Pregnancy Massage: A Holistic Approach to Pre-Natal Care
Originally published 1/7/2014
Pregnancy is an exciting time in life. The anticipation of a new addition to the family is a major change to life and body. In many cultures throughout history, pregnant women are seen as goddesses for their ability to create life, honored for their ability to hold and nurture another life within their body. Likewise, throughout history, women have been nurtured with touch during their pregnancies, to aid with discomfort and ensure the good positioning of the baby.
This can also be a stressful time for you as an expectant mother. Like most women, you may be working in your career throughout your pregnancy, or busy with other children and/or family members, and along with the physiological changes taking place within your body, you are busy readying your home and adjusting your lifestyle in order to care for this new life.
Studies have shown that women who are touched with care throughout their pregnancy have less anxiety, less pain and discomfort, and fewer complications during labor, resulting in shorter labor times, fewer interventions, and the reduction of the instance of low birth weight in newborns. These women are also able to more comfortably and effectively touch their newborn infants, and touch is vital to infant health and wellbeing.
Pregnancy massage has positive effects on the production of pregnancy hormones such as prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone. Regular massage helps reduce cortisol and norepinephrine (the “stress hormones”) and raises seratonin and dopamine levels (the “feel good hormones”—low levels of these hormones are associated with depression). Both mother and baby benefit from these hormonal changes.
A one-hour pregnancy massage at least once monthly can provide a time to be still, be nurtured, and be present with your own body at a time when you are continually making more room for the new life growing within. During the first trimester, you are positioned as normal on the massage table—lying face up or face down. Once into the second trimester, when it becomes less comfortable to be on your stomach, the massage will take place side-lying, with bolsters and pillows strategically placed to create space and keep your body in alignment. Abdominal massage begins in the second trimester as well. Into the third trimester, issues such as edema, headaches and backaches are addressed. At all times, massages are conducted with respect and modesty, paying particular attention to your individual needs and comfort.
How You May Benefit from Pregnancy Massage:
Pregnancy is said to be the 12th most stressful life event, according to Holmes and Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale. By reducing the stress hormones and giving you time to relax and connect with your body, pregnancy massage increases the overall sense of wellbeing. The release of endorphins during massage can also reduce body fatigue, and improved hormonal balance allows for improved sleep.
Pregnancy massage increases musculoskeletal ease and improves physiological function. By massaging muscle tissue, blood, oxygen, and lymph fluid is increased, rejuvenating fatigued muscles and flushing trapped fluids and wastes from the body. This can significantly decrease edema and headaches, and the increased circulation can also help to prevent varicosities from forming.
By creating awareness of your body overall, pregnancy massage can help to improve posture. Relieving tired and tense muscles can allow you to position your body more correctly, and the massage therapist can also give advice on proper stance and body mechanics to relieve fatigue and pain.
Abdominal massage can enhance placental function by increasing prolactin, blood flow, and nutrients to your baby.
The Contraindications:
As with any massage, there are certain factors to be considered that may make massage unsafe during your pregnancy. One in particular is if you are at risk for miscarriage. During the first trimester the risks of miscarriage are highest, but if you have miscarried in the past, your risks are potentially higher throughout the duration of your pregnancy, and you may want to communicate with your doctor before having a massage.
Communicate with your massage therapist about your sensitivity to smells. Some essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy after the first trimester; however there are cautions to be considered, and if there is any risk of discomfort due to the scent, it is best to stick with using an unscented oil.
If there is any known placental dysfunction, such as previa or abruption (placenta detaches from uterine wall or blocks cervix), or preeclampsia, or if you have bleeding or pre-term contractions, you will likely not want to risk having any abdominal massage during pregnancy.
Be aware that the pressure that you may be accustomed to with regular massage may be decreased during a pregnancy massage. Due to increased risk of blood clots and varicosities, as well as an increase in relaxin, which loosens ligaments, intense pressure and extreme passive range of motion stretches are not recommended, nor are they particularly relaxing at this time. As always, be sure to communicate with your therapist about what feels good, or where pressure could be slightly increased or decreased.
If you have any questions or concerns, before, during, or after your massage, communicate with your therapist. It is also highly recommended that if you have particular concerns about the safety of massage during your pregnancy, that you discuss them with your doctor. Your comfort is the ultimate goal of receiving a massage, and you always have the right to know exactly what is taking place, and to express whether or not you are comfortable with it.
Pregnancy truly is a wonderful, magical, miraculous experience. As an expectant mother, you should be encouraged to take time to nurture yourself and enjoy what is taking place within. I highly recommend the kind, caring touch of a massage—both you and your baby will appreciate it.
