Massages are not only relaxing and pampering. Massage decreases symptoms of pregnancy and decreases the pain and length of labor.
2 Common myths and preconceptions of pregnancy and massage:
1. Massage during 1st trimester causes miscarriages
*Reality: Only extremely deep and vigorous lower abdominal massage could possibly cause a miscarriage. If a woman experiences a miscarriage after a massage, it is not the massage that is the cause.
2. Massaging the feet and ankles will cause a pregnant woman to go into labor.
*Reality: There ARE acupressure and reflexology points on the feet and ankles that are contraindicated (should avoid stimulating). However it takes prolonged specific pressure directly on those points to activate them. A general foot and ankle massage does not do this and is safe to perform.
Benefits of Prenatal and Post-Partum Massage:
Prenatal
- Helps mother cope with emotional and physiological changes in her body
- Reduces morning sickness
- Relieves headaches
- Reduces insomnia and fatigue, promotes deeper and better sleep
- Reduces musculoskeletal pain and postural imbalances
- Reduces sciatic paining hips, low back, and legs
- Relieves cramps, spasm, and myofascial pain
- Improved flexibility, releases tight muscles
- Promotes blood and lymph circulation, reducing toxins in system
- Reduces edema (swelling) in hands, feet, face, and ankles
- Reduces blood pressure due to improved circulation
- Reduces varicose vein development and pain
- Helps maintain efficient breathing patterns
- Promotes secretion of hormones that are beneficial to mother and fetus
- Helps prepare mother for labor
- Release endorphins which helps with pain management
- Reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional swings
- Increases mothering instincts
Post-Partum
- Speeds up physiological recovery
- Helps balance physical and emotional challenges of motherhood
- Reduces post-partum depression
- Lightens stretch marks
- Relieves stress
- Reduces fluid retention
- Exfoliates skin
- Improves sleep
- Boosts milk production
- Improves circulation
- Improves tone and flexibility of muscles and stretched nerves
- Helps reposition the pelvis
- Relaxation!
Benefits for Baby
- Positivity affects health
- Helps mother and baby bond
- Releases happy hormones
- Improves outcome of labor
- Less complications
- Lowes rate of premature labor
- Helps facilitate natural childbirth (less interventions)
- Can make labor shorter, easier, and less painful
*If at any time during massage you experience any discomfort, please tell the therapist immediately
This is an excerpt from my client Savanna’s pregnancy massage experience. [You can read more here]