Everything You Need to Know About The Prenatal Massage Therapy for a Pain-Free Pregnancy
Pregnancy massage is a sort of massage treatment developed expressly for pregnant women. It is also referred to as prenatal massage. Massage during pregnancy may help alleviate some of the aches and pains associated with pregnancy. However, it does include certain hazards; it is not appropriate for every individual or pregnancy.
For ages, therapeutic massage is often used to promote general health, decrease stress, and alleviate muscular tightness. Prenatal massage treatment has been shown in research to help lower anxiety, alleviate depression symptoms, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and enhance birth outcomes and baby health . Prenatal massage treatment addresses a variety of various requirements using a variety of different approaches, one of which being Swedish Massage.
Related How can Massage Therapy Help a Woman During Her Pregnancy?
Things to consider before getting a prenatal massage
Women in their first trimester of pregnancy
Pregnant women may begin receiving a massage at any time. Although many prenatal massage therapists do not take customers until the second trimester of pregnancy, few exceptions exist. Some massage therapists are worried that the blood flow during a massage might be hazardous during the first trimester, which carries an increased chance of miscarriage.
Furthermore, some pressure sites in the body trigger contractions or even induce delivery. As a result, many prenatal massage therapists in Calgary seek a physician’s permission before working with pregnant women in their first trimester.
Safety and Risks of Prenatal Massage
Researchers were conducted to determine the dangers associated with prenatal massage. There is little information on the hazards of prenatal massage for women who are pregnant at high risk or who have pregnancy-related conditions such as pre-eclampsia, hypertension, bleeding, or gestational diabetes.
For example, your doctor may advise against massage treatment during the first trimester, or your massage therapist may be hesitant to offer a massage until the second trimester. Although there is no study associating massage with miscarriage, some clinicians prefer to err on the side of caution. The overall risk of miscarriage is greatest in the first trimester.
Your healthcare practitioner may be required to sign off on your massage therapy session in Calgary. If you have any medical issues, drugs, allergies, family history, or pregnancy, you should tell your doctor about it. Make sure to tell the massage therapist if you’re experiencing any pain or discomfort.
Pregnancy massage therapists who are properly educated will know which places to avoid based on your stage of pregnancy and medical conditions. There is no proof that pressure points in the ankles, foot and sacrum (a huge triangular bone at the base of the spine) may cause early labour. Thus some massage therapists skip these different locations while treating pregnant women.
Pregnant women should pay close attention to the following details when choosing a massage therapist:
- Top hygiene: Ensure that the store is clear of dust and other debris. If you encounter germs or viruses while pregnant, you are more likely to get ill. Check the office’s service menu to see whether it provides prenatal massage particularly.
- Certification: You may also check therapists’ credentials online by searching for their name or licence number.
- Proper tools and methods: Too much time spent lying on one’s stomach or back might cause dizziness or elevated blood pressure in a pregnant woman. Pregnancy massage therapists often adopt tables with cut-outs for pregnant women to rest their stomachs on while lying on their backs with pillows supported up. The therapist should use pregnancy-safe essential oils and lotions since many of these products have analgesic and soothing characteristics. In certain cases, it’s not safe.
Tips for Enjoying Massage During Pregnancy
Ask whether your massage therapist is trained or licensed by a professional organization with prenatal massage training and expertise. Your doctor or midwife may recommend massage therapists in your region.
Be sure to drink plenty of water before your visit. When you’re pregnant, you already need to drink more water so that massage might deplete your body’s hydration. Continue hydrating after the massage as well.
The surroundings should be clean when you come for your appointment. Your therapist must wash their hands before commencing your massage, and the room and linens should be spotless.
If you cannot locate an economic therapist, massage at home might also be therapeutic. Solicit your partner’s assistance in massaging your feet, back, or shoulders, or in gently massaging your scalp, or in gently massaging your tummy with lotion or vitamin E oil. Even self-massage10 may feel wonderful and alleviate minor aches and pains.
Read Introduction to Massage Therapy: Everything you need to know about it
Benefits of Prenatal Massage Therapy
Hormone regulation
The introduction of massage therapy to women’s prenatal care has been proven in studies conducted in the last decade to modify hormone levels related to relaxation and stress considerably. This has a calming effect on the mind and heart.
Hormones like norepinephrine and cortisol were lowered, while dopamine and serotonin levels were elevated in women who had massages twice a week for just five weeks. Depression is associated with low levels of these hormones.
Additionally, these alterations in hormone levels resulted in fewer delivery problems, such as low birth weight. Therapeutic massage during pregnancy may have a positive impact on the health of both the mother and the baby, according to extensive research.
Reduction of swelling
There may be less blood flow and more pressure on the large blood vessels because of the weight of the uterus. Edema, or joint swelling, can happen during pregnancy. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues so that more fluid doesn’t build up in swollen joints. This also makes it easier for the body’s lymph system to get rid of waste from its tissues.
Improvement of nerve pain
The uterus sits on the pelvic floor muscles and lowers back during late pregnancy, which may cause sciatica. Uterus pressure is sent to leg muscles, which enlarge, putting pressure on adjacent nerves and producing pain.
Massage treatment helps alleviate the pain caused by irritated nerves by relieving the tension in the muscles around them. A large number of pregnant women have reported substantial decreases in sciatic nerve discomfort after receiving a massage.
Stress Reduction
It doesn’t matter if your client isn’t having a lot of physical pain or discomfort during their pregnancy. Taking a few minutes to pay attention to their body and how they feel can have a huge impact on their mental health. Focus on stress relief and tension relief when you work with pregnant women to help them avoid unhealthy stress levels and deal with some of the fears they may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a prenatal massage from my partner?
While it is OK if your partner manoeuvres your back or feet to relieve stress and tension, a non-specialist should not do a pregnancy massage. They should be administered only by a professional prenatal massage therapist.
Where to find the best pregnancy massage in Calgary?
If you want to try a pregnancy massage, you need to find a certified prenatal massage therapist in Calgary.
Pregnant women may benefit from the expertise of our trained prenatal massage therapists at The Port Physiotherapy and Massage, who has completed additional training beyond that required for licensure. Pregnancy problems, such as deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins, may be spotted by these doctors.
To avoid problems like strains on the uterine ligaments, visit our clinic for prenatal massage in Calgary. Our professionals know exactly how to position a pregnant woman and how to accommodate various unique demands throughout pregnancy.
Who should not get a pregnancy massage?
If you are pregnant, it is best not to get a pregnancy massage in the following circumstances:
- High-risk pregnancy
- Complications in previous pregnancy like preterm labour
- Severe swelling, hypertension, or severe headaches which indicates pre-eclampsia
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Placenta problems
- Recent post-partum
Bottomline
It would be best if you also drank plenty of water before your visit. Drink a couple of extra glasses of water before and after your visit since pregnant women need excess fluid consumption.
It’s a lot of labour to raise a baby! Maintaining a healthy state of mind and body can’t be overstated right now. As long as you follow the guidelines given above, getting a prenatal massage is one of the finest ways to relax and take care of yourself.
Insurance usually will not cover a pregnancy massage. Some may offer discounts or cover part of the cost. Some plans may cover massage under chiropractic care.