With pregnancy comes making preparations for the baby’s or babies’ arrival and physical, mental, emotional, and hormonal changes for the mom-to-be.
To deal with the physical changes and discomfort caused by pregnancy, more and more pregnant women are turning to pregnancy massages (also known as prenatal massages). Pregnancy massages aim to help pregnant women feel good as they wait for their little one’s arrival by tackling changes they experience with mobility, circulation, soreness, and muscle tension. If you want to try this increasingly popular practice, but need more information, read below for some useful facts about pregnancy massages.
1. Only professional massage therapists should give pregnancy massages.
A prenatal massage adapts traditional massage techniques to maintain the well-being of the expectant mother and unborn child. Some massages may apply more pressure to relieve discomfort, while others may apply less pressure to help with relaxation. For this reason, only licensed therapists who have received training in giving prenatal massages should engage in this practice.
A pregnancy massage requires a properly trained professional to know the areas of your body to avoid based on your condition and stage of pregnancy. Experienced, qualified massage therapists, like the licensed professionals at Endota Spa, will know the proper techniques and positions for your pregnant body and customize your treatment according to your specific needs.
Be open with your trained massage therapist, informing them of any health conditions you have, any medications you take, and how you’ve been feeling during pregnancy.
2. Pregnancy massages can effectively contribute to pain relief and reduced swelling.
As the baby grows and the abdomen pushes outward, a pregnant woman’s posture changes, realigning the center of gravity over her hips. This stress on the muscles and joints can cause shoulder, neck, lower back, pelvic, or sciatic nerve pain for some people. Research supports the effectiveness of prenatal massage therapy for some of these aches and leg pain during pregnancy.
Swelling, also referred to as edema, is common during pregnancy. Such swelling usually occurs in the feet, ankles, and legs as the uterus grows and puts pressure on veins in the legs. Massage therapy during pregnancy demonstrates effectiveness in playing a part in reducing fluid buildup.
3. Getting a massage during pregnancy can help you improve your sleep and reduce stress.
Physical discomfort, fatigue, anxiety, and stress during all pregnancy stages can result in sleeping difficulties. Prenatal massage therapy can be effective in helping pregnant women improve their sleep quality and deal with insomnia. Studies conclude that such massages can also contribute to enhanced immune function and decreased stress hormone levels.
4. Pregnancy massages may be best during the second trimester and third trimester.
It’s a good idea to consider the pregnancy stage you’re in before pursuing massages. While prenatal massages are safe and there’s no evidence associating massages with miscarriage, many trained professionals may refuse massages to women in their first trimester because the overall miscarriage risk is typically highest during the first trimester. Additionally, use extra caution if your pregnancy is high-risk or complicated by conditions like blood clotting, preeclampsia, or high blood pressure.
After enjoying prenatal massages, you might decide you want massages during the postpartum period as well. Like prenatal massages, post-pregnancy massages can help with quicker recovery, stress reduction, discomfort, swelling, and pain relief. For instance, breastfeeding may initially bring on discomfort or even breast engorgement. Using the best breast pumps—manual pumps, electric pumps, or portable pumps—pumping bras and nursing bras can help you during pumping sessions to provide breast milk for your newborn. Reputable brands like Spectra, Lansinoh, Medela, Haakaa, Tommee, and Elvie make electric breast pumps and manual breast pumps to help new moms be comfortable and take less time pumping breast milk on their breastfeeding journey. In addition to using high-quality breast pumps, pump parts, and accessories, postpartum massages may alleviate any discomfort associated with breastfeeding and pregnancy.
The benefits of maternal massages during and after pregnancy can help enhance a woman’s health. Consider consulting your obstetrician and prenatal care team for the green light to start leveraging the advantages of professional pregnancy massages.