Massage Therapy Effects on Pregnant Women

Pregnancy causes many kinds of aches and pains throughout your body. The lower back and legs are more affected areas with aches and pains. Carrying extra weight of the daily growing baby along with any pregnancy complication such as the baby pushing against a nerve can make you feel tired and sore after some routine tasks. Massage therapy for pregnant women is very beneficial to relieve pain from affected body parts. Make sure that you get the therapy from a professional who is adept in prenatal massages.

Benefits of Massage Therapy on Pregnant Women

• Regulation of hormone – Studies have shown that massage therapy helps to improve the cardiovascular health of pregnant women by changing the level of hormones related to stress and relaxation. By receiving massages twice a week, stress hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine were increased. On the other hand, hormones associated with relaxation, such as dopamine and serotonin were increased after receiving massage therapy. Moreover, such positive changes in hormone levels also lead to lesser complications during pregnancy and lesser complications for the newborn. Prenatal care should involve therapeutic massage for the good health of expectant mothers and newborns.
• Nerve pain subsides – In the late pregnancy period; the uterus is positioned on the muscles of pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure created by the uterus makes the muscles of upper and lower legs tense. They in turn swell up and start to put pressure on the nerves close to them. It is here that massage therapy comes in for relief. By using it, the muscles close to the inflamed nerves can be relaxed. Many women have found significant relief from sciatic nerve pain by regular massages.
• Improvement in Swelling – Swelling in the joints during pregnancy or Edema is common during pregnancy. It is caused by reduced blood circulation and increased pressure on blood vessels due to the heavy uterus. Through massage therapy, you can stimulate the soft tissues for bringing down the collection of fluids in swollen joints. The additional benefit in this is that your tissue waste can be removed with the function of body’s lymph system.

It is of utmost importance that you seek prenatal massage therapy only from a person trained and experienced. Find a certified therapist who has the experience in addressing specific pregnancy needs for the sensitive areas of your body. You should incorporate massage therapy into your prenatal care after taking the advice of your healthcare provider.