapolis Community Education ‘Massage For Couples’ class taught at Washburn. The session will teach couples therapy sequences for (prone) back and (supine) anterior neck and shoulders. Session will also cover the five basic massage strokes that can be combined to create new variations, safe body ergonomics, lubricants and essential oils, and acupressure points that can promote relaxation and address a variety of ailments. Couples will also receive a written guide with YouTube links, illustrating stroke sequences and acupressure points. For prenatal clients, we teach massage and acupressure points for side-lying positions, in addition to seated on a birthing ball, leaning over a counter, or in birthing/labor tub for before and after labor and delivery.

Interested? You can schedule online through Schedulicity, or text Julie (612-205-4453). For those interested in learning in a group setting, the Community Ed. class at Washburn runs March 10th-17th (learn more and register here).