Prenatal massage can offer many benefits to both mom and baby. We already know that it can help lessen or prevent edema, make delivery happen more quickly, help provide increased nutrition to baby, increase muscle tone, reduce stress, and provide many other benefits.
That said, experts warn that prenatal massage should be given and received with caution. Without the proper precautions, prenatal massage can result in complications–such as discomfort in pressure point areas, stretching of uterine ligaments, and other unpleasantness. In order to avoid a negative prenatal massage experience, be sure to follow the following guidelines.
Talk to your OB/GYN. This is the most important thing you can do before implementing any therapeutic treatments into your pregnancy. He or she especially needs to know about your plans for massage if you have had a pre-term labor before, have recently given birth already, have preeclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension, have severe swelling or headaches, or have an otherwise high-risk pregnancy. He or she may even be able to recommend an experienced masseuse.
Get an experienced masseuse. The above being said, you need to have someone with plenty of experience with prenatal massage. He or she will know where your pressure points are, how to be careful, and how to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. A certified prenatal massage therapist is typically the best choice.
Be sure to lay on your side during the experience. You already know that this is the safest position to lay while carrying your baby. Be wary of tables that have holes in them to accommodate your bouncing bulge of joy; they can stretch your uterus, make you uncomfortable, and generally are not reliable. If your massage therapist recommends laying on your stomach, you may want to reconsider him or her as your choice.
Tags: baby massage, Massage for Mothers, pregnancy health, pregnancy massage, pregnancy stress relief, pregnancy symptom relief, Prenatal Massage, stress relief for mothers