Pregnancy massage is a lovely holistic treatment to help you relax and take time out for yourself. Around 48-56% of pregnant women suffer from lower back pain and pelvic pain due to altered posture from the increased weight of the uterus and foetus.
– Relaxation, which gives an increased sense of well-being. This in turn, calms down the sympathetic nervous system, lowers stress, reduces blood pressure and releases those feel good endorphins to aid restful sleep.
– Relief from aches and pains, caused by the growing baby and the natural changes your body goes through. This includes reducing neck/shoulder tension that can lead to headaches and reducing stress on the weight bearing joints & surrounding soft tissues.
– Reduced swelling: massage has an effect on the lymphatic and circulatory system and when used correctly, can help to reduce swelling (oedema) . This is more common in the 2nd and 3rd trimester but always check with your midwife to ensure this type of treatment is suitable.
– Improved skin pliability: the use of skin softening waxes & oils may help to improve skin tightness and the underlying tissues. This can be especially beneficial when applied to the bump, which can feel quite tight & uncomfortable in the later stages.
Pregnancy massage is safe from 12 weeks onwards (2nd trimester) and is safe throughout pregnancy. However, it is always advisable to check with your midwife before having a treatment.
How will you be positioned?
There are a number of ways to have treatment and they can be tailored for your comfort. Seated massage is a lovely way to have the whole back & neck treated. Lying on your left is also possible as this avoids extra pressure on the aorta. This helps to avoid dizziness & provides optimal up flow of blood to the uterus. The use of pillows & towels provide plenty of padding, comfort & privacy.
Massage can be tailored to your requirements and can include back, neck and shoulders or include a full body treatment with legs, feet, arms, hands and bump. It is a relaxing treatment using longer strokes. Deeper work is avoided to keep blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rates down.
*It is always advisable to let your midwife know you are having massages. If you are unsure if it is the right treatment for you and would like more advice, please give us a call or pop us an email to discuss further.