Prenatal massage therapy can help improve your pregnancy.

When you’re pregnant, you deserve a massage.

Your baby is growing at such a rapid pace that your body must quickly change to accommodate him. Since most of your new weight is going to the front of your body, your pelvis pulls forward and adds extra strain to your back, shoulder, and neck muscles. All this added tension is enough of a reason for you to get a weekly massage when you’re pregnant. But then there are the mood swings, the nerve pain, the breast tenderness… the list goes on.

Massage therapists trained in the prenatal massage modality employ techniques that were designed especially for the needs of pregnant women. Plus, a massage table can be set up just for your body. If you can’t find a therapist with a special pregnancy table or a pregnancy pad, you can get a prenatal massage while you lie on your side and hug a pillow. (Pregnant friends have told me that just being able to lie face-down on a pregnancy table was worth what they paid for the massage.)

If everything I’ve mentioned up to this point hasn’t convinced you to get a prenatal massage, consider the following:

1. Prenatal massage therapy can reduce your stress levels and improve your mood. A study conducted by the University of Miami studied the effects of a twice-weekly 20 minute massage on pregnant women. The results were promising. Researchers found that the pregnant women’s stress hormones were lowered and their mood states were improved.
2. Prenatal massage therapy can improve your pregnancy experience and improve your baby’s health. The University of Miami study showed that women who received massages also noticed a dramatic decrease in body pain as a result of the hormone regulation. Moreover, the quality of their sleep was improved and their risk of having any pregnancy-related complications was reduced.

With that in mind, massage isn’t just a luxury when you’re pregnant. If you don’t care about getting a massage for your own health, get one on your baby’s behalf.

Tips:

• Mention prenatal massage gift certificates on your baby shower wish list.
• Join your partner in learning some prenatal massage techniques to save some money.
• Click here to find a massage therapist who specializes in prenatal massage.

Warning:

• Talk to your OB/GYN before you schedule your first massage treatment. Some pre-existing pregnancy complications are contraindications for prenatal massage.