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The positive effects of remedial massage are well known, but did you know there are even more reasons to have a massage during your pregnancy?

Massage therapy aims to address different musculoskeletal issues through a range of specialised techniques. It aims to reduce muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the body.

Here are some reasons pregnancy massage is important:

1) Improves circulation and reduces edema (fluid retention)

The techniques that the therapist uses during a pregnancy massage are specifically designed to improve circulation and blood flow to both the mother and baby.

During a pregnancy massage the therapist will use long gliding motions starting at the feet and moving up the legs toward the lymph nodes. The direction of the strokes is important and assists the body to remove the excess fluids.

Many women experience swelling and pooling of fluid around the hands, feet and joints during pregnancy, particularly in the later stages.

Excess fluid around the joints can cause aching, pain, restricted range of motion and even compression of nerves resulting in nerve pain.

2) Reduces muscle tension, headaches and pain

Similarly to a regular massage the therapist applies specific techniques to stretch and elongate muscles that have become short and tight.

Tightness of muscles is often a contributing factor to low back pain, neck, shoulder pain, headaches and sciatic pain that is often experienced during pregnancy.



3) Hormone regulation

Many women experience extreme mood swings during pregnancy as a result of heightened hormones circulating through their bodies.

Recent studies have shown that the hormone levels associated with tension and stress are significantly reduced when massage therapy was introduced to a women’s prenatal care.

In women who received massage therapy twice per week (for only five weeks), hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (the stress hormones) were reduced along with an increase in dopamine and serotonin (low levels of these hormones are often associated with depression).

The changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during labour and fewer cases of newborn complications, such as low birth weight.

4) Posture

During pregnancy the body goes through immense changes this can be detrimental to the mothers posture.

The extra weight that the body has to carry makes every day activities much more challenging and can lead to a lordosis in the lower back and a kyphosis in the upper back.

Massage can assist the changing muscles and adapt to the strains of pregnancy. There are also specialised taping techniques that your remedial therapist can apply to help correct posture and take some of the load off stressed muscles. Taping can also be an affective tool to help add some support when the skin is becoming taught and stretched.

In addition to these benefits massage therapy during pregnancy can also assist to reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve joint pains, boost skins elasticity reducing the chance of stretch marks and can improve labour outcomes and newborn health.

Have you had a massage while pregnant, did you feel any benefits?

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  • I had an amazing pregnancy massage at about 6 months. I tried to wait longer but had to at that point. They had a special massage table suitable and safe for big bellies. The pressure relief wasn’t very long lasting, but gave me the pampering I so desperately needed. Lower back pain is no joke.

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  • Not vital…no. Nice….Yes. Ive never had one but would have loved to thats for sure.

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  • Oooohhhh, I do enjoy a good massage! Never had one when pregnant, don’t know why I never thought of that, oh well. Just have to have lots now to make up for it

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  • That’s pretty interesting! Thanks for sharing this!

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  • I had a pregnancy massage yesterday and it was amazing!!! At 36 weeks was feeling sore and left feeling so much lighter :)

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  • You should only have a massage from a. Properly qualified person and a lot of the oils are not recommended for pregnant women so be very careful.


    • yeah lavendar is one of them and highly avoidable

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  • i had massages when i was pregnant. I just thought it made me feel better!

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  • I had many massages, just make sure you see someone specialised in pregnancy.
    Love endotas pregnancy pillows, great to lay on your tummy and feel comfortable! & know your Bub is safe!

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  • I wouldn’t let anyone massage me while pregnant. you never know for sure there qauifications. Call me paranoid but I would just rather be safe than sorry.

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  • so exellent to read these so great

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  • Very interesting.

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  • Having my time again I think I would do pregnancy massage!

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  • I don’t think that it’s essential (there a plenty of pregnant women throughout the world who would never have to opportunity or be able to afford this) but it sure as hell is nice to do!!

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  • i loved massages from my hubby!

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  • Yes, my legs were massaged in particular it was amazing

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  • They aren’t vital but they sure can help! Pregnancy changes your whole body, you generally carry an extra amount of weight that you aren’t used to and your organs and muscles are moving to make room. If one muscle area is affected, it’s going to have a flow on effect through the rest of your body. If there was ever an excuse to treat yourself to a massage, pregnancy is a great one!
    And as a bonus, if you aren’t too big, you might get to lay on your belly on the special pregnancy massage tables. Something so many women miss being able to do!

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  • I think I’ve just been looking for a good excuse to continue massages through my pregnancy – you’ve just provided three! Thanks

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  • no? you can get Away without it…or the price tag

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  • Could do with a massage right now!

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  • I’ll definitely try next time to have one. I just never got around to booking one in.

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