Massage and your pregnancy

Are you pregnant? Do you have swollen feet, hands, and ankles? Does your back ache all the time? Is your baby pushing on your Sciatic Nerve? Do you have trouble sleeping?

There are many joys and many trials during the 40 weeks of pregnancy. But if you are in your second or third trimester you can get massage and help alleviate many of those trials. Massage can remove some of the fluid built up in your extremities and reduce your swelling. It can help to manage the pain in your sciatic nerve from all the pressure put on it. Massage can help to lessen the pain in your low back from the additional weight you are trying to hold upright when sitting and standing.

Any massage is good for pregnancy once you get through the first trimester. The first trimester is often when women lose children and massage is not recommended by most therapists until you get past that point. The best prenatal massage is with a special set of cushions or a special table meant to accomodate a pregnant belly; these set ups can give you an hour of relief from the weight of the belly and also your mammary tension because of special holes or wells for these areas. If the special table or cushions are not available your therapist can use pillows to frame your body and make it more comfortable. Somtimes sitting in a chair sideways is comfortable to have your back worked on and your extremities without the trouble of getting on a table.

Massage can also help you relax during labor, having your hands and neck and feet worked on during your labor pains can help you control your breathing and slow your heart rate. Keeping you in control of your labor helps you to enjoy it more.

If you already recieve massage and are pregnant, don't stop the massage all together, just wait until your first trimester is done and then resume your massages. Keep your therapist informed of your pregnancy trials so they know what to help you with.

If you are pregnant and want to try massage, call your local massage therapist and talk with them about thier comfort with pregnancy. You can find a good fit for you very easily.

Pregnancy massage is also helpful to get a bond with your therapist and then when you have your little bundle of joy, they can help you with some of the healing aspects of massage after the birth and help with massage of your little one.