FAQ: Does a Pregnancy Massage Differ From Any Other Body Massage?

June 4, 2019

Pregnancy is a challenging time for women due to all of the physical and hormonal changes going on in their bodies. All of these changes lead to their bodies becoming tense and uncomfortable in other ways. For relief, they must seek out safe solutions to prevent harm to the fetus, so many choose to participate in pregnancy massage today. If you fear receiving this type of massage, read on to learn how it differs from other types of massage to ensure the safety of your baby while relieving your discomfort, and you will soon realise that there is no reason to avoid it.

A Special Table May Be Used

Many practitioners of this type of massage utilise special tables that are designed to accommodate pregnant women. However, this is not a mandatory requirement since there are other methods to ensure that the fetus is not harmed in the process of the massage sessions. We discuss these in the next section.

Body Positions for Pregnancy Massage Are Different

In place of the special massage tables or in addition to them, the practitioner will have you lie on your back or left side instead of face down after the first trimester to avoid any stress or pressure on the uterine ligaments or abdomen. Late in the pregnancy, they may even have you sit in a semi-reclined position to ensure that the sessions are safe for you and your baby.

Areas of the Body That Practitioners Avoid Applying Pressure During Sessions

• Inner leg area
• Abdomen is only massaged gently rather than deeply
• Certain points that may promote uterine contractions

Pregnancy Massage Techniques Target Specific Issues

With regular massage techniques, practitioners target a wide range of issues to relax their clients. Pregnancy massage techniques tend to target the specific needs of pregnant women, such as:

• Balancing hormone levels is one of the prime goals of this type of massage. Mood swings are a normal part of pregnancy, but they can leave the women stressed and tense. Through the various manipulations, a practitioner can help the client’s body regulate serotonin, cortisol, norepinephrine and other hormones to reduce anxiety and lift the mood.

• Relieving sciatic pain is another purpose of this type of massage. As the baby grows, the uterus becomes larger and places pressure on the pelvis, lower back muscles and the sciatic nerve. As a result, pain can develop that shoots down from the back into the legs.

• Reducing edema or swelling is also a prime goal of pregnancy massage by helping the body eliminate the fluid that causes this issue in a more expeditious manner.

For further facts about how pregnancy massage differs from other types of massage, consult with My Beauty First. Our specialists perform this massage gently and safely upon request.

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