Congratulations on your pregnancy!
No matter how far along you are in your pregnancy, you already know that your body is undergoing tremendous changes. Some of the changes can be uncomfortable, and pre-natal massage can help!
If you do everything you can now to prepare your body for birth, the process will go much smoother and your recovery postpartum with be much quicker. Right now, the focus should be on you and your body. Once your bundle of joy arrives, everyone’s attention shifts to the baby. Don’t forget to take care of you!
The overall goals of pregnancy massage, or prenatal massage, are to:
- minimize stress
- promote relaxation
- prepare the muscles for childbirth
- relieve lower back pain
- reduce swelling of hands and feet
- eliminate headaches
- relieve calf cramps
- promote good sleep
- relieve sciatic pain
- relieve sinus congestion
Related: A birth doula will use massage techniques before, during, and after birth.
How Pregnancy Massage Helps
The act of massage, including manipulation of soft tissues, stroking and stretching of muscle, tendons and ligaments achieves the following:
- increase of blood circulation
- more oxygen and nutrients are available to the tissues
- removal of metabolic waste products that have built up in the muscles
- improved muscle pliability
- improved joint flexibility
- decrease muscle tension
- calming nervous irritability
All of these things sound amazing, right?
Precautions for Pregnancy Massage
In most cases, pregnancy massage by a trained professional massage therapist, specifically someone who has experience with prenatal massage, is safe for all stages of pregnancy.
However, there are certain instances where it may not be good to receive pregnancy massage or precautions your pregnancy massage therapist should take.
The following are circumstances in which your primary health care provider advice is important and should be in the loop for you to continue massage during your pregnancy:
- Heavy vaginal discharge (watery or bloody)
- Preeclampsia
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Contagious Illness
- Morning sickness
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Any malignant conditions
- Unusual pain
Please consult with your primary care physician & OBGYN when you decide to get prenatal massages.
What To Expect During a Pregnancy Massage
You can wear as much or as little clothing as you feel comfortable wearing during your massage. Often times the massage therapist will position you on your back, side, or on your belly with a special pregnancy massage table that allows for your growing baby.
Be sure to let the massage therapist know if you:
- are uncomfortable
- are hot or cold
- would like more or less pressure
- if you have to go to the bathroom
Post-partum and Infant Massage
Massage, after you give birth, is extremely beneficial to the healing process as well as the stresses of new parenthood. Learning how to massage your baby will increase bonding and provide relaxation and better sleep for your baby.
Check out our pregnancy massage services today!