subject: Rejuvenate Your Body But Also Combat Pain By Way Of A Soothing Prenatal Massage [print this page] If you're pregnant - or ever have been - you may have wondered about the benefit and safety involved with a prenatal massage. You're aware that the extra weight you're carrying creates major changes in your body, especially the added stress on your abdominal muscles, shoulders, neck and back. It also affects your ligaments by relaxing them, making your pelvic joints less stable and changing your posture by pulling your pelvis forward.
Before you consider including it in your pregnancy health routine, do some research to insure that the massage therapist you choose is trained in prenatal massage techniques, not just massage methods. A prenatal massage is effective because it involves the right amount of pressure ... using the right technique ... at the right stage in the pregnancy, so you need an expert.
With programs especially designed for stages in the pregnancy cycle, a prenatal massage can relieve discomfort where you need it and when you need it. Let's take a look at some of the benefits of a prenatal massage.
Provides a healthy alternative to reducing stress and promoting general well-being;
Relieves discomfort associated with backaches, stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches, joint pain and edema (swelling of the joints);
Reduces nervous tension, helping promote a better night's sleep;
Increases immunity and removal of excess toxins;
Stabilizes hormonal levels and balances the glandular system which results in fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight;
Soothes inflamed nerves by reducing muscle tension and sciatic nerve pain;
Relieves the effects of depression and anxiety brought on by pregnancy.
There is a definite skill required to administer a prenatal massage. The therapist must be able to locate the affected area and address it with the right amount of pressure, at the right time in your pregnancy cycle. Massage therapists who are properly trained in prenatal massage therapy know which areas need attention and in which trimester.
Listed below are some of the more common side effects of pregnancy and the trimester normally associated with each.
First Trimester:
Headache relief;
Reduces incidences of morning sickness;
Relieves tiredness by increasing energy level.
In the second trimester, a prenatal massage will:
Provide relief from backaches;
Sooth leg cramps.
Third Trimester:
Decrease swelling;
Relive pain from varicosities;
Provide a sounder night's sleep;
Reinforce the muscles in the pelvic area in preparation for the birthing process.
The massage therapist will have ask that you lay on your side in the initial phase of a prenatal massage, then move you into a reclining position when he/she massages the stomach area. To assist with proper positioning, many therapists use a support pillow designed specifically for this procedure, or a hollowed-out cushion to accommodate your expanding abdomen.
If you have any concerns regarding the safety aspect of a prenatal massage for you or your baby, it's important that you have a conversation with your obstetrician before beginning any treatment. Women with normal (low-risk) pregnancies tout the benefits of the prenatal massage and the relief it provides; women with higher-risk pregnancies should definitely consult their doctor before beginning a prenatal massage program. If you experience any discomfort at any time during your prenatal massage, tell your massage therapist immediately.
