A massage is a great treat for a pregnant woman. After a massage, not only will your body feel better, and less fatigued, but your mental and emotional state may be better too. In addition, massage therapy helps with circulation and with muscle joint pain.
Massage in pregnancy can help relieve the common pregnancy symptom of sciatica or pain along the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. Sciatica can be caused when the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated. Other pregnancy symptoms that can be helped by massage include leg cramps, and back and round ligament pain. Round ligament is abdominal pain caused by the growth of the uterus and the ligaments used to hold it in place. This pain is unrelated to cramping or contractions and should feel different than contractions.
- Find a massage therapist that is used to pregnant women. Once your belly gets large, you will not be able to lie on your stomach without help. Your massage therapist may want to massage you while you lay on your side. However, a new pillow now allows pregnant women to lie on their stomachs while getting massaged. This pillow has a deep cutout in the center. Many spas now offer these pillows.
- Make sure your massage therapist does not use acupressure or deep tissue massage. There is actually an acupressure point deep in your shoulders that can cause labor to begin. This is a great point to hit if you are past forty weeks and looking for an induction, but it's important that your massage therapistavoid this spot before forty weeks. Your massage therapist should also avoid the acupressure point above the ankle. This site can also cause labor to begin. For more information about safety during pregnancy massage, read Massage During Pregnancy by Bette Waters.
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Author: Theresa Halvorsen