Prenatal Massage is specifically aimed at providing therapeutic relief for the expectant mother's needs. Proper positioning and support using pillows, blankets, bolsters and foam wedges help ensure the comfort and safety for the mother and her soon to be newborn.
Pregnancy is a time of major change for the expecting mother and these changes create compounding layers of emotional, physiological and psychological stress for the entire body. Not only does the physiological make up of the expecting mother change dramatically, the expecting mother can also expect a rapid influx of hormonal changes as well.
With time, these hormonal changes will become more balanced and manageable with the more massage the expecting mother integrates into her life. Regularly scheduled massages help you stay centered and connected to your life, and this centered, nourishing attitude will provide a clearer perspective for the entire development period.
With the addition of intentional touch throughout your pregnancy you’ll be well prepared when the birth actually occurs. By proactively reeducating your body to breathe, relax and release its tension and pain beforehand you’ll typically find a less troublesome birthing process.
It’s as essential to giving birth as it is to meditation, and the ability to breathe and relax cannot be understated when managing the stressors your now pregnant body is living with. Practice the art of full and deep relaxation and you’ll be better prepared to handle the stressors of this special day.
Expectant mothers also speak highly of the emotional support provided by intentional touch during their pregnancies and often encourage expecting mothers to let themselves receive the care they need by receiving regularly scheduled prenatal massages.
Physiological Changes of the Pregnant Body Include:
Relaxin, a hormone used by your body, is released in abundance throughout your term and its job is to
create a lengthening and softening of your ligaments which allow your pelvis to expand during delivery.
This loosening effect relaxes all of the ligaments in your body, not just your pelvis, and any unstable joints,
vertebrae or areas of previous trauma are all affected. Massage increases your blood and lymph flow
which relaxes your tense muscles, increases your range-of-motion and decreases physical pain and
discomfort.
Your body weight has increased dramatically, now that you’re mid to full term and that extra weight requires
more energy. Women who must continue to work while carrying to full term suffer tremendously from
fatigue. Massage will give you the necessary time to rest and rejuvenate.
Proprioception is the sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of the body and is a third distinct sensory modality that provides
feedback solely on the status of the body internally. It is the sense that indicates whether the body is moving with required effort, as well as,
where the various parts of the body are located in relation to each other. As your body continues to grow, especially near full term, you may
not be sure exactly how much space your body actually occupies. Your sense of where your belly is in relation to the outside world may not
be as accurate as you would like and this is one reason why some pregnant women become more ‘accident prone’ than others. Massage
therapy increases your body awareness and clarity of your position in space, and can thereby prevent injury.
Prenatal Massage Helps Manage:
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Musculoskeletal pain and tension
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Hemorrhoids
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High or Low blood pressure
 Contraindications:
It is essential that your massage therapist is aware of any high risk or compromising conditions. Most do not prohibit massage completely; however, a few do prohibit specific massage techniques. If you have one or more of these conditions, your session will be modified accordingly to ensure the wholeness and safety of you and your soon to be newborn.
Contraindications may include:
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Cardiac, Pulmonary, Renal, or Liver Disorders
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Drug or Hazardous Materials Exposure
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Mother’s age under 20 or over 35
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Pregnancy-induced Hypertension (PIH) or Chronic Hypertension
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Pre-pregnancy Diabetes Mellitus
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Previous problem pregnancy
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Prior or current threatened miscarriage
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