Pregnancy is one of life’s most amazing and beautiful experiences . . . but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its tough moments. If you’re expecting, you know firsthand that pregnancy can dramatically change a woman’s body. You might feel pain, discomfort, or simply different from your everyday self. A nice massage can relieve many of these symptoms. In fact, there are numerous prenatal massage benefits you may not know about that can work in your favor — read on to find out how they can help you.
Prenatal Massage Benefits
Prenatal massages help women everywhere feel more relaxed and comfortable during pregnancy. In addition, because doctors often limit the medications you can take during pregnancy, a prenatal massage offers a safe, drug-free method to relieve many uncomfortable symptoms. If you’re pregnant and schedule a massage, you can look forward to all of the following prenatal massage benefits:
1. Reduce Joint Swelling
When you’re pregnant, your circulation isn’t functioning as it normally would. This can cause your joints to swell — a term called edema. As you might expect, this can make moving around very uncomfortable. Prenatal massage will stimulate the muscle tissue surrounding your joints, relieving them of pressure. You should experience a greater range of motion and less discomfort after a prenatal massage.
2. Ease Back Pain
Many pregnant women report pain in their hips and lower back. During pregnancy, you’re inevitably going to gain some weight — and quickly. Carrying that new weight can alter a person’s center of gravity. This will affect your posture, which can cause lots of aching. It also puts pressure and stress on your neck, back, pelvis, and legs. Often, this pressure pulls your pelvis forward, causing more aches and pains and further posture issues. One of the most praised prenatal massage benefits is that it relieves this lower back pain. Pregnant women who receive a massage often report feeling a weight lifted from their hips and lower backs — especially if they’ve visited a spa or clinic with experience in prenatal massage.
3. Reduce Sciatic Nerve Pain
Especially when you’re in your third trimester, you may experience sciatic nerve pain. This feeling might be sharp, tingly, or numb, and it often runs from your lower back down your legs. While it goes away after giving birth, it can be a real challenge during pregnancy, as it makes walking difficult. A prenatal massage can help here, too. A good massage will relieve the tension in the muscles around the sciatic nerve, lifting some of the pressure experienced by the nerve and resulting in a more comfortable pregnancy.
4. Regulate Hormones
While you’re pregnant, you might experience changes in your emotions or behavior. Many women will experience mood swings, feelings that might not seem normal to them, or even depression. That can be difficult to deal with, even if it is temporary. However, massage can help manage those symptoms. A prenatal massage regulates your levels of hormones that affect both stress and depression, so you can feel mentally and emotionally balanced once again.
5. Relieve Stress
When you’re pregnant, you likely have a hundred questions running through your mind all day. Names? Nursery themes? Cloth diapers or disposable? Godparents? The details to consider are seemingly endless! All of these decisions can put a lot of stress on a person. Whether or not you’re expecting, massages are great for relieving stress — and pregnant women undeniably deserve that. During a prenatal massage, you’re allowed to pause life, drop everything you’re worrying about, and simply unwind. Afterward, you’ll come back to real life feeling relaxed, both physically and mentally.
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To experience all of these wonderful prenatal massage benefits, seek the help of a professional massage therapist. Look for a licensed massage therapist who has experience in prenatal massage. He or she will be able to address your questions, explain the benefits in more detail, and make sure you have a comfortable experience.
Are you interested in learning more about prenatal massage benefits, or would you like to see for yourself what a prenatal massage can do? If so, get in touch with Loehr Chiropractic & Acupuncture in Springfield, Missouri. Our licensed massage therapists are committed to supporting expectant mothers’ health and well-being — physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you would like more information or are ready to book a massage today, contact us via phone at 417-887-8075 or by email at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
