Maternity Massage Therapy

Posted: August 15th, 2014

 

• Reduces stress of everyday life by treating headaches and migraines. A massage therapist can focus on the neck and shoulders by relaxing the trigger points and muscle spasms.
• Relieves muscle tension from carrying that extra weight. A massage therapist can encourage blood flow to afflicted areas and provide nutrient rich oxygen to these areas.
• Many pregnant women suffer from fatigue and backaches during pregnancy. These can be relieved through massage therapy.
• Swelling, leg cramps, and foot pain are also some symptoms that can be treated by prenatal massage.

Some other benefits may include improved sleep and overall relaxation and lower anxiety after a massage. Most women swear by prenatal massages as one of the best things you can do for yourself during those long nine months. However, there are a few things to be cautious of before getting a maternity massage. Make sure that your massage therapist knows you are pregnant and gives you a prenatal massage rather than a deep tissue massage, especially on your legs. A deep tissue massage could cause a pregnant woman to dislodge a blood clot in the legs due to the fact that there is about 50% more blood volume in a pregnant woman. Therefore, make sure to avoid any deep tissue massages, deep acupressure, shiatsu, or percussive tapping. Make sure to go to a quality and highly rated massage therapist specifically trained to do prenatal massages.