Terms & Conditions
Please read our T & C’s before booking
Bellies & Bubs Etiquette
Collection of information
At your initial appointment, please ensure you have completed and forwarded your online health form. This is required a minimum of 24hrs prior to your appointment.
This enables me to assess any health conditions or procedures that may impose additional risk factors by having a massage. In some circumstances, a written medical clearance may be required from your Care provider.
It also helps avoid cancellation fees, in case rescheduling or cancelling your appointment is necessary and allows sufficient time to be able to offer the appointment to waitlisted clients.
Arriving on Time
Please allow yourself some additional time to arrive and park. We have plenty of on-site and off street parking.
As you enter our beautiful Sanctuary, I invite you to take this time to pause, exhale, silence or power off mobile phones, use the bathroom facilities, sit and enjoy a water or herbal tea.
Please be aware, running late may reduce your appointment time and the full fee will still apply. Thank you for your understanding.
At any subsequent appointment, I will consult with you on any updated health concerns that may have arisen and tailor the treatment to your individual needs.
Colds & Flu’s, RSV & Covid
If you are feeling unwell with cold or flu symptoms, please reschedule your appointment. Massage and wellness treatments can place extra load on the body when it’s fighting infection, and it’s also important to protect other clients (including pregnant and immune-vulnerable women).
Please wait until:
- At least 7 days after any positive COVID-19 or RSV result,
- You have been fever-free for 48 hours,
- And are feeling fully recovered — no lingering cough, fatigue, or congestion.
If you become unwell close to your appointment, please let me know as soon as possible so we can find another time for you to rest and restore.
Your understanding and care help keep this space safe, nurturing, and healing for all.
Contraindications of Massage
Pregnancy, Postpartum and Beyond
Pregnancy
Every treatment is designed with the deepest care for both you and your baby. Massage during pregnancy can offer beautiful support – easing tension, improving rest and nurturing emotional wellbeing – but there are certain times when it’s not safe to proceed.
Some conditions of pregnancy are high risk and therefore massage is not recommended AT ALL
- gestational thrombocytopenia, TTP, HUS, thrombocytopenia linked to autoimmune conditions like lupus (SLE), liver disease or bone marrow disorders
- ICP (intracranial pressure)
- HELLP syndrome, pre-eclampsia and pregnancy induced hypertension
- cholestasis of pregnancy
- vasa praevia, placenta accreta, placenta percreta
- some clotting disorders – DVT, APS, maternal Factor V Leiden or Type 2 or 3 VWD
Less than 14 weeks gestation
Some Therapists will massage in the first trimester, although it is contraindicated by most Associations and governing bodies.
I personally recommend waiting those additional weeks, as your body is relying on progesterone hormone to support the pregnancy until the placenta takes over the function of the pregnancy.
When Medical Clearance is Needed (Pregnancy)
The following conditions, although still high-risk may require written clearance from your care provider before a massage can safely take place. These may include (but are not limited to) the following:-
- Elevated markers for pre-eclampsia, if not taking Aspirin
- PIH – Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (unless additional symptoms of severe swelling and pre-eclampsia, then massage is not recommended AT ALL)
- placenta praevia
- Cerclage (stitch in cervix)
- Previous history of recurrent miscarriage, bleeding early in pregnancy or previous premature labour(s) – PPROM
- Clotting disorders : Factor V Leiden (zygote) or Type 1 VWD, APS
- History of Epilepsy, SVT or other heart arrhythmias
- unexplained pain, bleeding, or reduced foetal movement.
These conditions can carry risks for both Mumma and baby and massage may not be suitable until your care team confirms it’s safe to proceed.
Twin or more Pregnancies
Although in the majority of cases, massage is nourishing, safe and beneficial for you and your babies; it can pose additional risk factors, as it is an increased load to the internal systems and major organs of the body. Combining the stimulating effects of a massage; may not be the best option. Particularly with other underlying conditions requiring anti-coagulants (aspirin, clexane etc) or gestational diabetes requiring insulin, increased oedema, High blood pressure or PIH… therefore you may be required to also seek medical clearance by your Careprovider.
BLOODWORK, VACCINATIONS, IRON INFUSIONS
Below are recommendations of timeframes around certain procedures and massage
Other instances to be mindful of, include allowing appropriate timeframes in and around some pregnancy screening and procedures and having a massage.
