Pregnant women benefit tremendously from massage. It is one of the most personally rewarding and beneficial times to offer special attention to your body, decrease stress (on mom and baby), and prepare you for labor and delivery.
Benefits:
Stress Reducing – decreases stress hormones (catecholamine/cortisol) that interrupt healthy pregnancy and prolong labor, decreases fatigue and aids in much needed, comfortable sleep
Physiological Relief – relieves low back pain, sciatica, breathing difficulty, and chronic muscle pain, assists with posture and balance, decreases gastrointestinal issues such as morning sickness, indigestion, and constipation, and circulatory difficulties such as swelling and congestion
Emotional / Psychological – allows an opportunity to get in touch with your body’s changes, supports your emotional / hormonal changes, decreases depression and anxiety, encourages love and bonding with your new baby
Does Pregnancy Massage Pose a Risk?
Traditionally, massage therapy had been avoided during the first trimester. Mostly, this was due to the fear of liability if a woman were to miscarry FOR ANY REASON (the majority of miscarriages occur during the first trimester).
There is no scientific evidence on harm caused from careful, respectful massage therapy on a pregnant woman having a healthy pregnancy. Most women experience more massage from their own rolling in bed trying to find a comfortable position and from their partner or friend who is asked to rub her aching back or feet! Also, science today has shown us that miscarriages result from hormone imbalances, genetic problems, dietary deficiencies, exposure to environmental toxins, and more....
Rather, there are MANY benefits. Massage therapy on a pregnant woman is gentle, mindful, and respectful of her changing needs. It is not intense, and does not include deep pressure to the abdominal area (thereby avoiding any stress to the fetus) or the legs (ONLY light lymphatic drainage is used during all trimesters to assist with edema). Mindful massage therapy is not associated with miscarriage (rather it decreases stress and promotes a healthy pregnancy), it appropriately utilizes acupressure points related to healthy pregnancy (with instruction of those that should be saved for labor), and it should not be avoided, but rather encouraged, during pregnancy. Stress to both mom and baby is a risk factor for any pregnancy - massage allows an opportunity to de-stress!
When Should a Woman NOT Receive a Massage During Pregnancy?
If a woman is having a difficult pregnancy, or has encountered certain complications, THEN massage therapy may be contraindicated. For example, if a woman is having abnormal bleeding or abdominal pain, is experiencing nausea or vomiting (times of the day when nausea subsides are ideal times for massage), or has particular orders from her physician for bed rest, then massage should be avoided. If you are experiencing any complications, please discuss this with your medical provider and the massage therapist.
Positioning During Pregnancy:
Positioning is based on whatever the woman is most comfortable with. While a pregnant woman should never lie flat on her back, she may lie in a recumbent position, where she is propped up both behind the back and under the knees. Side lying is also extrememly comfortable and allows for a full body massage. If a woman is still comfortable lying on her belly, massage can also be given in this position. Thanks to the new Body Cushion System (see link to the left), a pregnant woman can now lie face down throughout her entire pregnancy, safely, and comfortably. The Body Cushion is so comfortable, some women ask to come in early just to lie on the cushion! No more digging holes in the sand to support your belly!
Training in Pregnancy Massage:
Training was completed with Elain Stillerman, LMT. Please visit her website to learn more about her training course: www.mothermassage.net
The training provides in depth information, research, and practice in the following areas: physiology of pregnancy, labor and postpartum, skills and competencies to massage clients from first trimester through labor and postpartum recovery, full body prenatal massage practice with positioning in sidelying, recumbent, chair and with use of Body Cushion System, labor support massage, postpartum massage, with special attention paid to high risk pregnancies and treating common discomforts of pregnancy including low back pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, and contraindications and precautions of prenatal massage.