Call (949) 610-0335 To Schedule A Prenatal Massage In Orange County
As prenatal massage continues to make pregnancy easier on women, it’s quickly gaining in popularity with more and more women scheduling a prenatal massage each day. Like anything in life, prenatal massage has risks and benefits and we’ll cover both of them here.
Pregnancy causes many changes in the body which often results in discomfort and stress. Prenatal massage is designed to provide relief by making special adjustments to normal massage practice to accommodate a pregnancy. Specially trained in the techniques of prenatal massage, a qualified prenatal massage therapist will also be able to recognize symptoms of prenatal disorders like preeclampsia which can clearly endanger both the mother or the child.
Therapeutic bodywork such as prenatal massage focuses on the special needs of an expecting mother as her body transforms during the entire pregnancy clear up to the childbirth. Throughout the United States, obstetricians, childbirth educators, midwife nurses, labor and delivery nurses alike have all been drawn in by the rapidly growing popularity of the field of prenatal massage and all its’ benefits. Besides providing relief from mental and physical fatigue, prenatal massage has been clearly demonstrated to improve muscle and joint function, circulation and general body tone.
What is Prenatal Massage Like?
Prenatal massage in the early stages of a pregnancy isn’t very different from a standard Swedish massage. One exception however is the massage therapist will avoid any acupressure points known to induce labor as well as some other sensitive areas of the body. In addition, they will also be looking for any visible signs of danger such as excessive swelling.
As the pregnancy moves into later stages, it’s safer and more comfortable for the expecting mother to receive her prenatal massage while lying on her side with pillows and cushions supporting her legs and belly for comfort. Some pregnancy massage therapy might allow for the expecting mother to lie on her stomach using a specially designed massage table.
A prenatal massage table will have a round or oval shaped hole cut out in the center which makes it very comfortable for her to lie face down while receiving her prenatal massage.
The Benefits of Prenatal Massage
Prenatal massage has a number of benefits for expecting mothers in addition to all benefits of a normal massage. These benefits may include:
• Reduces pain in the pelvic region
• Reduces swelling in the feet and ankles
• Reduces levels of overall stress
• Eases foot pain and back aches caused by changes in posture
• Improves skins elasticity thereby reducing stretch marks
• Improves sleep
• Improves digestion
• Relaxes and calms the baby
The Risks of Prenatal Massage
Very few risks are associated with prenatal massage, and quite a few that are talked about a lot are urban legends. Here are the real risks that should be considered:
• Dizziness and/or nausea
• Injury at the hands of an untrained therapist
• Cramping or spotting of the back or abdomen caused by too deep of a massage
• Inadvertently inducing labor
• Muscle soreness
So long as the massage therapist is trained and qualified in prenatal massage therapy, nearly all of these side effects can be easily avoided. It’s not unusual to experience dizziness or nausea after a prenatal massage either. When getting up after a massage, it’s important to move slow and rise to your feet carefully. Also, it’s helpful not to eat immediately before your massage Hydrating during the first two hours after a massage is very important. If you don’t hydrate muscle soreness is generally the result so drink plenty of water after receiving a prenatal massage in order to prevent this.
Is Prenatal Massage for You?
Massage during pregnancy is usually pretty safe for most mothers. Your massage therapist will want to know if you are having any problems or complications with your pregnancy before you begin. If you are, then your therapist will require approval from your primary health care provider before proceeding with any bodywork. The following are circumstances in which massage should not be performed:
Touch is vital to the mother’s physical and emotional well-being as she adapts to her new body image.
- heavy discharge (watery or bloody);
- diabetes;
- contagious illness;
- fever;
- vomiting;
- unusual pain;
- preeclampsia;
- high blood pressure;
- morning sickness;
- abdominal pain;
- diarrhea;
- any malignant condition.
Areas of the body that should not be massaged include:
- skin rashes, open sores, bruises;
- inflammation;
- raised or distended varicose veins;
- local infection sites.
Bottom line, the benefits of prenatal massage far outweigh the risks. All the benefits and risks discussed here are certainly worth careful consideration before scheduling your prenatal massage.
More Information on Prenatal Massage
More information on prenatal massage can be found at the American Pregnancy Association