This includes, but is not limited to:-
- 24hrs after any bloodworks or Vitamin Injections
- 48hrs after the 2hr fasting glucose tolerance test
- 48hrs after the first steroid injection and 72hrs after the 2nd
- 72hrs after Flu, RSV, Covid & Whooping Cough Vaccination – this is to ensure the massage doesn’t diminish the efficacy of the vaccine in the case of exposure to the virus.
- 72hrs after an Anti D injection – this is to ensure the massage doesn’t breakdown the properties of the antibody, in the rare case of a bleed)
- 72hrs after an ECV – this is due to the necessity for a firm, steady pressure on the abdomen and medications administered to relax the uterus.
- 1 week after an iron infusion – this allows the liver to process any excess iron after infusion, as it is a primary storage organ for iron and can be effected by iron overload. The liver also processes toxins released during a massage, so by overloading the liver; this could potentially create a risk for Pre-eclampsia.
Fertility, New Mums, Womens Wellness
Massage IS NOT recommended if you have :
TTP, HUS, thrombocytopenia linked to autoimmune conditions like lupus (SLE), liver disease or bone marrow disorders
- ICP (intracranial pressure)
- DVT or recurrent history of DVT
- IVF – after egg transfer and implantation (we look forward to supporting you through your pregnancy journey)
When medical clearance is needed :
- History of Epilepsy, SVT or other heart arrhythmias
- Undergoing cancer treatment (from Oncologist)
- Within 6-8 wks of a caesarean birth, manual removal of placenta, blood transfusion after PPH any gynaecological surgery, particularly Hysterectomy
Below are recommendations of timeframes around certain procedures and massage:
- 24hrs after any bloodworks or Vitamin Injections
- 72hrs after Flu, RSV, Covid & Whooping Cough Vaccination – this is to ensure the massage doesn’t diminish the efficacy of the vaccine in the case of exposure to the virus.
1 week after an iron infusion – this allows the liver to process any excess iron after infusion, as it is a primary storage organ for iron and can be effected by iron overload. The liver also processes toxins released during a massage, so by overloading the liver
Postpartum
I recommend waiting at least 4-6 weeks after a vaginal birth. To allow your body to navigate the hormonal changes, adapt to breast tissue changes from breastfeeding – even if your breastfeeding journey has ended within this time.
Please allow additional time if you’ve had recurrent mastitis.
Please wait a minimum 6 weeks postpartum if you have had a:
• Caesarean Birth
• surgical removal of the placenta
• blood transfusion after PPH
A Shared Duty of Care
There may be times when your Doctor or Midwife advises that massage is safe to continue. However, as your Massage Therapist, I must also assess each situation within my professional scope and safety guidelines. Final discretion rests with Bellies and Bubs, to ensure every treatment upholds the highest standard of care and safety.
If you’re unsure whether massage is suitable, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Yours and your baby’s wellbeing is my priority. I respectfully ask that you allow a minimum 24hrs of your appointment time, within which to do so. In case your appointment needs to be cancelled and to avoid cancellation fees
Modifying or cancelling an appointment
Cancellation Policy
We understand circumstances sometimes arise and appointments need to be altered, we do ask that you provide as much notice as you can, where possible and we will take special circumstances into consideration. However, please be aware of our cancellation/rescheduling procedure below:
Modifying/ Cancelling Appointments
If you need to modify (reschedule) or cancel an appointment, please locate the confirmation email (sent immediately after you book an appointment) or reminder email (sent 48hrs prior to your appointment) or SMS. Simply click on the login link at the bottom of the email or SMS and you will be directed to your account dashboard.
Alternatively, go directly to www.bookitlive.net and login using the email and password you created when you booked the original appointment.
Minimum Cancellation Time
The full fee (100%) is payable if canceled within 12hrs of appointment unless a medical certificate can be provided.
Any cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment will incur a fee of 50% of the treatment price.
Cancellation Fees
Please be aware you will not be able to modify (this means changing your appointment type, or creating an account for someone else to take your place) or cancel your appointment via the online portal, within 24hrs of your appointment.
Please SMS me directly on 0408204522, or email me at leah@belliesnbubs.com.au ASAP, as I can than offer the appointment to someone on the Waitlist. Please DO NOT reply to the Reminder SMS, it is a ‘no reply SMS’ and I will not receive it. Thanks for your understanding and co-operation.