Well-being through prenatal massage therapy
Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Research shows that prenatal massage therapy can help :
- reduce anxiety,
- decrease symptoms of depression,
- relieve muscle pain and joint pain,
- improve labor outcomes and newborn health.
Prenatal massage therapy meets different needs thanks to various techniques borrowed among other things from “Swedish massage”. This type of massage performed between the 3rd and 8th month aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through light pressure applied to muscle groups in the body.
Swedish massage is one of the recommended massage methods during pregnancy because it treats many common ailments associated with skeletal and circulatory changes caused by hormonal changes.
Hormonal regulation
Several studies have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are dramatically altered when massage therapy is introduced into women's prenatal care. This leads to mood regulation and better cardiovascular health.
In women who received massages during their pregnancies, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels increased. It should be noted that low levels of these hormones are often associated with depression.
"The hardest part about motherhood is that inner worry that you can't show. "
Audrey Hepburn
Regulating hormone levels appears to lead to fewer birth complications and fewer neonatal complications, such as low birth weight. Studies strongly suggest that there are benefits for maternal and newborn health when prenatal massage is incorporated regularly during pregnancy.
The onset of edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on major blood vessels from a heavy uterus.
The benefits of massage are:
- soft tissue stimulation to reduce fluid buildup in swollen joints,
- also improves the elimination of tissue waste carried by the body's lymphatic system,
- improvement in nerve pain.
Many women experience sciatic nerve pain in late pregnancy because the uterus rests on the muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. Pressure from the uterus spreads tension to the piriformis muscles and the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves.
Massage therapy attacks inflamed nerves by helping to release tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced a significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through massage. Other potential benefits of prenatal massage:
- reduced back pain,
- reduced joint pain,
- better circulation,
- better sleep,
- better circulation,
- reduced edema,
- reduced muscle tension
- stress reduction,
- anxiety reduction,
- improved oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles.
What Precautions for prenatal massage therapy?
As with any therapeutic approach to wellness during pregnancy, women should discuss massage with their antenatal care provider. The best way to counter the risks of prenatal massage is to be informed and to work with competent professionals.
Many professionals consider that the best position for a pregnant woman during massage is to lie down. Tables that provide a hole for the uterus to fit into may be unreliable and may still put pressure on the abdomen, or allow the abdomen to sway, causing the uterine ligaments to stretch uncomfortably. / p>
Consult your massage therapist before your first appointment to check what position he places his clients during the massage.
Find a suitable massage therapist…
It is important to seek treatment from a certified prenatal massage therapist. Certified therapists have received training beyond national standards for massage therapists and know how to meet the specific needs of pregnancy and massage.
They know how to position yourself safely and avoid uterine ligament fatigue. They are also able to watch for symptoms of blood clots and varicose veins.
Women who have recently had any bleeding or premature contractions should speak to their doctors before receiving a massage. But also women who have any of the following conditions:
- high risk pregnancy,
- pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) Preeclampsia,
- previous work before term,
- severe swelling,
- high blood pressure,
- sudden severe headache.
Is prenatal massage safe throughout pregnancy?
At massage-concept we advise you to start massages from the 3rd month of pregnancy, due to the increased risk of miscarriage associated with the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The benefits of massage may improve the overall prenatal health of many pregnant women. Therefore, together with the advice of your obstetrician, massage therapy can be incorporated into routine antenatal care as an emotional and physical health supplement to improve conditions of pregnancy and maternal health.
Of course before coming to see us, consult your midwife or obstetrician…
See you soon at Massage-Concept to discover tailor-made massage in Paris!
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