Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

Posted: September 20th, 2013

A woman's mind and body undergo many changes during pregnancy. While pregnancy is a miraculous event, some of the unpleasant side effects--such as anxiety and hormonal shifts or muscle and nerve pain certainly detract from the experience. Research indicates that massage during pregnancy offers numerous benefits for both the mother-to-be and the newborn. What are a few of the benefits of massage during pregnancy? Massage relieves stress and anxiety during pregnancy. Even the most prepared mothers suffer bouts of stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia during pregnancy. Massage therapy helps relieve tension and promote relaxation. Massage promotes relaxation and better sleep patterns. Pregnancy massage helps reduce muscle, joint and nerve pain. Gentle massage helps ease common pregnancy discomfort in the lower back and neck areas. Relaxing tense muscles serves to limit headaches, muscle aches, and joint strain as the woman's body grows and changes. Additionally, women who suffer from sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy find relief via massage therapy. Pregnancy massage increases circulation. Increased circulation within the circulatory system and the lymphatic system offer a number of benefits during pregnancy. Women with improved circulation experience less swelling of the feet and ankles. Increased circulation also improves the body's immune system functions. Massage even helps increase the blood oxygen and nutrient levels delivered to both mom and baby. Massage helps regulate hormones. As mood swings abound and stress levels fluctuate, massage helps regulate the responsible hormones. Massage therapy reduces stress hormones and stimulates mood boosting hormones and endorphin levels. Pregnancy massage often proves a welcomed addition to a woman's prenatal care when safely implemented by trained massage therapists.