Pregnancy and Massage: A great way to relax

 

 

As exciting as pregnancy is, normal physical aches and pains along with emotional stressors can be present for the entire nine months.  The aches and pains are a result of physiological changes the body goes through when a woman becomes pregnant.  Carrying a baby changes your center of gravity and puts a lot of stress on your back, neck, abdominal muscles, and shoulders. The ligaments begin to relax, so that your pelvic joints are less stable.  The extra weight you are carrying changes your posture and pulls your pelvis forward.  One method of prenatal care to help with physical, emotional health and well being is massage therapy.  Below we will examine some of the benefits of massage therapy.

 

Benefits of Massage

 

There are many benefits of massage therapy, but we’ll take the time to highlight only a few here.

 

  • Hormone Regulation – Massage therapy performed during pregnancy may help regulate hormones primarily by decreasing levels of cortisol, a stress indicator that can reduce anxiety. Secondly, massage has the potential of increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine which are the “feel good” hormones that may decrease symptoms of depression. The relaxation of nervous tension can also benefit sleep.

 

  • Pain Relief – Massage therapy may aid in the relief of muscular aches and joint pain.

 

  • Control Swelling – Massage therapy may also help control edema, or swelling, caused by an increase in blood volume and pressure from the growing womb. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints. Stimulating the soft tissue works to pump blood containing energy-giving oxygen and nutrients into your cells and increases blood flow to the placenta.  Increased blood flow also improves the removal of tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymph system.

 

  • Sciatic Nerve Pain – Later in pregnancy as the baby gets heavier and the uterus presses on muscles of the pelvic floor and the lower back, women experience nerve pain. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles.

 

There’s so many massage techniques, which one is best for me?

There are varying techniques of massage including Swedish massage which is the recommended prenatal method. This method addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by the hormonal shifts in the body. The goal is to relax muscle tension and improve blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body.

 

As with any therapeutic practice, pregnant women will want to get medical clearance before beginning massage therapy. It is important to find a massage therapist that is certified in prenatal massage. Trained prenatal massage therapists are aware of pressure points on the ankles and wrists that can gently stimulate pelvic muscles, including the uterus. Certified prenatal massage therapists are trained to avoid very specific and intentional pressure to these areas during pregnancy. Any woman who has experienced pre-term contractions or consistent Braxton-Hicks contractions should alert her therapist to that fact so that pressure points can be avoided completely.

 

Radiance Spa at the Bucks Club in Jamison is an ideal place for a massage therapy treatment. They have licensed therapists who are trained in prenatal massage and their goal is to provide a retreat from chaotic routine and to help restore inner balance. With their signature maternity massage, pregnant women can relax and can feel the stress leaving just thinking about it!

 
References:

  1. “Pregnancy Massage”. Accessed 8, April 2015. Massagetherapy.com http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/44/Pregnancy-Massage
  2. “Massage and Pregnancy-Prenatal Massage”. Accessed 8, April 2015. American Pregnancy Association. http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/prenatal-massage/

 

Brent

Brent

President, Personal Training Manager at Body By Brent LLC
Brent
Brent
Brent