PRENATAL MASSAGE: 

EXPECTANT MOTHER’S FIRST STEP IN ALLEVIATING PHYSICAL DISCOMFORTS              

By: Cissie Pryor R.N., LMT                

For many generations and cultures, massage has been a time honored tradition during pregnancy and childbirth.  Drugs normally employed for pain relief are not healthy options during pregnancy; therefore, massage therapy is a benefit to both mother and baby.  Massage is an easy chose for decreasing common discomforts associated with pregnancy, and currently massage therapy is available to most.  The medical community is beginning to participate and along with labor and delivery classes, couples can also learn basic massage techniques.

Common Problems:                                                                       

Fatigue:  The pregnant mother’s body is going through radical changes, placing increased demands on her entire body.  Massage is a great way to slow down, relax and help enhance sleep at night.                                                                           

Backaches:  During the last trimester, and around the fifth month, the natural posture of a pregnant woman will change.  Fetal positioning, muscle strain, weight changes, the hormonal effects on ligaments, and the uterus stretch, place the body in a difficult balance.  During the stretching of the broad ligaments, located on the uterus and side wall of the pelvis, expectant mothers may feel low back and buttock pain.  This pain may also travel down their legs, and feelings of a burning sensation, numbness, weakness, and tingling in their legs can worsen the problem.  Massage can relax and improve circulation in the legs, and alleviate the tightness in the low back and hips.                                                                            

Back Spasms:  Back spasms can be felt over the entire back and neck.  The neck spasms also can cause headaches and lead to increased problems with nausea.                                  

Calf Cramps:  Swelling of the legs and feet may occur due to pressure on the circulation and massage is often very effective in moving the excess fluid out of the puffy areas into general circulation.                                                                             

Mood Swings:  Beyond the physical discomforts, the inner stresses and emotions will be challenging.  The pregnant woman may feel euphoria one moment then give way to feelings of fear as she realizes the new responsibilities facing her future.  Anxiety and insomnia may lead to heightened levels of muscular tension.  Massage will often comfort the pregnant women who are depressed, anxious, and or, physically uncomfortable.                                                               

Precautions Particular to Pregnancy: 

It is good to know that pregnancy is not a “disease” and a healthy pregnant woman is just a healthy person, however, some woman are at a high risk for complications, miscarriages, and other diseases.  If they have had a miscarriage, the doctor must approve of massage therapy.  It is usually a good idea to skip massages the first, twelve weeks, in clients with a history of high risk problems.  This is due to increased risk of miscarriages associated with that time period.                                                                                            Reflex points along the body’s energy system are avoided.  Massage therapist also avoid the client’s legs if there is a history of circulation problems, or blood clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis and phlebitis in particular).  If the primary care provider disapproves for any reason, massage should not be employed.                                                                                    

PRENATAL MASSAGE FOR COUPLES

More women are being exposed to the benefits of massage during pregnancy and childbirth, unfortunately, many expectant mothers cannot afford regular, once a week, professional massage.  Today, it is not unusual to find men attending childbirth education classes with their partners.  Partner massage is a logical next step.  Partner massage provides direct, hands-on participation during the nine months between conception and childbirth.  The mother to be will be able to alleviate physical discomfort and receive more emotional support from her partner as she copes with normal physical discomforts and hormonal changes.  Couples interested in partner massage should check with local massage schools, and pre-natal massage therapists. The Bradley Method of childbirth also offers some massage lessons.  With the wellness movement on the rise, pre-natal massage will also see its popularity re-emerge, and once again the “old” will be “new”.