The Amazing Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy
There is nothing soothing like a pregnancy massage. It will rub the pains and strains of pregnancy. Any woman who has been pregnant knows the occasional abdominal cramps, sore feet, leg and joint pain, tender breasts and achy back.
Some of the pain is very normal during pregnancy because your body is undergoing many changes to adapt to life growing inside you. The pain can be caused by gas and bloating, cramping, round ligament pain, just to name a few.
A professional pregnancy massage, soaking in a warm bath, doing exercises and resting can help alleviate most of these pains. Massage is alternative medicine. It will alleviate pain plus reduce anxiety and stress caused by pregnancy.
Continue to read to learn how massage is extremely important for pregnant mothers.
The Many Benefits of pregnancy or prenatal massage
- Improves blood and lymph circulation
- Alleviates back pain, joint pain, leg pain, and muscle pain
- Improves mood
- Reduce oedema and swelling
- Alleviates stress, anxiety and depression
- Massage is relaxing
- It offers relief from muscle cramps and spasms
- Improves sleep
- It eases labour pain and many more
Reduces swelling and Edema
Swollen feet are common during the later stages of pregnancy. It is caused by weight gain, the pressure exerted by the uterus on blood vessels thus slowing blood flow from legs, increase of blood and fluids in your body.
Massage stimulates the flow of flood and fluids inside the body. By increasing blood flow, massage will reduce swelling, and formation of varicose veins and blood clots. A pregnancy massage will typically last for an hour.
Make sure it is conducted by a professional massage therapist who specializes in pregnancy massage. Alternatively, you can get yourself an affordable massage chair. It will provide predictable results every time and will be there when you need it.
Reduce anxiety and depression
Studies show that women who receive a massage every week have fewer complications during birth, sleep well, can rest better and have decreased levels of the stress hormone, norepinephrine.
Massage is known to improve mood. It will reduce anxiety, depression and stress.
Alleviate Pain
Pain is also common during pregnancy. Muscle aches, backache, joint pain, leg pain, round ligament pain, cramp pain are some of the pain you will experience during pregnancy.
When I was only 4 months pregnant with my first child, my back ached, my feet throbbed and sleeping was difficult. After going to my doctor, he advised to do light exercises and try massage therapy.
Massage helped a lot. Not only did aches subside but I was able to sleep during my massage sessions. Massage is alternative medicine and has been proved to alleviate pain.
Massage is relaxing
Massage is relaxing especially if you do Swedish massage. It is a type of massage that uses gentle long strokes to relax muscle tissue. If you want to calm your nerves and increase happy hormones such as dopamine, be doing regular massage.
It will bring about good feeling and even pleasure which will be useful when pregnant.
You May Also Like:
6 Places to Get a Prenatal Massage in Kenya
Faith Mwaura: The Best Way to Massage your Baby