When Mom is expecting, there can often be discomforts and aches that come along with the growing baby. From the discomfort of the hips and ribs widening to carrying more weight on your frame. Pregnancy massage can provide moms-to-be with some welcome relief, both physically and emotionally.
Combining techniques to help relax muscles and improve circulation, massage can offer great benefits for Mom and little one throughout the pregnancy journey.
From helping Mom feel relaxed and energized through ongoing care to easing mild swelling or pain in Mom’s back, massage can help Mom to enjoy every moment of building this beautiful bond! But what exactly is massage therapy and how can it help?
Here’s everything you need to know about this type of massage and how it can benefit you during pregnancy.
Massage can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Pregnancy is one of the most important times in a woman’s life, bringing changes to both her body and mind. Taking care of pregnancy with the right methods can help ensure a healthy pregnancy for mom and baby.
Fortunately, prenatal massage is an excellent way for pregnant women to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Massage therapy can be helpful throughout pregnancy by going beyond comforting baby bumps with gentle hands. It can alleviate pregnancy discomforts as well as provide emotional support to pregnant women experiencing changing hormonal levels, edginess, and anxiety.
During this time, moms-to-be should take advantage of prenatal massage therapy available that is tailored specifically to their needs.
Type of Bodywork Used
Every pregnant woman has her own specific needs, which evolve through the pregnancy in terms of physicality, hormones and emotion. Based on these individualized requirements, bodywork during a maternity massage is customized to suit each expectant mother’s condition.
In general, there are many types of massage therapy. Examples include shiatsu massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, and Swedish massage.
To provide utmost comfort and relaxation during pregnancy, a prenatal massage relies on gentle Swedish techniques. From long strokes to circular movements, this kind of massage involves multiple soothing motions that will help loosen up your muscles and make you feel relaxed.
- Friction (small circular movements)
- Effleurage (long gliding strokes)
- Tapotement (percussion movements, brisk tapping)
- Vibration (shaking and rocking movements of specific muscles)
- Petrissage (kneading the muscles)
Massage therapists can cater to the unique needs of a person who is pregnant. Special care is taken to position the woman’s body using bolstering (or propping) to accommodate the physical changes that occur during pregnancy (such as the growing belly).
As your pregnancy advances, specific body postures become beneficial for expectant mothers. During the second and third trimester of gestation, side-lying is highly recommended as it promotes optimal fetal oxygenation and cardiac performance. Furthermore, lying on your left side has been proven to be the safest position during this period of time.
Benefits of Pregnancy Massage
Swedish massage can do wonders for your body, mind and spirit. It helps to increase blood flow and lymph circulation, fortify the joints and muscles, eliminate fatigue both physically and mentally as well as strengthen their general tone.
Additional benefits of prenatal massage include:
- Providing an overall sense of well being
- Improving sleep
- Increasing oxygenation of muscles and tissues
- Hormone regulation (which is linked with lower stress levels)
- Pain relief
- Reduction of swelling (edema)
- Relieving anxiety and stress
How to Choose a Massage Professional
When you have the green light from your physician, it’s time to do some research and identify massage therapists with expertise in prenatal massage.
To ensure a secure and productive therapeutic experience, it is essential that you confirm the following points when considering your therapist:
- Possesses specialized certification in prenatal massage therapy
- Provides a clean environment
- Abstains from using essential oils are known to be dangerous for pregnant women.
- Utilizing proper positioning and massage techniques specifically intended for pregnancy, I provide a safe and effective service.
Tips For Your Massage Treatment
When you’ve gotten your doctor’s OK and you’ve found a qualified therapist, there are some steps you can take to ensure you have a positive prenatal massage experience.
- Don’t let your inhibitions stop you from enjoying yourself – shrug off any self-doubt and embrace the moment. Massage therapists are professionals and have the privilege of seeing an array of bodies, each with their own unique shapes and sizes. Treating pregnant women is a special honor as they carry within them such a beautiful miracle. So go into the massage with peace of mind!
- Communication and Consent. If baring certain body parts are causing you to feel uneasy, don’t hesitate to express your concerns to the therapist. An experienced massage specialist will make sure that all of your needs are met and respected during the session; you’ll never be made to do anything which causes uneasiness or distress.
- Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is always important, but the fluids may also help to flush away toxins.
- Scheduling Frequency: To ensure your safety, you shouldn’t schedule a prenatal massage more frequently than once a week. Though the usual suggestion is one massage weekly, speak to your physician to determine how often will be ideal for you.
Contraindications
Contraindications are circumstances in which harm could be caused by a specific treatment, medication, or other intervention.
Massage is contraindicated when a person has certain medical conditions or under specific scenarios, especially during pregnancy, including:10
- Bleeding disorders
- Taking blood thinners
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelet level)
- Healing skin (from burns, wounds, or other types of skin breakdown)
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots)
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Infections
- Osteoporosis (a condition that involves progressive bone thinning)
- Taking certain medications
- Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Recent surgery or organ transplant
Pregnancy-related Cautions and Restrictions
If you are pregnant, it is important to contact a medical professional before receiving a prenatal massage. Certain conditions can make these types of massages unsafe for expectant mothers.
You should not get a pregnancy massage if you have:
- High-risk pregnancy: can be an overwhelming and frightening experience. Certain factors like hemorrhaging, preterm labor contractions, and preeclampsia all make pregnancies classified as “high-risk”.
- Pre-eclampsia: Preeclampsia is a grave consequence of pregnancy, typically arising after 20 weeks with the onset of elevated blood pressure and protein in urine. Left untreated, this could lead to potentially fatal strokes or even death.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): If a person has experienced deep vein thrombosis (DVT), they may experience swelling in the leg where the blood clot is located. After seeking medical treatment and resolving their DVT, it’s possible for them to receive prenatal massage therapy as part of their recovery plan.
- Placenta previa, accrete, or abruption: Pertaining to placental conditions, it is possible that bleeding may occur.
- Gestational diabetes mellitus: Although pregnant women with high blood sugar levels are not necessarily prohibited from receiving prenatal massage, they should always seek out the advice of their physician before doing so and be prepared to check their glucose levels prior to treatment.
The First Trimester
It is essential to be aware that during the early stages of pregnancy, some specialists advise against massage therapy due to potential miscarriage risks. Many massage therapists caution that increased blood flow caused by massaging may elevate miscarriage risk significantly.
Note Worthy
Many pregnant women enjoy going for regular massages during their pregnancy as an additional way to relax and care for their bodies, but some types of massage may not be appropriate during pregnancy.
It’s essential that you speak with a qualified practitioner before booking an appointment so they can advise you on the best type of massage for you and make sure there are no contraindications or risks.
It could mean the difference between enjoying a relaxing massage session, and causing harm unwittingly!
A qualified practitioner will also be able to help you stay comfortable by using specific supports and positioning during treatment, to put your mind at ease
Wrap Up
If you’re a mom-to-be and are experiencing any discomfort, don’t hesitate to give massage therapy a try. Massage can offer many benefits for both you and your baby throughout the pregnancy journey.
From helping Mom feel relaxed and energized through ongoing care to easing mild swelling or pain in Mom’s back, massage can help Mom to enjoy every moment of building this beautiful bond!
So what are you waiting for? Start feeling better today with massage therapy!
