Pregnancy Massage, The Best Prenatal Care

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"There is a place you can touch a woman that will drive her crazy. Her heart."

Pregnancy massage is a game of love or rather a mastered art of touch by the partner or a massage therapist to comfort the wife and win over the unborn child. Most people enjoy human touch as it can convey love, awareness, alleviate aches and many other sensations which are the essential needs during pregnancy.

Pregnancy massage or pre-natal massage is therapeutic bodywork specifically tailored for the expectant mother's needs as her body goes through dramatic changes. In addition to the fact that massage during pregnancy makes her feel good, there are many other benefits too. Prenatal Massage enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves circulation and general body tone and relieves mental and physical fatigue. Here is the list of all its benefits and right procedure to do the massage. Follow them and bring in a difference in your life.

Benefits of Pre-natal massage

• Body massage on weight-bearing joints, such as ankles, neck, lower back and pelvis reduces swelling in hands and feet by increasing blood and lymph circulation.
• Emotional support through nurturing touch to the pregnant woman.
• Improves outcome of labor and eases labor pain, that is it prepares muscles used during childbirth.
• Helps with relaxation and insomnia
• A recent study states that it may even reduce the risk of premature births.
• Improves the mother's sleep and eases depression.
• Massage by the partner gives him a better bond with the wife and the child. Childbirth experts say that when dad-to-be massages mom-to-be during pregnancy, both partners become more relaxed and more involved with the baby.
• Assists in maintaining proper posture.
• Regular pregnancy body massages work towards keeping your blood pressure in control.
• It aims at eliminating waste products like lactic acid, from your body, by promoting your circulatory and lymphatic systems.
• 20 minutes of massage twice weekly for five weeks improves mood swings and sleep patterns during pregnancy.
• Babies will have a lower rate of postnatal complications

Precautions

Massage has never been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. However before having pregnancy massage by a therapist or your partner, its is important to consult your doctor, as women with certain health conditions may not be able to go through the process. It is also advisable not to have a massage in the first trimester.

When you are looking for a pregnancy or postpartum massage, make sure that the therapist is certified in pregnancy massage. It is very important for the massage therapist to have special training as he/she should be aware of the safe practice for mother and her baby. Many hospitals offer classes where your first rubdown is conducted in the presence of a certified instructor. However if you and your partner would like to try it on your own make sure to follow the below guidelines.

Pregnancy massage tips

• Do not massage on open sores, areas with rashes or distended varicose veins, or around or near any local site of infection.
• Never lie on your back for a massage after the 20th week of pregnancy as it can harm your baby by compromising blood flow to the uterus.
• Avoid massage on the abdomen.
• Avoid pressure between the anklebone and the heel. Many massage therapists warn that this point on the body directly correlates to the uterus and vagina, and heavy pressure, particularly in the third trimester. This could induce premature labor.