February 2010 Newsletter Article

Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy is a very special and sacred event in a woman’s life.  The miracle of having a life growing inside of you comes with a lot of physical and emotional challenges – there is no more important time to care for your body than while you are pregnant. Modern investigation and research is proving that prenatal massage therapy can be a very instrumental ingredient in women’s prenatal care and should be given careful consideration, and that massage also has a positive effect on the baby. Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.

Pregnancy massage is massage therapy specifically tailored for the expectant mother's needs. The mother's body must be properly positioned and supported during the massage, using pillows and proper alignment, which ensures comfort and safety for the mother and baby. Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.

Hormone regulation
Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health, when massage therapy was introduced to women’s prenatal care. Hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (“stress hormones”) were reduced and dopamine and serotonin levels (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression) were increased in women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks. These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when relaxing, therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care. Touch is vital to the mother's physical and emotional well-being as she adapts to her new body image. Regardless of individual circumstances, a pregnant woman's body is challenged, changed and stressed in many ways. Massage gives special attention to the mother-to-be, which in turn nurtures the new life that grows within her.

Reduction of swelling
Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints, which also improves the removal of tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymph system.

Improvement of nerve pain
Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.

Other potential benefits of prenatal massage:

• Emotional support and nurturing touch
• Relaxation and decreased insomnia
• Stress relief on weight-bearing joints, such as ankles, lower back and pelvis
• Neck and back pain relief caused by muscle imbalance and weakness
• Assistance in maintaining proper posture
• Preparing the muscles used during childbirth
• Reduced swelling in hands and feet
• Lessened sciatic pain
• Fewer calf cramps
• Headache and sinus congestion relief
• Improved circulation
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Open up hip joints through passive stretching movements

Pregnancy massage addresses the two main components of pregnancy: the physical (hormone regulation, fatigue, swelling, aches and pains due to sore joints and tendons, and nerve pain) and emotional (anxiety, stress, emotional unbalance). Massage during pregnancy is extremely beneficial when done consistently and can be an instrumental ingredient in routine prenatal care as an emotional and physical health supplement proven to improve pregnancy outcome and maternal health.

The use of touch and massage is also valuable during labor. It helps a woman to relax and the more relaxed she is, the more efficient her labor will be. When a woman is stressed she releases adrenaline which counteracts the effect of oxytocin, the hormone that produces contractions.

Massage can also help a woman adjust during the post-partum period. It can promote healing, especially from Caesarian section, facilitate the realignment of the spine, pelvis and muscles stretched by pregnancy and address the physical strain of carrying and caring for a newborn baby.

So why are woman often turned away from massage during their first trimester? Because of the tremendous physical and hormonal changes that occur in the expectant mother, any massage during the first trimester is not recommend. In my opinion, this is the time for the mother to get comfortable with being pregnant. The second and third trimesters are wonderful times to begin prenatal massage.