I had Remedial Massage Therapy on my breasts yesterday!!!! It was awesome!!

[Shanti]

I wanted to share my story!!

I have been having soreness and pain in my L breast for about 2 months now and whenever 16mo DD nudged me too hard on that side in one area, I would literally YELP (or swear) in pain it was soooo bad!!! I knew something wasn't right. The other side has been fine. We are no longer feeding on the L (sore side) side since DD decided she didn't want to anymore and it's always been the 'dodgy' side as I have an inverted nipple so I don't blame her!!!

I saw a GP last week who referred me for an ultrasound and also a mammogram..... I thought geez not sure if that sounds right but anyway.... I also thought it was strange the way she looked at me when I started breastfeeding my 16mo daughter in front of her who was asking for a drink.... but anyway that is another thread entirely!!! LOL.... (just another one of those un-educated GP's I think!)

Anyway, so my husband knows a natural therapist who specialises in remedial massage of the breast and deals with breastfeeding women and breast cancer patients as he himself had breast cancer once (not my husband, the remedial massage guy did). So I saw him yesterday and got remedial massage done on my breasts!!!! Awkward? I thought it would be but nope, I was just happy to have someone help me as I have had no idea what is going on with my L breast lately!! Anyway, he massaged them and turns out I had lots of plugged ducts, a white spot on my nipple AND 'ongoing mastitis' that had gone undiagnosed hence the slowly increasing pain over the course of a few weeks. I thought Mastitis was one of those things that came on within 24hrs and made you very sick quickly but nope not necessarily. So I learnt HEAPS yesterday.

My breasts after the massage didn't even feel like mine!!!! They are completely smooth and not lumpy and bumpy like they felt before..... the soreness is pretty much non-existent now too as he has cleared and drained the breasts through massage.

I have since cancelled my ultrasound and mammography as I've since learnt that it is not the safest thing for a breastfeeding woman to go through.... yes the ultrasound is ok and sometimes necessary but apparently the GP should not have recommended the mammogram. So I'm so glad I cancelled it.

Yay! This means I can now lie down on my tummy again and not have soreness in my breasts anymore!!! He recommends all breastfeeding women, even if you aren't still feeding, get your breasts massaged and drained regularly to help clear out any old milk and it's something we can do ourselves too.

He told me the story of a woman who had it done and hadn't BF for 7yrs and he was able to extract stale milk from her breasts.... fascinating!! Imagine all that stale milk just sitting in your breasts for so long, that can't be good for us.

Just wanted to share what I learnt yesterday

[Beautiful Disaster]

That sounds like an awesome experience. I wonder if there is anyone in Brisbane that does it. I have a few friends that are in urgent need of some help.

[Shanti]

Kylza, this remedial massagist is in tweed heads NSW, that's only an hour away from Brissy. PM me if interested for details.

[Beautiful Disaster]

Kylza, this remedial massagist is in tweed heads NSW, that's only an hour away from Brissy. PM me if interested for details.

Thanks for that. i dont have access to PM i dont think can you send to me?

[Ginger]

wow that's amazing! i needed that a few months ago when i was having on-going problems with one breast. wish he was in melbourne!

[sneakysparkle]

wow! thanks for sharing - how interesting!
good to hear youre feeling better too

[BellyBelly]

Andrew Barnes is awesome, he's the only recognised teacher of this for treatment of mastitis and other breast issues in Australia from memory. He's also a trained doula, waxer, counsellor etc etc... he does loads of work in this area.

Andrew Barnes teaches many styles of massage including Balinese massage, Ka Huna massage, Hot Stone massage, Lomi Lomi massage, Lymph Drainage massage, Pregnancy massage, Remedial massage, Thai massage, Trigger Point Therapy and healing principles both within Australia and internationally. Andrew Barnes is the Founder and Director of the Academy of Therapeutic Arts that is based in Brisbane.

Andrew also runs a successful Bodywork and Somatic therapy practice that has been established for approximately 10 years in Brisbane.

Andrew has also studied counselling, Yoga and various forms of meditation and spiritual/emotional healing. Several years ago Andrew was employed by a Personal Development company for 3.5 years as an assisstant facilitator/hug therapist and to support participants in emotional healing.

He has co-ordinated various volunteer support groups and programs within women’s rehabilitation centres, substance abuse detox units and men's maximum security goals for several years.

