Is pregnancy massage therapy for you?
Pregnancy massage focuses on the special needs of the mother-to be, as her body
progresses through the dramatic changes, of the childbirth experience - pregnancy,
birth, and post-partum.
This means, massage therapy can be an effective and desirable complement to the other
many professional modalities in the medical community for expectant moms.
Benefits of Pregnancy Massage
-Prior to pregnancy, especially helpful to those
who are finding it difficult to conceive (please
call to ask more about this if you or someone you
know is finding it difficult to conceive).
-Reduction of the stress hormone, cortisol, may
lead to increase fertility or decreased number of
miscarriages in women.
-Reduction of stress hormone, cortisol, may lead
to higher sperm counts for males.
-During pregnancy, often given in the side-lying
position instead of lying on stomach or back
-During labor, for stress reduction and muscle
relaxation between contractions and or support
during back labor.
-After delivery postpartum massage facilitates
rehabilitation of abdominal muscles – see section
on postpartum below.
-Reduces strain on muscles of the abdomen, neck,
shoulders and lower back
-Improves sleep
-Relieves some common discomforts of
pregnancy: nausea, fatigue, heartburn, headaches,
backaches and stresses of being pregnant.
-Promotes greater acceptance of the beauty and
power of pregnancy, boosting confidence in their
body
-Provides a quiet time to relax and reflect to
reduce fatigue
-Improves labor outcomes with reduced pain
perception and shorter labors by stimulating
acupressure points
-Relaxes and gives relief of muscle tension
brought about by contractions, enabling labor to
begin with less tension in the back, pelvis and
legs
-Provides comfort, support and nurturing
-Relieves pain in the muscles and joints that must
support the extra weight
-Increases flexibility, making it easier for their
body to adjust to the additional weight
-Relieves abdominal soreness caused by the
active baby’s kicks
-Eases constipation, gas, and heartburn as
general
relaxation
stimulates
intestinal
movement
-Reduces excess fluid retention by gentle
pushing fluid into circulation where it can be
eliminated
-Promotes greater circulation, improving the
baby’s oxygen supply and helping prevent
varicose veins and swelling
-Relieve headaches caused by tension,
constipation, or buildup of metabolites
-Faster recovery of energy and muscle tone
after birth reducing postpartum stress
Benefits of Postpartum Massage
-Helps in returning the body to its prepregnancy state
-Improves breastfeeding
-Reduces muscle tension and pain
-Increased time spent with the baby
-Decreases postpartum depression
-Promotes recovery from cesarean birth,
including healing of the incision
-Contributes
to
restoring
emotional,
physiological, and family adjustments
-Promotes structural realignment of the spine
and pelvis, and reorganization of movement
-Relieves neck and back strain caused by
holding and nursing your baby for many hours
of the day and night
- Abdominal massage can help shrink the uterus
and relieve subcutaneous scar tissue.
References:
Salvo, Susan G.: Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice, ed 2, Elsevier Science 2003,
Saunders.
http://pregnancytoday.com/reference/articles/prenatms.htm
http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/connecticut/ECTprenatalmassage.htm