Karen Salas, L.M.T. - Testimonials
For my fourth and last delivery, at age 43, I wanted a smooth delivery, an easy recovery and no complications. I turned to hypnotherapy and massage to help increase my chances of attaining all three.
The weekend I was due, Karen started loosening up my joints and muscles with some pre-labor massages. They were relaxing mentally and physically and my flexibility increased rather dramatically.
During labor the support was fantastic. I tend to have all back labor and the contractions grab at the base of my spine. Karen did a “V” press on my back that was wonderful. I could feel the contraction, but the intensity was greatly reduced. I didn’t fear the next contraction and I could relax between contractions. At one point, as we could see the baby’s head but were still waiting for the baby to be ready to emerge, Karen and my husband were doing the “V” press together while my midwife gave light touch massage to my legs—I was in heaven. I could not have asked for a smoother, more relaxed labor.
—Michele S., Las Vegas, NV
Dads are not given much consideration when it comes to labor and delivery. The mother is the one having the baby, of course, but the dad experiences a lot of stress and fatigue during the process as well. In previous deliveries my job was to massage my wife during her contractions. Since labor can last for ten hours or more, it was extremely difficult, not to mention physically exhausting, to provide my wife with the comforting touch that she needed. I found with our last delivery that having someone else there to help made a world of difference. Karen took a lot of pressure off me by being an extra pair of hands, and my wife experienced a much more comfortable labor and delivery. Even the days leading up to the delivery were better because the massage I received helped me to relax and stay calm. I was really anxious about going through another birth, but with Karen’s involvement, it was a much more pleasurable experience for everyone.
—Patrick Q., Las Vegas, NV
I was 36½ weeks pregnant with my second son when I started having some slightly painful contractions. I had been through childbirth once before and these contractions seemed like they might be the real thing. After consulting my doula, I decided to make the 100-mile trip to the hospital in Salt Lake City where I would be delivering. My husband and I were at the hospital all night, where I was diagnosed with pre-term labor. Finally, my contractions were irregular enough that they sent me home. We were not quite ready to make the long trip home in case labor started again, and my husband decided that we could both use a massage after our very stressful and sleepless night in the hospital. We had been going to Karen for a couple of years already and really benefited from her massages. With my doctor’s permission, I received a wonderful 90-minute massage and left feeling totally relaxed and significantly more comfortable. My painful contractions ceased and I carried my son three more weeks to full term. I think that having prenatal massage had an impact on my pre-term labor, and my comfort in general. I would encourage other women to experience all the benefits of massage during pregnancy.
—Alethea R., Mount Pleasant, UT
My first child birthing experience was dreadful. To prepare for my second birth, I met with Karen for a few prenatal massages and some consultation. The consultation helped me address a lot of my fears about labor and delivery and we came up with a plan to overcome each of my concerns. Karen really put my mind at ease with her approach to the birthing process. She showed me and my husband a few relaxation positions to get us through labor just in case something went wrong with my epidural, which is what happened during my first birthing experience. I felt much more reassured after talking with Karen for only an hour. I wish I would have been able to meet with Karen before having my first child. She prepared me mentally and physically to have my second baby. She also taught me how to be an advocate for myself when dealing with the hospital staff. This education actually proved very useful while I was in the hospital.
It was such a treat to have Karen present at my delivery. She made my contractions effortless. Although I had an epidural I still felt pain. My labor and delivery was a walk in the park compared to the experience with my first child. With my first baby I had really painful lower back contractions. I felt the same lower back contractions starting while Karen was present and I expressed where the pain was; she and my husband massaged certain pressure points and I could literally feel the pain subside. She also brought hot compresses that she placed on my lower back to help alleviate the pain.
My birthing experience was completely changed to a very positive one. I felt so spoiled with her there. I almost felt like I was Jennifer Lopez with a whole entourage for my labor and delivery just by having Karen present. She made sure I was well taken care of and had the nurses offer me services that I would not have had otherwise. I appreciate her immensely for everything she did for me. She was awesome!! I wouldn’t go into labor without Karen and I highly recommend taking a class or receiving a massage from her.
—Jodie B., Salt Lake City, UT
Karen taught me how to do infant massage on my baby when he was only six weeks old. My whole experience of the pregnancy and delivery was traumatic, and I know that massage has brought a tender element with this new child. My sweet baby is now 4½ months old and he laughs and giggles his way through each massage. He sticks his little fat leg out after I massage his face and knows exactly what is coming, loving every second!
With my other children I was going on the assumption that babies cry because they are hungry, tired, or in physical pain. Karen taught me that babies can communicate and tell you their feelings, such as whether they want to be massaged. I started really listening to my baby and looking in his eyes with the desire to understand what he wanted to tell me. His eyes would change when I did that…his crying would change, like he was really trying to communicate his emotions to me. It was fascinating and still is. I really love this deep bond that has formed between us. He isn’t clingy like some of my other babies have been; there just seems to be a level of trust there that we both enjoy.
—Misty C., Provo, UT