Pregnancy Massage

It never really crossed my mind that massage therapy can also be beneficial for pregnant women.  I always thought that massage at this point should not be given since it might disrupt any pregnancy activity which may harm both the mother and the child.  Little did I know that pregnancy massage can be both beneficial and rewarding for a mother.

Pregnancy massage is designed to meet the needs of an expecting woman.  It may be given to her before and after child delivery.

The childbearing stage exposes the mother to different physical and mental changes.  Excess fat is deposited on the arm, abdominal, buttocks and thigh area which may cause nerve impingement.  Postural problems are also a result of this added weight, which in turn may cause muscle imbalance and cramping, joint pain and back pain.  The mother may also experience a great deal of disrupted sleep due to frequent position changes to relieve an area of the body.  This may lead to lack of sleep, much worse, insomnia.  With these drastic changes, depression and anxiety become common mental problems.

The benefits of pregnancy massage include:

• relief from muscle and joint pain, muscle cramps, neck and lower back pain;
• reduction of stress on weight-bearing joints; increase in blood and lymph flow which causes swelling; improvement in labor outcome and ease in labor pain; enhancement of skin condition;
• anxiety and depression management;
• stimulation of the glands to stabilize the female hormones;
• and a generally stress-free experience.

Pregnancy massage is recommended after the first three months of being pregnant.  It is very different from the other types of massage mainly because a pregnant woman must be handled with extreme care.  The massage therapist must know a pregnant woman’s anatomy well.  Positioning is also critical in providing the client her greatest comfort during the entire treatment.  Pregnancy massage procedures may use reclining tables and wedged pillows to make sure that the client is positioned comfortably.

Post-pregnancy massage is also done to help bring back the mother’s body to its pre-pregnancy condition.  It assists in a faster recovery after labor by relieving sore and painful muscles.  Massage at this stage also helps improve the skin’s tone and appearance.  Abdominal massage may also be done to help shrink the uterine size and relieve subcutaneous scar tissue.

A lot of women mope and stay depressed during the entire time that they are pregnant.  They resent the changes that come hand-in-hand with being pregnant.  Pregnancy massage makes it possible for a woman, especially for first-time mothers, to see childbearing in a more positive side.  It gives them hope that despite pregnancy pains and restrictions, childbearing is as wonderful and fulfilling as it was designed to be.

If you are pregnant and interested to get a pregnancy massage, start by consulting your physician about it.  get a medical clearance and approval for this wonderful, relaxing treatment!

Why Should Pregnant Women Seek a Prenatal Massage?

The body of a pregnant woman undergoes a tremendous amount of physical and chemical changes that help keep the body centered and in a place wherein it can easily adapt to the needs of the baby growing inside. While the systems of the mother shift to the care of the unborn child, the mother also undergoes physical and emotional changes that place a lot of stress on both the mother and the child she is carrying. This is the main reason why an expectant mother should always seek regular prenatal massage care.

Expectant mothers need not to worry. Pregnancy massage differs from regular massage. The pre-natal massage is a highly baby friendly method that is carefully tailored to meet the varying needs of the mother-to-be. As a mother-to-be usually experience low back pain, calf cramps, insomnia, and sciatic pain, getting pregnancy massages on a regular basis will help in easing these symptoms. It has been said that massage will help in relaxing the mother so much that when it is time for the baby to come out, regular labor pains doesn’t hurt as much as they would normally. This is believed to be due to the muscles of the body being well relaxed and ready to cope with the tremendous stress and pressures that accompany childbirth.