Comfort Zones: Massages For Moms-To-Be

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

It’s been weeks, maybe even a few months since you got the good news that you’re expecting, and now your expecting to see a burgeoning baby bump. But, along with all the anticipation and excitement of your blooming belly come the “unexpected’ aches and pains of pregnancy, your growing baby and your transitioning physique.

Take the stress and the pressure off with prenatal massages with help alleviate minor discomforts. Just make sure you visit a trusted, certified professional and experience the many benefits to you and your baby, especially since pregnancy-related stress is quite common and have direct consequences on your and your unborn child. On the other hand, a soothing, relaxing massage can boost your mood and make you and your baby happy. In fact, it’s so effective you may want to continue pampering yourself (and your attitude) once your baby is born.

Another common condition during pregnancy is back aches, primarily since the center of your gravity shifts toward the frond and the muscles of your lower back compress, while your abdominal muscles weaken, stretch and separate, creating a little extra space for the baby, but lots of lower back issues for you. Massage can work “miracles” for this too. Plus, seasoned pros can give you good advice on how to strengthen your core, building abdominal muscles for added lumbar support. (By the way, refrain from dong cruches both during pregnancy and during early postpartum recovery). Experts note that Ab exercises the engage your transverse abdominis, the deepest of the abdominal muscles will strengthen your lower back and pelvis and limit the amount of abdominal separation which affects almost 90% of pregnant women. In addition, sciatic pain cal also be relieved with the proper massage methods and with specific postural stretches.

Achy, sore, and swollen legs and feet can also be address with the right kind of massage, more commonly known as manual lymphatic drainage, can relieve the congestion in your legs and safely protect against dislodging any blood clots your body may produce. Note that in order to protect yourself during pregnancy and up to 10 weeks after delivery, your body produces more blood clots to help guard against excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging during labor and early recovery. In fact, a good portion of these clots are found in the deeper parts of your legs and calves making deep strokes to your legs not appropriate at this very sensitive time. So, make sure your (trained) professional uses light touch when it comes to massaging your legs.

Make sure you masseuse asks for and takes a complete medical history before you initial massage and does all the pretreatment evaluation including those for blood clots and pitting edema, a potential precursor of preeclampsia; and that these tests are repeated prior to each session.

Most importantly you want a professional you trust and feel comfortable with and who takes treating pregnant moms seriously and treats you carefully and with dignity.

Long Island Pregnancy Articles > Comfort Zones: Massages For Moms-To-Be