A nurturing practice throughout pregnancy
Massaging women during pregnancy is a privilege, an art that has been practised since well before the modern era of obstetrics. Relieving aches and pains, managing stress and sleep, preparing and supporting labour and birth. Over thousands of years, the nurturing touch provided by massage has held a long tradition in a woman's journey to motherhood.
Pregnancy is also a delicate time in a person's life; they want to do the right thing and are told of numerous foods, exercises, and practices they must stop.
Here I am going to lay out some of the myths and benefits of pregnancy massage
Myths About Prenatal Massage.
Massage is contraindicated in the first trimester.
The myth that massage was unsafe in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy stems from the unfortunate fact that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. If a pregnant person were to receive a massage and then miscarry, the therapist could be blamed or sued in certain countries. This has led to spas, resorts and private clinics saying no to 1st-trimester massage to avoid liability.
But there is no scientific evidence that massage can cause a miscarriage.
You can't massage your hands and feet during pregnancy.
There are acupressure points on the hands, feet and lower legs that should not be stimulated during pregnancy. While deep pressure should be avoided, massaging the legs can help alleviate swelling, and hand massage can give relief to carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects a percentage of pregnant people.
Any massage therapist trained in prenatal massage will know the appropriate pressure, placements and bodywork to care for a woman during pregnancy.
You can’t massage the abdomen.
Abdominal massage is not that commonly performed in your standard spa. The belly is a vulnerable space, even more so when you are harbouring life inside. The only reason I would say not to have your stomach rubbed during pregnancy was because you didn't want to.
A very light massage to the abdomen is completely okay and very soothing to you and the baby.
Benefits of Prenatal Massage
Massage in the first trimester
Massage is safe in the first trimester by a trained prenatal practitioner. Common first-trimester pregnancy discomforts, nausea, headaches, anxiety and fatigue can be alleviated through gentle massage.
These symptoms are often caused by the massive hormonal adjustments that the body is making. For most people lying down on the table, taking time out of their day gives reprieve and often feels like an hour of deep rest.
Key benefits of the First Trimester massage
Oxygenating the blood helps you feel more energized
Acupressure points can reduce nausea
Tension headaches can be soothed
Stress reduction
Massage in the second trimester
The body changes drastically. In the early weeks of pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is released that loosens the pelvic and lumbar joints. All this to make room for your beautiful baby to grow, but it can cause havoc with your posture and create an unstable pelvis. As pregnancy progresses and the abdominal muscles weaken, it can cause compressing of the back, protracting the neck, creating headaches, sore limbs and weakness.
Back and leg aches are the common reason for massage during pregnancy, which can be relieved with appropriate prenatal massage techniques.
Key benefits of Second Trimester Massage
Supporting postural alignment
Relieving hip leg and pelvic pain
Connecting to baby and body
Massage in the third trimester
Third trimester massage is wonderful for easing all the aches, pains, and discomforts that come with growing a baby. Even more, it is a wonderful treatment to prepare for labour. Often anxiety, stress, insomnia can be a part of the picture at this time as well. The stress-reducing benefits of pregnancy massage can be profound; downregulating the nervous system, reducing anxiety and stress hormones, leading to deeper relaxation, an increase in oxytocin and pain reduction.
Key benefits to Third Trimester massage
Reduction in muscle tension
Increasing feel-good hormones
Deep rest to help with insomnia
Preparing the body for labour
If you still have questions on whether prenatal massage is right for you, maybe you are high risk and would like some more details. Please get in touch amelia@nourishedmassage.com
Or book in for your delicious, relaxing massage here
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