What Are The Benefits Of Pregnancy Massage

In our medically advanced society, massage can often be over-looked as an important part of pregnancy health care. However, this tried and tested tradition is one of the oldest forms of the healing arts and has been used for thousands of years in almost every culture.

Every pregnant woman deserves some pampering and massage is a wonderful way to reduce stress and promote general wellbeing. Massage can be received during all three trimesters of your pregnancy for both normal and high risk pregnancies.

With the exciting news that you are pregnant, your body is about to undergo stress-producing changes. Some of the consequences of these changes can leave a woman feeling sore, tired and uncomfortable. Massage is therefore a great way to relieve this discomfort through the positive effects of soft tissue manipulation.

Pregnancy Massage therapy helps the body adjust to accommodate the life growing within. It can assist in reducing stress, encourage relaxation and prepare muscles and joints for childbirth. Not only can this be a treat for you, but a much needed therapy to ease some of the aches and pains experienced during pregnancy.

The benefits of massage, in general, are numerous, however, more specifically for pregnancy they include:

• Relief from muscle cramps, tension, spasms;
• Relief from pain especially in the lower back, neck, hips and legs;
• Reduction of stress on weight bearing joints;
• Improvement of muscle tone and flexibility of joints;
• Dilate the blood vessels, therefore improving blood circulation including the placenta, which brings greater nutrition to the tissues of the body and enhances waste removal;
• The lymphatic system circulates faster and more efficiently, which results in more energy and less fatigue and helps to reduce swelling;
• May help with the reduction of varicose veins;
• Stimulates glandular secretions, which will stabilise your hormonal levels and reduce their side effects;
• Enhancement of elasticity and pliability of skin and connective tissue (ligaments and tendons);
• Helping with sleeplessness or insomnia;
• Increased range of flexibility and movement and become less prone to injury;
• Helps to calm the nerves and reduce anxiety, which is also transferred to your baby to help them feel more relaxed and soothed;
• Prepares the muscles and tissues used during labour and birth.

Many of the problems that arise during pregnancy are due to muscle strain, weakness and poor posture.

Proper exercise and appropriate stretching will increase your energy, strengthen the muscles most strained during pregnancy and labour, stimulate circulation and increase flexibility in the joints.

If you would like to ease some of the pain and discomfort of pregnancy, contact me at Phoenix Therapies for more than just a massage. I will assess your posture, offer ways to help you manage your discomfort at home, and provide information and techniques for relaxation and preparation for the big day.

My number is (08) 9303 9111 and I am based in Landsdale, which is in the northern suburbs of Perth.

Vicki Hobbs
Remedial Massage Therapist
Pregnancy Massage Specialist
Hypnobirthing Practitioner