Pregnancy Massage
What pregnancy massage is and how it works
Definition:
Pregnancy massage is tailored specifically to the needs of pregnant women and their changing bodies, and therapists who are trained in prenatal massage adjust their techniques accordingly. Massage therapy during pregnancy is a wonderful complementary choice for prenatal care.
Description:
Massage may help to address many common discomforts associated with pregnancy. Your centre of gravity changes as you grow through through your pregnancy putting additional stress on your shoulders, back, hips and abdominal muscles. Sciatic nerve pain is often commonly experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back.
Ligaments relax and your pelvic joints become less stable, pulling your pelvis forward, resulting in lower back pain and sometimes pelvic instablity, otherwise known as SPD. Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction is caused by a misalignment or stiffness of your pelvic joints at either the back or front of your pelvis. Pelvic pain or SPD can occur from around the 12th week of pregnancy onwards, but it is also recognised as a postnatal issue.
Studies have indicated that a pregnancy massage performed during pregnancy can help reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and help improve labour outcomes and newborn health.
The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
Pregnancy massages are not offered during the first trimester. The reason is the potential for miscarriage.
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