During pregnancy medicinal choices for health issues are often limited. Prenatal massage is an excellent natural treatment to help alleviate some of the many ailments associated with pregnancy, such as joint pain, edema and insomnia. Prenatal massage is safe, relaxing and promotes overall physical and emotional wellness during pregnancy.
Registered Massage Therapists trained in prenatal massage are especially cognisant of the need for correct positioning of patients during massage and how that needs changes over the course of the pregnancy. For example, in the later stage of pregnancy it isn’t safe for an expectant mother to lie flat on her back. In this case, the use of a pregnancy pillow is required to enable the patient to lie either face down or on her side, or wedge under her right hip.
Massage techniques may include anything from a deep tissue massage to a relaxing aromatherapy massage, depending on the needs of the patient and the stage of pregnancy. Your therapist may also stretch and work on the muscles around the pelvic area to help ease the back pain associated with the weight of the baby.
Benefits of a pregnancy massage
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Decrease swelling in the arms, legs, feet and ankles by improving circulation
- Relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints
- Reduce sciatic nerve pain
- Promote relaxation and improve sleep-related issues
- Increase oxygen in the blood, thereby helping to eliminate toxins and provide nutrients for both mother and baby
- Strengthen the immune system
- Release “feel-good” hormones serotonin and dopamine into the brain and nervous system
How safe is massage therapy during pregnancy?
Pregnancy massage therapy provided by an RMT is very safe and beneficial as long as the pregnancy is normal. Be sure to communicate with your therapist about any issues you may be having, no matter how minor they may seem.
If you have, or are at risk for, any of the following conditions, please seek the advice of your midwife or obstetrician before booking a massage.
- High risk pregnancy
- Previous preterm labour
- Pregnancy induced hypertension
- Preeclampsia
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Severe nausea or vomiting
- Severe swelling in the arms and legs
- Abdominal bleeding
Preparing for a pregnancy massage
As with all types of massage, preparation for a prenatal massage is as simple as communicating your needs with your therapist and making sure you are hydrated before your massage session. Try not to eat or drink in the hour before the massage to avoid discomfort.
Book your pregnancy massage online by clicking the button below, or call the clinic at 604-857-3599.