Prenatal massage is not new. Massage is a time-honored and tested tradition used by many cultures during pregnancy and childbirth.  With healing intentions, people would intuitively use massage during pregnancy and labor, a practice which was handed down from generation to generation.  Massage was not just used to reposition the baby, but also to help tone the mother's body during pregnancy, and  comfort her during labor. 

 

Understanding the causes of the expectant mother's physiological complaints  is the first step to helping to alleviate her discomforts.  Her body is experiencing vast changes rapidly, which can cause adverse effects.  Most of thes physiological complaints can be alleviated by massage. 

 

Beyond her normal physical discomforts, the inner stresses and sensitivities of the expectant mother are also normal and understandable.  She is in the midst of an awesome, life-changing process that involves her entire being:  mind, body, emotion and spirit.  Anxiety can also be caused by these physical changes as well: muscular tension can overstimulate the body's emergency nervous system referred by many as the fight or flight response. 

 

Massage is an ideal therapy to help an expectant mother to better cope with stress.  The following list are benefits of pregnancy massage. 

*Helps to eliminate waste products throught the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

*Eases the load on the mother's heart and helps to keep her blood pressure in check.

*Eases muscular discomforts such as cramping, tightening, tension and knots.

*Helps relieve depression or and anxiety caused by hormonal changes

*More oxygen and nutrients are brought to the cells of both the mother and the fetus due to increased blood flow.

 

Pregnancy massage is an experience that offers the expectant mother a massage during the time she needs it most.  It is important for the mother to prepare her body for the birth of the baby... but it is just as important to relieve the stress.  This should be a joyous experience, so why not make it even better with massage.