Pregnant women go through significant changes during their pregnancy that can be uncomfortable and draining. For several months, mums carry a baby inside them, which results in stiffness in their back, neck, and shoulders. Not to mention the painful ankles and mental exhaustion that comes along!
A pregnancy massage is your best option to reduce pain and anxiety. It can make your contractions feel less painful and more tolerable, which can shorten the length of your labour. Additionally, it can reduce the chance of premature birth or low birth weight.
These are some of the incredible benefits of pregnancy massage.
Is Pregnancy Massage Safe?
Let’s find out whether pregnancy massage is safe for women or not.
A 1999 study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology (Source) found reduced anxiety, improved mood, better sleep, and less back pain among expectant mothers who received massage twice weekly for five weeks. This study was the beginning of two decades of research that confirmed the advantages of massage therapy during pregnancy.
Prenatal massages are usually considered safe after the first trimester, as long as you have your doctor’s approval and disclose that you are pregnant to your massage therapist. However, massage should be avoided for the first three months of pregnancy since it may cause vertigo and worsen morning sickness.
Outstanding Benefits of Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage has numerous health benefits. Let’s discover some of the most incredible benefits of pregnancy massage.
Improves Sleep
As your pregnancy progresses, it gets harder and harder to get good sleep. By stimulating the production of the melatonin hormone and serotonin compounds in the body, deep-tissue massage helps you relax and improves sleep quality. This is a good way to improve your overall health.
Lowers Stress & Anxiety
The stress hormone is called cortisol. A pregnant woman’s body produces much less cortisol when she receives massage treatments as part of prenatal care. This enables her to experience healthy hormones, which are proven to boost immunity, vigour, and mood.
Reduces Swelling
Swelling is referred to in medical terms as oedema. Low circulation and added pressure on the blood vessels are the main causes of this frequent occurrence during pregnancy. Deep tissue massage is advised for pregnant women to activate the soft tissues and reduce the build-up of fluid in swollen joints. Additionally, massage can enhance the lymph system’s capacity to eliminate waste from the body’s tissues.
Alleviates Muscular Pain
Muscle soreness and cramping are some common side effects of pregnancy. These discomforts typically result from tight muscles and increased motor neuron activity. These can be substantially minimised with the aid of skilled pregnancy massage therapy.
Improves Blood Circulation
Circulation is crucial because, during pregnancy, the body produces 50–60% more blood. Thankfully, massage therapy makes it easier and simpler for the body to process increased blood volume and ensures a healthy venous return to the heart by promoting the return of blood to the heart and improving blood flow to the uterus and placenta.
Relieves Sciatica Pain
Pregnancy massage reduces lower back discomfort, particularly sciatic nerve pain, by targeting the tight muscles in the affected area. It promotes blood flow and aids in easing the tension that pregnancy may naturally cause.
Lower Risks of Premature Birth
According to studies, women who consistently received prenatal massage therapy during their pregnancies had a lower risk of giving birth prematurely than those who did not. (Source)
Helps Maintain Good Posture
Your body realigns itself during pregnancy. Your centre of gravity is altered by the additional weight of the baby, no matter how big the baby bump is.
Regular massage helps muscles become more flexible, which can improve your posture and general capacity to take that extra weight while maintaining the strength of your legs and back.
Increases Comfort
The sciatic nerve in the upper leg can be pinched by the larger uterus, which puts pressure on the muscles in the lower back and pelvic floor and causes intense pain and discomfort.
Massage therapy eases tension and discomfort by relieving pressure on irritated nerves, which can completely eliminate sciatic nerve pain. Since using drugs while pregnant can be risky and options for expectant mothers are scarce, massage therapy is one of the few safe, natural, drug-free alternatives for pain management.
If you ever get a massage at Magda Clinic, you’ll realise that I primarily use a pregnancy pillow for my clients so that they can safely and comfortably lie in a prone position without any harm to the baby. This proves to be of the utmost comfort for my clients, and they are highly satisfied after the massage.
Prepares for Labour & Birth
Prenatal massage can make labour easier for you since it keeps your muscles relaxed and toned before the start of labour, in addition to lowering your general stress level. According to studies, when women received massages, their hospital stays were shorter, their labours were shorter, and their chances of developing post-natal depression were lower. (Source)
Get Your Pregnancy Massage at Magda Clinic
If you are a pregnant mum and are suffering from pain and discomfort, I want you to know that you are not alone, and I can help you. Stop searching for ‘the best pregnancy massage therapy near me’ and get the most comfortable pregnancy massage in Townsville.
A pregnancy massage is your best option to experience the above-mentioned benefits. Take your condition seriously and get yourself a pregnancy massage to improve your health and the health of your baby.