Andrew is currently studying a Masters Degree in Sexual Health majoring in counselling at the University of Sydney and is a Registered Doula (birth supporter) and has studied Beauty Therapy and body therapies from around the world.

Andrew has also developed and facilitates Awakening Within courses for women and men that focus on body image, sexual health and developing healthy self esteem and a nurturing inner relationship.

Reclaiming our bodies as a source of strength and pleasure gives us further power over our lives with the freedom to design our lives more creatively and to define love more flexibly. We learn that the “special someone” we’ve all been seeking to bring us true love is ourselves. From self-love comes the ability to love others.

[BellyBelly]

Here you go:

In 2006 Andrew was requested by the Australian Association of Massage Therapists (AAMT) to develop national policies, procedures and techniques in breast massage and he is now the AAMT breast massage expert.

Awesome guy.

[Jahzara]

Wow ! Thats amazing !

Glad you are feeling better

[Shanti]

Yeah this guy has been doing this for quite a few years and is fully accredited and qualified so he's very good! He knows ALOT about it all, having had breast cancer himself, knows alot about the breast in men and women.

I'm so glad I found him

[boomba]

Thast awesome Ren...can you pm me his number please

Tummy sleeping is the best So glad your not in pain anymore x

[starangelk]

Hi Shanti - I am having remedial massage for blocked ducts next Tuesday in Tweed.....I think maybe at the same place. Do you mind telling me exactly what the process was? I have to admit I am a bit worried/unsure of what to expect.....

I don't even know if I have blocked ducts but the lactation consultant suggested it for me. My little girl is 5 weeks old and I got mastitis in week 2 or week 3 and ever since then the mastitis boob hasn't produced as much milk. Plus I have a strong let down and lots of milk! Apparently a good massage/clean out will really help me but the thing is - I don't exactly know how.

Any information would be really appreciated

[MummaSue]

Wow, that is amazing!!!!
S X

[~Kaz~]

That is fantastic and so interesting but the thought of stale milk staying in my bbies for years after we wean is a bit

Glad you're feeling better Shanti!

[Butterfly Child]

Oh wow how interesting thanks for sharing shanti, can i ask what the cost is to see him? i wonder if its worth seeing him for me im not really having problems, we finished breast feeding probably 6 months ago now. even if it just to find out how to clear out the past breastmilk? *tm*i but i know even now if i squeeze theres still abit of milk, not alot but i wonder if that will go away? like you said it cant be healthy xx

[starangelk]

I don't mean to take over Shanti's thread but I had this treatment done and I am pretty sure at the same place and by the same person as Shanti from what I can gather from her post. I second the motion that it was amazing. I didn't feel uncomfortable at all and while it was painful (very very very!) it was well worthwhile. My supply has regulated to be better in just a few days and I have absolutely no lumps left at all. It was VERY messy and I was glad I had fed X before I went since I lost alot of milk.

Butterfly Child - He said to me to come back and see him when I finished breastfeeding so he can get all of the old milk out and get rid of any blocked ducts etc. He found blocked ducts and painful sections on me that I hadn't even realised were painful. I guess when we get used to feeling a certain way we just think that's the way we are supposed to feel. Anyway, if you want the details - feel free to PM me. It was $65 and it's supposed to be a 1 hour treatment but mine took 1.5 hours.

[midwifeloretta]

Hello Ladies,
I am a Lactation Consultant who works in conjunction with Paul Clinch who is the massage therapist in Tweed. The massage he does is called The Clinch Technique and it is really taking off. I refer lots of women to him with all sorts of problems and all have had really positive results. If you would like his details then contact me and I would be happy to give them to you.
I am about to start a research project to measure his results as I feel all women should have this massage whether breastfed or not. It is amazing how healthy your breasts can feel. They feel like mashmellows after a one hour treatment!!
Awesome that you are writing about it to share the knowledge.
Paul has done his teacher training now and will be teaching the technique so more people can offer this service around the world. So watch this space!
Aagin, anyone who would like to get into contact with Paul then let me know.
Have a lovely day ladies!
Loretta

[starangelk]

Hi - just wondering if anyone knows where Paul Clinch is now working from? I rang the place I saw him at last year but they told me that he no longer practices from there. I have now stopped feeding and really want to get this treatment again as I am pregnant and concerned that I still have some blocked ducts on the right breast and want these cleared..............

Thanks