Pregnancy Massage is Safe and Effective

About Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage, also referred to as Prenatal Massage is a safe and effective form of bodywork for the expectant mother in cases of both normal and high risk pregnancies.

Pregnancy is a time of major change not only on a physical level, but also on a social, spiritual and physiological level. Massage therapy is an effective way to help the expecting mother assimilate these changes in a healthy and balanced way. Benefits of massage during pregnancy include:

Reduce swelling, edema, and water retention
Enhance the immune system
Increase blood circulation and lymphatic flow
Relieve muscle soreness and spasms
Assist in structural realignment during the postpartum period

But is Prenatal Massage Safe?
Many women worry that massage during pregnancy is not safe for the fetus because of the systemic toxins that are sometimes released from the tissues as an effect of massage. The truth is quite the contrary however. Studies have shown that gentle massage can in fact reduce the amounts of toxins in the bloodstream by increasing lymphatic flow and blood circulation to the muscles and joints and thus removing harmful toxins via these channels more effectively.

Your Best Bet? Be Well Informed.
What is most important for a woman who is considering massage during pregnancy is that she be well informed about the benefits of massage as well as the risks. It is important for her to seek out a massage therapist who has training and experience in pregnancy massage and working with pregnant women. It is also important for her to know that there are some modalities of massage that should be avoided and specific areas of the body that should not be deeply massaged during pregnancy. A trained massage therapist will know what these are, but it is always best for the you to seek to be informed yourself.

Areas of the Body or Modalities to Avoid During PregnancyThe following modalities and areas of body should be avoided during pregnancy massage:

Acupressure or Shiatsu massage should only be performed by a skilled practitioner with proper training in working with pregnant women and certain acupressure and shiatsu points on the body should be avoided entirelly. The following is a list of the areas of the body where these points are located with the acupressure point number listed in parenthesis beside it.

*The center of the bottom of the foot just below the pad (K1)
*The insides of the ankle (K4, K6)
*The inside of the lower leg (SP10)
*The outside of the lower leg just lateral from the kneecap (ST 36)
*The web between the forefinger and thumb (LI 4)
*The point on the front of the lower arm just below the crease of the elbow (LI 11).

A chart of these acupressure points to help you find where they are located on the body will be posted here soon!

A Good Rule of Thumb
Another good general rule to follow when considering massage during pregnancy is to stick with the gentler modality of Swedish Massage during this time unless you have already been receiving massages on a regular basis prior to the pregnancy and your body is already used to the deeper work. The point here being that we don't want to do anything that is going to jar the body's response by starting off with a modality that the system is not acclimated to. Swedish massage tends to be the best choice as it is very gentle and effective at dealing with the common discomforts of pregnancy.

Relax and Enjoy!
While it is important to be informed and to select a qualified therapist, now that you have a little bit more information I hope you will give prenatal massage a try. It is truly one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby during pregnancy. It is safe, effective, and a wonderful way to celebrate the changes you are going through at this stage in life. Enjoy!

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