Are Massages Safe for Pregnant Women?

Once you have discovered that you are bearing the fruit of your marriage's love, you are expectedly overjoyed. Children are considered a blessing to you. However, as you begin to go through the physical and emotional changes that are commonly associated with pregnancy, you realize that being pregnant is not a walk in the park. Since you have been used to getting a massage whenever you're stressed, you have been planning to get a massage for the sake of rejuvenation. However, before you head to your favorite spa or call your favorite masseuse, you need to consider a few points about massages and pregnancy.

Safety of massage

Pregnant women who want to undergo a massage are relatively safe for as long as the masseuse uses the pregnancy or prenatal massage, a term used to connote hands-on massage done throughout pregnancy and after giving birth. Massages done on pregnant women usually last for about an hour and they are typically done on a pregnancy massage table specifically designed to house a pregnant belly. If the table is not available, bolsters, which are well thought out pillows to help accommodate a pregnant woman, are used to help place them on a comfortable position throughout the massage. Most of the time, the pregnant woman is placed on a side lying position, which is deemed to be the most comfortable position.

Techniques to use

In approximately 1,300 massage therapy curriculums taught in the United States alone, there are eighty types of massage techniques taught. Nevertheless, there are three most common types of massage techniques commonly used nowadays. The first type is the Swedish massage, which is characterized by long strokes directly on the muscles and focusing fully on the motion of the joints. The second is the deep tissue massage, which is described as a massage with firm and deep strokes into the muscles. The third and probably considered the most popular at present is the shiatsu massage, which is characterized by the use of pressure and tapping motion on the acupressure points of the body. This, in turn, rouses the body's qi or natural energy.

In massages designed specifically for pregnant women, the techniques used focus largely on the transition that a woman undergoes throughout pregnancy. An example of that is the augmentation of the blood volume by roughly 50% during pregnancy. The blood flows to the legs, making them feel lethargic while the body's natural anticoagulants also increase. This, in turn, makes the pregnant woman susceptible for blood clots in the legs, mostly placed in the inner thighs or in the calves.

Hence, masseuses tend to avoid utilizing forceful and deep pressure on the legs. Instead, they use light yet steady strokes on the legs. Some massage therapists also avoid massaging the belly of a pregnant woman.

While most pregnant women tend to avoid getting a massage throughout their condition, combining massages and pregnancy together can actually be boon for both the mother and the growing fetus. It helps relieve the pain commonly felt by those who are in their second and third trimester of pregnancy. It also helps improve the quality of sleep as well as promote relaxation.

If you want easy access to massages at home, take a look at these massage chair reviews to find out which chairs offer a soft setting which is more suitable for pregnant women.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_L_White

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