Leo Dimilo
Tonya Lachey
Denise Gabbard
Dianna GPregnancy massage
October 21st 2008 01:39
I’m sure many pregnant women will agree with me when I say there is no better or more crucial time to get massages than when you’re in the later stages of pregnancy, when you feel like you’re lugging a baby elephant around (who’s squirming on many occasions). Not to mention the sleepless nights alternating between tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position and flailing up out of bed only to stumble to the toilet in the dark.
Benefits of a pregnancy massage include reduction in swelling and anxiety, a relief of muscle cramps and back pain, a decrease in depression symptoms, soothing the nervous system as well as helping to prevent insomnia. Many pregnancy massage specialists recommend regular massages during pregnancy – once a week during the second trimester and twice a week or more in the third trimester, as massages can help shorten labour time and make it easier for you to return to your pre-pregnancy form.
Swedish massage is the recommended massage therapy for pregnant women, according to American Pregnancy. This method of massage addresses the discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy and aims to relax muscle tension and improve blood circulation via mild pressure applied to the muscles. The deep tissue massage method (my favoured method) which has slower but deeper movements is not recommended for pregnant women, especially after the first trimester. Neither is reflexology, a deep and concentrated massage of the feet – something I still can’t quite accept, especially when I’ve been walking around on swollen feet for an hour or so. I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to sneak into Chinese massage places, hoping that someone would at least rub my feet, only to be rejected time and time again.
Many therapists will have you lying on your side during the massage, supported by pillows underneath your head, your side and another pillow in between your knees. Some therapists use tables with a hole in the middle to accommodate your stomach so you are still lying face-down on the table. However, many therapists believe that this may cause a strain on your back, as you’re practically dangling. But I’ve used this table before and, although it was a concern at first as I thought the hole was too big and the middle part of my body would sink in, it actually felt quite comfortable and I felt no discomfort in my back at all during the massage. I actually prefer this over the side-lying position as it allows me to relax more.
It’s important to seek a certified pregnancy massage specialist as they would have received training beyond the national standards for massage therapists and know which specific areas of the body to concentrate on or which ones to avoid (as some areas may actually induce labour!). It is also essential to let the therapist know at the time of booking how far you are into the pregnancy – some facilities may not treat you during your first trimester just in case of a miscarriage.
Personally, I find that pregnancy massages are just a little too mild for my liking, especially since I’m used to deep-tissue massage that really digs into those painful areas. And it’s frustrating to find that the parts of my body I need massaged the most (my feet) are off-limits. But hell, it beats getting a ‘feet rub’ by hubby who seems to think massage is imagining his fingers like nails and hammering them into the arches of my feet. And if one benefit is to help lessen labour time, it can’t be all that bad.
Swedish massage is the recommended massage therapy for pregnant women, according to American Pregnancy. This method of massage addresses the discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy and aims to relax muscle tension and improve blood circulation via mild pressure applied to the muscles. The deep tissue massage method (my favoured method) which has slower but deeper movements is not recommended for pregnant women, especially after the first trimester. Neither is reflexology, a deep and concentrated massage of the feet – something I still can’t quite accept, especially when I’ve been walking around on swollen feet for an hour or so. I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to sneak into Chinese massage places, hoping that someone would at least rub my feet, only to be rejected time and time again.
Many therapists will have you lying on your side during the massage, supported by pillows underneath your head, your side and another pillow in between your knees. Some therapists use tables with a hole in the middle to accommodate your stomach so you are still lying face-down on the table. However, many therapists believe that this may cause a strain on your back, as you’re practically dangling. But I’ve used this table before and, although it was a concern at first as I thought the hole was too big and the middle part of my body would sink in, it actually felt quite comfortable and I felt no discomfort in my back at all during the massage. I actually prefer this over the side-lying position as it allows me to relax more.
It’s important to seek a certified pregnancy massage specialist as they would have received training beyond the national standards for massage therapists and know which specific areas of the body to concentrate on or which ones to avoid (as some areas may actually induce labour!). It is also essential to let the therapist know at the time of booking how far you are into the pregnancy – some facilities may not treat you during your first trimester just in case of a miscarriage.
Personally, I find that pregnancy massages are just a little too mild for my liking, especially since I’m used to deep-tissue massage that really digs into those painful areas. And it’s frustrating to find that the parts of my body I need massaged the most (my feet) are off-limits. But hell, it beats getting a ‘feet rub’ by hubby who seems to think massage is imagining his fingers like nails and hammering them into the arches of my feet. And if one benefit is to help lessen labour time, it can’t be all that bad.
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Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
How long have you got?
As for reflexology. When I got to about 39 weeks, I was trying to find the pressure point on my achilles heal (the one which stimulates the uterus) trying to kick start labour.
Actually, my sister is a massage therapist and she said there's a pressure point on the shoulder that can trigger labour. She wouldn't massage my shoulders until I hit 40 weeks.
As it turns out the day I was due for a massage I went into labour.
During labour, Mr M would find the pressure point between my big toe and second toe and press like mad during a contraction. I think it helped. Who knows? It's all a bit of a blur
Love & stuff
Mrs M
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Why deprive pregnant women of foot massages?
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Cibb, I know! You have no idea how much it sucks. Apparently, certain pressure points on the feet can trigger preterm labour.
Kat, hehehe...fortunately, I have one of those hubbies who may not be good at massages, but is quite good with the housework. He gets quite pissed when I so much as lift a finger to potter around the house - and don't worry, I'm taking advantage of it ;P