Prenatal Massage – Learn About Its 4 Advantages
Like classic massage, prenatal massage is designed to relax your body and mind, relieve pain and improve your well-being. However, do you really realize what its advantages are?
Prenatal massage has 4 main benefits that we discuss in this article.
Prenatal massage
The only difference between classic and prenatal massage is that it is intended for pregnant women. This means that this type of massage takes into account the peculiarities and changes that occur in a woman during pregnancy, adapting the technique to them.
This way, the prenatal masseur will know and take it into account that during pregnancy, your body’s center of gravity shifts, putting more stress on your neck, back, and shoulders. The same is true for the lower back, which is overloaded during these months due to weight gain.
Consequently, prenatal massage is primarily used to relieve the muscles and these areas of the body in order to reduce discomfort and pain. In addition, like any massage, it also aims to improve your well-being, relax and relieve stress and tension.
The benefits of prenatal massage
It reduces the level of stress and anxiety
Various studies have attempted to verify the effectiveness of prenatal massage in reducing stress and anxiety levels in pregnant women. The study involved volunteers who received 20-minute prenatal massage sessions for 5 weeks. As a result, women reported less stress from the very first session.
It was therefore concluded that the group of pregnant women who received massages indicated that their mood had improved. In addition, their anxiety levels decreased and the women also enjoyed much more restful sleep.
On the other hand, prenatal massage also has benefits in the long term. In women subjected to massages , lower rates of postpartum depression were noted.
Prenatal massage reduces back pain
One of the most common complaints during pregnancy is lower back pain in the loins area. Indeed, weight gain and the pressure of a child’s weight can make the muscles bear more strain and tighten. As a result, the pregnant woman experiences discomfort and pain.
In this situation, prenatal massage can help reduce the excessive tension in the muscles by relaxing them. So, as some studies show, lower back pain can be effectively reduced with this type of massage.
It reduces pain in the feet and legs
Like pain in the lumbar region of the back, pain in the legs and feet during pregnancy is very common, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Why is this happening? Well, during pregnancy, the blood flow in the body increases, and the weight gain causes the veins and arteries to compress, affecting the circulation. If we add to this the fluid retention typical of this stage and fatigue, the effect is very distressing. Pregnant women complain of fatigue in the legs and often also cramps.
To prevent these ailments, women are primarily advised to stay well hydrated throughout their pregnancy. In addition, women should try to walk as much as possible, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, it is recommended to practice relaxation techniques and stretching tight muscles.
In this area, prenatal massage fulfills its function perfectly. It effectively helps to reduce tension and discomfort. It helps women to relax the whole body and also relaxes the muscles of the legs.
Prenatal massage can reduce the risk of premature birth
Depression and anxiety during pregnancy show some association with a higher rate of fetal activity and preterm delivery. Meanwhile, some studies have found that prenatal massage can reduce cortisol levels in a woman’s body. This explains why this massage helps in reducing the level of stress and anxiety and in depression.
On the other hand, fetal activity and preterm birth rates also decreased in depressed women who received prenatal massage. Plus, the benefits aren’t just limited to the mother. Newborns to mothers who received prenatal massage also had lower cortisol levels.
Precautions
While there are many advantages to this therapy, and prenatal massage is virtually no health risk, there are some cases where it is contraindicated:
- In multiple or risky pregnancies
- In pregnant women with high blood pressure or heart problems or blood clotting
- In case of vaginal bleeding or rupture of the placenta
- If you experience vomiting, fever or diarrhea
For all these reasons, when deciding to get a prenatal massage, you must first follow these steps:
- Consult your doctor if massages are appropriate in your particular case. Also ask what type of massage would be the most recommended and in which areas of the body.
- Always use the services of a masseur specializing in this type of massage. Only a specialist can know how to perform a massage, in what areas, with what force and in what posture.
