How massage can help you during pregnancy

Welcome back to my blog on this very special date of 11/11/11. I thought I would share my latest article on the benefits of having a massage during pregnancy for those of you ladies feeling the strain of pregnancy on muscles, joints and ligaments.

Your feedback and experience of massage would be much appreciated so do get in touch with your own experience of having pregnancy massage. I will send my latest Hypnosis CD for pregnancy, birth and beyond to the most interesting account.

Massage techniques have been performed over the centuries to improve overall health and wellbeing by reducing muscle tension and stress. The English word massage is probably derived from the Arabic Mass’h meaning to press softly, which makes this is an ideal therapy to help reduce and relieve those annoying symptoms of pregnancy. Studies point to both maternal and newborn benefits when regular massage is part of your antenatal care.

Potential benefits include:

• Relief from muscle aches and joint pain
• Reduction of swelling in legs, feet and hands
• May relieve sciatic pain by helping to reduce inflammation of nerves and ensuing muscle tension
• Regulates hormones by reducing the ‘stress’ hormones and increasing our ‘feel good’ hormones such as Dopamine and Serotonin
• Increasing our feel good hormones reduces the incidence of depression
• Improved hormone balance also leads to fewer complications in labour, birth and in the postnatal period
• Babies also benefit from less complications such as low birth weight
• Improves our blood circulation
• Improves lymphatic drainage and removal of toxins from your body
• The deep relaxation achieved during massage promotes better sleep patterns

What precautions should I take when having massage during pregnancy?

• Make sure that your therapist is qualified in pregnancy massage
• Trained therapists are aware of the special considerations such as avoiding specific pressure points which can stimulate labour
• As with any complementary therapy it is important to share any relevant medical conditions with your therapist
• Some medical conditions may be contraindicated for pregnancy massage
• Many professionals consider that the best position for you to have a massage is lying on your side, thereby avoiding pressure on your major vessels and ligaments
• Some pregnancy tables may not fit your bump and can still apply pressure to the uterine ligaments

In conclusion, studies indicate that pregnancy massage may improve overall physical and emotional health and wellbeing during pregnancy. It may be incorporated into your regular routine at any time during pregnancy, (although some therapists may prefer you to wait until the second trimester), so what are you waiting for? You know that you deserve it!