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Pregnancy Massage – Nurturing Mother and Child
Massage has been proven scientifically to provide many health benefits such as stimulation of the circulatory and lymph systems, increasing the removal of toxins and enhancing the immune system. It also helps to stabilize the hormone levels and add tone and flexibility to the muscles. As the pregnancy progresses, your body adjusts to the growing baby by changing and adjusting its alignment which can lead to an increased strain on your back and legs and increasing the stress on weight-bearing joints. Massage increases flexibility, enhancing the ability to carry this extra weight while also relieving aches and pains, leg cramps and muscle spasms. The effects of relaxation and tension release add to improvement in the physical state of muscles and joints, and assist in balancing emotions. Recent studies from the Touch Research Institute in Miami Florida, indicates that pregnancy massage provides more than just symptom relief for the mother. A group of 26 pregnant women were given either massage or relaxation therapy during a five-week study. In addition to experiencing a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, stress, sleep problems and back pain, the massage group had fewer complications in their delivery. Their newborns also had fewer postnatal complications. Another TRI study reported massage during labor resulted in shorter labor times for the mothers, shorter hospital stays and less postpartum depression.
Expecting Expectations
During the first trimester of pregnancy, a primary goal of massage is to provide relaxation and increase flow of the circulatory system. Stimulating the blood system pumps more energy-giving oxygen and nutrients into your cells and increases blood flow to the placenta. Muscle tension can slow down lymph flow, leaving you fatigued and at risk of toxemia. By stimulating this system, massage speeds up elimination of toxins and excess fluid, boosting your immunity and energy level. While bodywork won’t completely relieve nausea (morning sickness), it can certainly diminish the queasiness.In the second trimester, increasing weight of the baby can cause muscle soreness. Massage is used to release muscle spasms and ease structural changes. The therapist works to loosen joints, keeping them aligned and softening the connective tissues, relieving backaches and leg cramps. As pregnancy progresses and the abdomen enlarges, special positioning is required during massage. Pressure on the arteries in the back will diminish blood flow and oxygen to the fetus. Lying on the back with the right hip tilted up on a pillow, takes pressure off the nerves and arteries. Another position that decreases stress on the back is side-lying, with the belly supported by a pillow. During the final trimester, the baby begins to gain weight more rapidly, pressing against inner organs and causing them to shift. Discomfort increases and the impending due date can cause added stress and anxiety. At this stage, the therapist focuses on specific points to relieve pain while continuing to elicit relaxation throughout the body. Before initiating massage, consult your obstetrician, especially if you are high-risk. While massage is a safe treatment, there are certain conditions that require your physician’s approval and careful monitoring by the therapist. Notify your therapist immediately of any changes in your physical health, and consult your obstetrician about continuing the treatments should complications arise. Some physicians may be unaware of the benefits of pregnancy massage and hesitate to recommend it. In these cases, the therapist can help by providing information that explains her specialized training and experience. |
