6 Amazing Benefits of Prenatal Massage Therapy In 2022
The advantages and risks of getting a massage while pregnant are discussed here for expectant mothers.
Although nine months of joyous pregnancy are frequently portrayed in media, the physical reality of carrying a human being often involves a variety of complaints that can typically benefit from a massage therapist’s expertise.
What is a Prenatal Massage?
For the anatomical changes you go through during pregnancy, prenatal massages are tailored. In a traditional massage, you might spend half the time lying face-down on your stomach (which is not possible with a baby belly) and half the time facing up (a position that puts pressure on a major blood vessel that can disrupt blood flow to your baby and leave you feeling queasy).
However, a skilled massage therapist will adapt to your changing shape and posture by creating holes or special cushioning systems that let you lie face down safely while still allowing room for your expanding belly and breasts. Or you could use cushions and pillows to support you as you lie on your side.
Pregnancy Massage Benefits Include
- Alleviating back + leg pain
- Reducing labor pain during childbirth
- Lessening postoperative pain
- Reducing anxiety + stress
- Improving mood + lifting depression
- Easing insomnia
Amazing Benefits of Prenatal Massage Therapy
Reduce Swelling
During pregnancy, reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels are frequently to blame for the swelling in your hands, feet, and legs. You may feel more at ease after receiving massage therapy, which can also help to stimulate soft tissue, move surplus fluid, and reduce swelling.
Relieve Lower Back Pain
By addressing the tight muscles in the affected area, pregnancy massage reduces lower back pain, including sciatic nerve pain. Prenatal massage improves blood flow and aids in easing tension that can be naturally brought on by pregnancy.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
A massage is a fantastic way to relax after the tension of a stressful pregnancy. It can help people unwind and reduce their tension and pregnancy-related fears. It’s important to feel good because it’s good for your mental health, which can help you and the baby and increase your ability to handle difficult emotions.
A good massage therapist will always ask you about the areas you would like to have massaged and, more importantly, the areas you would not. Check that the therapist has received specialized training in prenatal care before you schedule a pregnancy massage to ensure that the treatment will be performed safely and with the necessary knowledge.
Improve Sleep
As your pregnancy progresses, getting good sleep becomes more and more difficult. The nervous system is calmed and feel-good hormones are released during prenatal massage. You’ll feel more at ease as a result, which will improve your sleep. All of us require that!
Prepare Your Body for Labor and Birth
Not only can prenatal massage lower your overall stress level, but it can also help keep your muscles toned and relaxed prior to the onset of labor. According to studies, when women got massages, they reportedly spent less time in the hospital, went into labor faster, and experienced less post-natal depression.
Relieve Pain Naturally
A natural, secure, drug-free alternative for pain management is provided by prenatal massage. This is advantageous because, in order to protect your unborn child, the use of medications should be restricted during pregnancy. Many of the typical pregnancy aches and pains can be significantly reduced by the increased blood flow to your tissues and the relaxation your body will experience during and after a session.
Can Pregnant Women Get Massages?
After the first trimester, prenatal massages are typically considered safe as long as you have your doctor’s approval and disclose that you are pregnant to your massage therapist. However, you should stay away from massage during your first three months of pregnancy as it could cause vertigo and worsen morning sickness.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no magical eject button that can unintentionally end your pregnancy, and there isn’t much evidence to support the possibility that certain types of massage can have a positive or negative impact. Certain pressure points, such as the one between the anklebone and the heel, are avoided by some massage therapists out of concern that they might cause contractions, but there is scant to no evidence that massage can actually cause labor to begin.
Research That Supports Massage for Pregnancy
A 1999 study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology found reduced anxiety, improved mood, better sleep, and less back pain among expectant mothers who received massage twice weekly for five weeks. This study was the beginning of two decades’ worth of research that confirmed the advantages of massage therapy during pregnancy.
More preliminary research has shed light on massage’s contribution to a healthier pregnancy. A small 2006 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences showed massage was a solid integrative treatment for severe pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, while a 2009 study in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies on 112 pregnant women diagnosed with depression suggested those receiving psychotherapy plus massage over a six-week period experienced greater drops in depression than those getting psychotherapy alone.
Meanwhile, a 2009 study in Infant Behavior & Development also focused on pregnant women with depression, finding those undergoing massage therapy not only experienced less depression at the end of 12 weeks, but also carried that benefit into the postpartum period. And a 2010 literature review in Expert Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology showed massage therapy decreased depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain in pregnant women, also indicating those in labor used less pain medication and had labors averaging three hours shorter than average.
Additionally, it has been demonstrated that massage therapy is essential in the care of newborns. According to clinical trials, babies born to mothers who received massage therapy had lower cortisol levels, better neonatal outcomes, and fewer instances of low birth weight and premature birth.
Key Takeaway: Prenatal Massage
An appointment for prenatal massage therapy can involve more than just bodywork. Within the scope of the practitioner’s training, it may develop into a complementary therapy, a holistic approach to maternity care, and a source of support and direction.
It is best to consult your doctor before getting a massage. Avoid massages if you are pregnant and have health issues like high blood pressure or a fever or if you are at a high risk of miscarriage.
FAQs
Risks of Prenatal Massage
Is receiving prenatal massage dangerous?
Although light pressure is risk-free (and can feel heavenly!), pregnant women are particularly susceptible to blood clots, which deep massage work can dislodge. That itself could be dangerous. You can apply firm, gentle, or deep pressure to other body parts as you see fit.
Benefits of Prenatal Massage for Baby
Reduced birth complications and instances of newborn complications like low birth weight were also caused by these changes in hormone levels. The evidence strongly suggests there are maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
Is a Prenatal Massage Safe in the 3rd Trimester?
Generally, yes. Numerous advantages of massage therapy during pregnancy have been demonstrated, including increased relaxation, better sleep, and a sense of wellness. However, certain procedures and bodily trigger points can result in contractions and early labor, so consulting a professional is essential.
