How Massage Benefits the Expectant Mother
From fatigue to back pain, pregnancy places many demands on a woman’s body. Massage is one way the expectant mother can help ease the symptoms and have a more stress-free pregnancy. During the first trimester, a primary goal of massage is to provide relaxation and increase flow of the circulation systems. Stimulating the blood system pumps more energy-giving oxygen and nutrients into your cells and increases blood flow to the placenta. Muscle tension can slow down lymph flow, leaving you fatigued. By stimulating this system, massage can boost your immunity and energy level.
In the second trimester, “the mother starts going through more changes,” says Lynne Daize with the National Association of Pregnancy Massage Therapy, “so massage is used to relieve muscle spasms and ease structural changes.” The therapist works to loosen joints and soften the connective tissues, thereby relieving backaches and leg cramps.
As pregnancy progresses, special positioning is required during massage. Up to the 24th week of pregnancy it is acceptable, according to Daize, for moms to be on their back with the right hip tilted up, taking pressure off the nerves and arteries. Pressure on the arteries in the back, she notes, will diminish blood flow and oxygen to the fetus. Another position that decreases stress on the back is side-lying, with the belly supported by a small wedge pillow.
During the final trimester, the baby begins to gain weight more rapidly, discomfort increases, and the impending due date can cause added stress and anxiety. At this stage, Daize says, the therapist focuses on trigger points to relieve pain while continuing to elicit relaxation throughout the body. Generally, during the last two weeks before mom’s due date, the therapist concentrates her techniques on preparing the mother’s body for delivery.
Before initiating massage, consult your obstetrician. While massage is a safe treatment, certain conditions require your physician’s approval and careful monitoring by the therapist. Notify your therapist of any changes in your physical health, and consult your obstetrician about continuing the treatments should complications arise.