Does pregnancy make you very tired? Do you have back pain and do your legs feel heavy? Prenatal massage has many benefits such as relieving tension and joint pain, improving digestion and promoting relaxation. Discover in this guide all the most important information about prenatal massage.
What is prenatal massage?
Prenatal massage* from the 4th month of pregnancy offers multiple benefits:
Prenatal massage has developed as pregnant women are increasingly seeking well-being during their pregnancy. Prenatal massage helps to stimulate your muscles and joints and relieves fatigue (whether physical or mental).
Prenatal massage has several benefits for the body:
- reduction of insomnia
- relaxation of the ankles, lower back and pelvis
- help in maintaining good posture
- prepares the muscles used during childbirth
- reduces sciatic pain
- Reduces cramps that can occur in the calves
- relief from your headaches
- Relieves tension
History of prenatal massage
Research dating back two decades has begun to confirm the benefits of massage therapy during pregnancy, with a 1999 study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology finding reduced anxiety, improved mood, better sleep and less back pain in pregnant women who received massage twice a week for five weeks.
What happens during a prenatal massage session?
Prenatal massage follows strict rules to avoid harming your baby’s development.
You start by undressing and lying down either on your back or on your left side, which allows your belly to rest on the table without suffering from the weight of your baby.
The practitioner uses a neutral cream to avoid using a product that could be toxic to the baby’s health, or odorless oils because fragrant essential oils can cause nausea.
The benefits of prenatal massage
Prenatal massage offers numerous benefits, both physical and emotional:
- Réduction des douleurs et tensions musculaires :La prise de poids et les changements hormonaux entraînent souvent des douleurs au dos, aux jambes ou au bassin. Prenatal massage targets these areas to relieve muscle tension and improve posture.
- Improved blood and lymphatic circulation: Pregnant women are often prone to swelling, especially in the legs. The gentle movements of the massage stimulate circulation, thus reducing edema and promoting tissue oxygenation.
- Stress and anxiety reduction: Pregnancy is a time of emotional upheaval. Prenatal massage promotes the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormones, while decreasing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Improved sleep quality: By soothing the body and mind, prenatal massage helps to restore restful sleep, which is often disrupted during pregnancy.
- Enhanced connection with baby: Taking the time to relax and refocus during a massage helps to create a stronger bond with your baby.
Contraindications
This pregnancy massage is not recommended during the first trimester because the body undergoes significant physical and hormonal changes. Furthermore, this massage is not recommended in cases of high-risk pregnancy, if you are prone to blood clots, if you have severe cramps and bleeding, or if your doctor has advised against it following a cesarean section.
- No direct message on the abdomen.
- Avoid certain pressure points, such as those on the ankles and feet.
- Do not massage on varicose veins, wounds or areas with skin rashes. This is because the fetus is not yet stabilized until 3 months and therefore the risk of miscarriage is high. Therefore, between the 4th and 8th month, you can freely perform massages up to 2 times a week.
- Fever, illness; undiagnosed, oozing dermatoses; significant pathology; threat of premature birth; threat of phlebitis; frequent contractions