A prenatal massage is a full body massage designed to reduce stress hormones and help prepare for childbirth.
This pregnancy massage is done by a qualified massage therapist and has many benefits. This massage therapy helps to reduce the swelling that may result from pregnancy as well as encouraging healing of skin, muscles and ligaments which can stretch during pregnancy. Prenatal massage therapy mainly focuses on helping women through their journey into motherhood. The approach to prenatal or postnatal care is holistic and customised for the individual. It is based upon the practice of many types of touch therapies by massage therapists.
Prenatal Massage Therapy is a different type of massage therapy with a few modifications in traditional massage like Swedish massage or sports massage. This pregnancy massage has different massage techniques highly specialised and customised to the health concerns of each client's body and different stages( first trimester, second trimester and other stages) in the pregnancy period. Pregnancy massage is not a clinical treatment for medical problems, but it can be used to complement or support other therapies your physician has prescribed. This pregnancy massage helps with muscular aches, pains, spasms and tension that are common during pregnancy. This professional massage also helps to increase blood flow and reduce blood clots. Because it is difficult for a pregnant woman to lie flat on her pregnant belly, the massage table in a massage room may be elevated in the side-lying position or with a wedge pillow under the belly or between the knees. The massage therapist should always avoid massage which exposes the expectant mother to supine hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when changing body positions) by helping her move slowly to a sitting position and avoiding long periods of time sitting up following the session. It should be done especially by a qualified therapist who makes pregnancy massage highly beneficial for the health of pregnant women and helps in the baby's growth.
Pregnancy massage is not a clinical treatment for medical problems, but this massage can be used as complementary medicine to support other therapies your physician has prescribed. It helps with sore muscles, joint pain, spasms and tension that are common during pregnancy. This pregnancy massage also helps to improve blood flow, increase circulation and reduce swelling from fluid retention. There are many benefits of prenatal massage.
A typical prenatal massage session lasts one hour, although shorter sessions are often recommended by healthcare providers so as not to overdo it. In the first half, you will start out clothed but later in the second half, your massage therapist might ask you to remove some items of clothing before lying face down on your back or side to avoid any risk.
During pregnancy week, your body goes through many changes like extra weight gain which can cause tight muscles and back pain in daily life. Pregnancy causes your centre of gravity to shift and the posture changes which puts pressure on physical health like your back, hips, knees and ankles. Research shows that pregnancy massage helps reduce anxiety during the first trimester of pregnancy, nausea/vomiting, low back pain, morning sickness, fatigue, cervical dilation during labour (which means the massage is working to help ease you into labour) and more. This gentle massage is beneficial for the lymphatic system, nervous system and helps in improved sleep.
This massage is performed in the side-lying or semi-reclining position. You can opt to turn onto your stomach, but you should know that it's best for your massage therapist to avoid any type of professional back massage during pregnancy. Also, if you feel lightheaded when changing positions, let your massage therapist know so they can assist you.
It's important to note that pregnancy massage is not the same as postnatal care (which would be performed after you give birth). Massage during pregnancy can help women relax and manage aches and pains, but it isn't a replacement for prenatal care. Also, since some peer-reviewed studies suggest avoiding lying on your back after week 20 of pregnancy(as strong pressure may trigger the increased risk of uterine contractions), your massage therapist should adjust your position accordingly.
Prenatal oils are specifically designed with safety in mind. It is best for massage therapists to go with an organic oil like almond or olive which absorbs more deeply into the skin without being too greasy or slippery. You can use vitamin e oil for stretch marks. You might want to avoid certain oils such as coconut, grape seed and sesame due to their strong odour and stickiness.
It's best for pregnant women to avoid deep tissue if they have high blood pressure or are in their third trimester because it could put too much pressure on the uterus. It is also not recommended that you receive hot stone massages, infrared therapy or reiki while pregnant. These massage therapies are said to be more effective on health when moms allow their bodies enough time to adjust.
Regular massage is generally a great way to keep your body relaxed and relieve some stress. However, it's important you do your research before booking an appointment with massage therapist to reduce any high risk on health.
For example, benefits from Thai massage have been studied for people with fibromyalgia pain relief syndrome but there hasn't been any research done on pregnant women or infants yet. Massages such as sports massage may lead to increased miscarriage risk and other complications associated with the health of expectant mothers.For more information on pregnancy massage, take a look at the Health Direct website.