Nothing beats massage therapy when your body is tired and aching, or your mind is buzzing with anxiety. There are plenty of reasons you might choose to get a prenatal massage. Pregnancy alters your body and mind, causing a slew of emotions and aches and pains in previously unaffected areas.
A prenatal massage can help you alleviate some of the discomforts of pregnancy while also promoting relaxation—but is it safe? Prenatal massage is safe when done correctly, but it also has a slew of advantages.
Physical discomfort and your anxiety related to pregnancy can be relieved with prenatal massage therapy. Nonetheless, there are some things you must be aware of before booking a session.
You should first see your doctor if getting a prenatal massage in Calgary to see if it is safe for you, as some women should avoid getting massages while pregnant. After receiving your doctor’s approval, you’ll need to find a massage therapist who has completed the proper training and certification to provide pregnant massage.
Defining prenatal massage.
Prenatal massage is more than simply a luxurious spa treatment to treat yourself to on special occasions. It’s a sort of integrated medical therapy. Trained specialists use their hands to activate muscles, ligaments, tendons, and skin by applying pressure and movement to various body regions.
A prenatal massage is designed to target tight places that may be aggravated by pregnancy while keeping you and your baby safe. The masseuse will properly position and support your body while also paying attention to the oils used throughout the massage.
Is prenatal massage safe for you?
Although indulging in a prenatal massage is a traditional technique that has been practised for many years, it is advisable to consult your doctor beforehand.
Massages is not good throughout the first trimester, according to several doctors, due to the high chance of miscarriage during those months. While pregnant massage does not cause miscarriage, it is always best to seek your doctor’s permission first.
You might find this useful if you don’t want to tell anyone about your pregnancy until you’ve finished the first trimester. Most women also like to wait till after the first trimester to begin massages. Spas and Ayurveda centres that offer prenatal massage often advise waiting until you’re at least twelve weeks pregnant before getting any treatments.
What areas do you have to avoid while performing prenatal massage?
Even if your doctor has given you the nod, tell your massage therapist which parts of your body need avoidance. For instance, you might not want her to massage your tummy or bump. Instead, you may wish to have your head, neck, shoulders, hands, back, and legs rubbed.
Long, delicate, and fluid strokes are useful from massage therapists with experience instead of sudden, vigorous, and deep-tissue massages. However, let her know if anything throughout the massage bothers you, particularly your position.
Benefits of prenatal massage.
In this section, we’ll be explaining about the advantages of prenatal massage. After reading it, you’ll have a proper sense of weather you should get massages during pregnancy or not.
Alleviates muscle pain.
Your body must adjust to the changes as your baby grows, which might be uncomfortable. Massages focusing on the lower back, hips, neck, and feet are the most popular request from pregnant mothers. Understandably, the additional weight and edema during pregnancy would have the greatest influence on those places.
Because the pelvis widens open to accommodate the growing baby, prenatal massage can also help relieve neck and shoulder pain and sciatica, a typical problem among pregnant moms.
Strengthens immune response.
Staying healthy is even more crucial when you’re pregnant, but your immune system naturally weakens. It’s worth noting that mice who were hand-stroked rather than brush-stroked had a better immune system response in animal experiments.
Massage therapy has also improved immunity in chemotherapy and immunodeficiency problem patients. Massage improves circulation and aids in the removal of toxins from the body through the lymphatic system.
Decreases prenatal depression.
Moderate pressure and touch stimulate the skin, which stimulates nerve receptors, resulting in a calming effect. Internal organ function, such as heart rate and respiratory rhythm gets a regulation by the vagus nerve in particular.
The increase in vagal activity slows down the neurological system, lowers cortisol levels, boosts oxytocin, the love hormone, and boosts serotonin, the body’s natural antidepressant and anti-pain neurotransmitter. A three-month study found that getting a 20-minute prenatal massage twice a week can reduce sadness and anxiety.
Prevention of preterm labour.
According to a study, prenatal depression is connected to premature birth between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and low birth weight for the infant.
According to Field, elevated stress hormones like cortisol might induce placental problems. A prenatal massage can help balance these biochemical changes, ensuring a healthy environment for the baby. Therefore it’s important to follow such tips rather than regretting later.
Tips for safe prenatal massage.
Prenatal massage is great to nourish you both physically and mentally, so you’ll want to relax and enjoy it knowing that you and your baby are safe. A prenatal massage is similar to a regular massage, but there are a few safety precautions to consider when you’re expecting.
Lying on your side, possibly propped up by pillows, is the best posture for a massage starting in the second trimester (and beyond). Of course, lying on your stomach is no longer a pleasant or safe alternative.
According to the American Psychological Association, massage tables with a belly cutout can still exert pressure on your abdomen; letting your belly hang might stretch your uterine ligaments painfully.
When you’re in your second trimester, lying on your back can be dangerous because the weight of your developing belly can compress a vital blood vessel in your back, obstructing blood flow.
Many massage therapists avoid giving pregnant women hot stone massages since it raises their core temperature. You should not do it during pregnancy. Many people avoid deep tissue massage because too much pressure, especially near veins in the legs. It can dislodge a blood clot, which pregnant women are more likely to acquire.
Finally, find a registered massage therapist specializing in prenatal massage and acquire permission from your doctor before scheduling an appointment. You must ask common questions about prenatal massage to your therapists and figure out the right actions that can help you.
What to expect from the first massage session?
Expect a sense of relaxation to follow your massage treatment. This is because your tired muscles will feel at ease due to the touch therapy. The pregnant woman will have a sense of lightness and relief.
Expect to feel sleepy as the relaxing music and aroma of burning candles relax your senses. Don’t get up just right after the massage; allow your body to absorb all the satisfaction it’s been wanting. Also, you can know about some great weight losing exercises to ensure that your health is in a good condition.
We hope that all points about What Can Pregnant Mothers Expect From Their First Massage Therapy are now cleared in your mind. Also, if you feel that there’s more you want to know, be sure to drop a comment and we’ll reach out soon to give you proper knowledge about it. Thanks for reading.
