How Can Mothers Benefit From Prenatal Massage?
Throughout time and societies, new mothers have often experienced the soothing power of contact with their newborns. What could be more natural for a pregnant woman than to benefit from that caring touch?
A woman’s body is challenged, transformed, and stressed in several ways during her nine months of pregnancy – she must adjust to altered physiologic functioning, a different body shape, and new moods and emotions like happiness, love mixed with anxiety, worry, etc. Massage treatment may benefit the mother’s physical and mental well-being; it also provides her with that extra care that supports the growing life within her.
The changes in the preparation of your body for delivery include weight growth, bones and tissue softening and water retention. These alterations can lead to additional problems such as backaches, migraines, shortness of breath, sleeping difficulties and overall discomfort.
The great news is that these pregnant niggles are not impervious to touch so that the massage can be useful throughout pregnancy. It raises the body and mind, helps to erase the suffering, and restores the pleasure of the most important period in the life of a pregnant mother.
Get the prenatal massage therapy in Calgary by booking your appointment at The Port Physiotherapy and Massage to benefit both expectant mothers’ emotional and physical health.
Indeed, massage is an often-suggested alternative therapy for pregnant women by physicians. One cause is as follows: “Pregnancy has a detrimental effect on your posture. It compresses the lower back, weakens the core, and puts a great deal of strain on the legs and feet. Discover the benefits (and distinctions) of prenatal massage, as well as how to choose a good one.
Special Care
Prenatal massage is distinct from conventional massage in the following ways: To begin, you’ll most likely be lying on your side or in a semi-reclining posture. Lying on your back places an excessive amount of strain on your abdomen and might cause blood flow to be restricted.
To maintain your spine aligned and relieve lower-back discomfort, your therapist may support your knees and ankles using specially constructed cushions or bolsters. You may choose to lie face down on a massage table with a hole in your stomach.
Many women, however, find this posture unsettling, particularly as their pregnancy continues. Additionally, prenatal massages may be shorter in duration — 30 to 45 minutes instead of the standard 60 to 90 minutes.
Relaxation and stress reduction
Healthcare specialists agree on the benefits of relaxing during pregnancy: enhanced maternal and infant well-being and an increased likelihood of a pleasant delivery experience. Prenatal massage relieves stress and relaxes muscles by restoring balance to the body, reducing fear and anxiety, and boosting the immune system.
Improve blood circulation
All blood components are increased throughout pregnancy to meet fetal demands; by weeks 24 to 34, the plasma volume has risen by 40%. Consequences such as edema, varicose veins, and hypertension are prevalent. Swollen legs and ankles are the most noticeable changes women experience.
Swedish and lymphatic massages both promote circulation, which helps to reduce swelling. Massage treatment increases the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the uterus, placenta, and fetus and accelerates the efflux, enhancing the tissue health of both mother and baby.
Stabilizing Hormones
When you’re pregnant, your hormones shift, particularly those that regulate stress and sadness. This may leave you psychologically exhausted and may even affect your kid.
Massage activates the endocrine system, which aids in the stabilization and reduction of stress hormones in the body. The consequence, according to studies, is that the mother feels better overall and sleeps better, while the child receives fewer stress hormones and develops healthier.
Better Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Functions
As the uterus develops during pregnancy, the diaphragmatic region may become constrictive, leading the mother to experience shortness of breath and perhaps hyperventilation. Constipation, nausea, and vomiting are all frequent during pregnancy.
When received regularly, even simple massage techniques can aid in the treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.
Alleviates Back Pain
The main reason pregnant women go to massage is for continuous back discomfort to be relieved. This is one of the most frequent pregnant symptoms. Women might suffer from pregnancy very early, until delivery and beyond.
Back discomfort is caused by changing hormones in early pregnancy. It is caused later by muscles that strain and maintain additional weight growth and a changing structure in the body. Massage can alleviate these sensations and relieve the powers of the back.
Promotes Better Sleep
Many pregnant women struggle to get enough sleep. During the early stages of pregnancy, surging hormones can induce sleeplessness. Later in life, women struggle to sleep due to discomfort associated with their expanding belly, leg cramps, and back pain, among other things.
As previously said, massage assists the body in increasing serotonin levels. Additionally, increased relaxation and decreased discomfort contribute to an improved capacity to sleep at night.
Prepare for labour
The back, abdomen and pelvic floor muscles should continue to be relaxed to give birth with minimal effort so that the uterus works without resistance.
Massage treatment methods used to alleviate discomfort are also beneficial to enhance muscle and joint mobility, particularly in the baby’s pelvis and legs. Accepting prenatal bodywork also adds to the self-awareness and relaxation needed to engage fully in the delivery process.
Also Read: Introduction to Massage Therapy: Everything you need to know about it
Help Reduce Swelling
In addition to the previous effect, massage significantly reduces swelling. Swelling occurs due to the gathering of blood and other fluids and is especially common in late pregnancy. It is most frequently observed in the feet and ankles during the third trimester.
Women who undergo massage regularly throughout pregnancy have a lower risk of developing edema. Even light pressure massage aids in the redistribution of physiological fluids and prevents them from accumulating in the lower thighs.
Newborns will benefit from their mothers’ enhanced blood circulation, healthy tissue, knee joint, and muscles during pregnancy and labour. It is also possible to develop a strong connection with the baby in utero through hands-on healing energy methods, providing them with a sense of love and sustenance.
What Next?
Massage treatment may be started throughout pregnancy – in the first, second, or third trimester. Pregnant women who have specific illnesses, such as high-risk pregnancy, hypertension, hypertension, or diabetes, may not undergo massage treatment.
Pregnant mothers who had frequent prenatal massages significantly decreased their chances of postpartum depression and trained their bodies to withstand labour stress more effectively.
By looking after your body and mind throughout pregnancy, you may anticipate a pleasant delivery experience and a stronger bond with your exuberant bundle of joy with one of the best prenatal massages in Calgary.
Book your prenatal massage session with our experienced massage therapists to get all the above-discussed benefits.