Pregnancy Massage Therapy

Isabel Vazquez

Pregnancy is the most beautiful time of a woman's life. The ability for a woman to grow a baby inside her body is a miracle of science where a body grows inside a woman's uterus. As a woman grows an infant inside her body, a woman's body can have a hard time adapting to the different changes inside her body within the nine months of pregnancy. Some difficulties a woman's body experiences include joint pain, leg cramps, neck and back pain, and trouble sleeping. Due to hormonal changes, pregnant women can experience stress and depression making it difficult for a woman to enjoy her pregnancy. Over the years pregnant women have turned to pregnancy massage therapy to relax their body and mind to reduce the difficult tensions a woman´s body is facing through her pregnancy.

Compared to a traditional massage, a pregnancy massage is difficult since an infant is growing in a female's uterus. The main goal of a pregnancy massage is to relieve pain and stress from the woman's body for the woman to feel more relaxed through the nine months of pregnancy. During pregnancy massage therapy the therapist may use a pregnancy massage table as well as pregnancy massage cushions to accommodate the woman's body in her pregnancy. Pregnant women are allowed to get a massage after the first trimester of pregnancy to avoid miscarriages. Pregnant women must have authorization from their physicians to get pregnancy massage therapy for the safety of the woman and the unborn child.

The following two massages are performed by a licensed massage therapist.

Deep Tissue Massage

A deep tissue massage is a massage mainly used to treat musculoskeletal disorders and sports injuries. These techniques involve applying deep slow pressure to the inner layers of the skin and muscle. This massaging therapy can be useful during the stage of pregnancy on areas such as the wrist, hands, and ankles. Provide pressure on the wrist, hands, and ankles to decrease swelling, pain, and stress. Avoid massaging legs to prevent any form of blood clot putting the mother and unborn child at risk.

Swedish Massage

A Swedish Massage is a form of massage therapy that can improve the lymphatic system and circulation of blood. Some massage techniques include tapping and rhythmic strokes. These massage therapy can relieve the woman's body through her pregnancy by reducing muscle tension, balancing hormones, decreasing joint and spine pain. Just like the deep tissue massage, legs and abdominal areas must be avoided to prevent any harm to the mother and unborn child.

The following two massages can be performed at home by someone by a loved one.

BackRub

A back rub is a good massage a pregnant woman could get at home from her loved one. The person performing the massage may apply coconut oil in their hands to make the massage feel smoother. The massager can gently massage the woman's back up and down focusing on smoothing the muscles that feel sore. Massaging the spine with thumbs, up to the neck to down the lower spine can help the woman relieve stress.

Scalp Massage

A scalp massage is another massage a woman can have at home while she is pregnant. This massage can be performed by gently massaging the scalp with the tips of fingers moving in circles. This massage can be beneficial for pregnant women because it can reduce headaches, stress, and improvement of sleep.

A pregnancy massage is an amazing experience in a woman's lifetime. Through the amazing experience of pregnancy, women are turning to pregnancy massage therapy to provide support to their bodies to enjoy their pregnancies. There are many different massage therapies for pregnant women to have access to, from Swedish massage to massages provided from home. Overall, a pregnant woman should be provided with care throughout her pregnancy to support her and her unborn child.

Citation

Pregnancy Massage access on April 28, 2021, https://www.webmd.com

The Ultimate Guide of Pregnancy Massage access on April 2, 2021, https://mchenrymassage.com

Prenatal Massage access on May 4, 2021, https://www.whattoexpect.com

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