Massage for Your Health - Hometown Focus

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By Susan Santi
HTF Columnist

Help! Oh to be able to sleep at night! To get rid of or minimize low back/pelvic pain! Why suffer with discomfort when you already are dealing with massive changes in your body: physically, mentally and emotionally? Plus there is so much to think about in preparation for the arrival of a baby. Being stressed out and uncomfortable to boot is no way to experience your pregnancy.
So why get a massage? It can most definitely help with these issues, and more, while you are pregnant. It is great for the skin, providing a pleasurable experience which means it creates a positive effect on the baby and mother. It also provides the mother with a quiet place to relax, and emotional support to aid in reducing mood swings.
What are some additional benefits of massage during pregnancy? It has been shown to decrease premature births, length of labor and labor complications. It increases birth weight, blood and lymph circulation, and helps to reduce edema. Massage also decreases depression, anxiety and pain as well as stress levels and blood pressure.
It is important to find a massage therapist who has been certified in pregnancy massage because there could be pre-existing or on going medical conditions that need to be addressed in the proper manner. If you are a high risk pregnancy then be prepare to come with a release from your doctor for your first visit to your massage therapist. Also the therapist should have a clear understanding on how to properly position you with pillows and wedges. While giving you a massage they should know where the pressure points are on your body, to avoid causing an early delivery. There are half a dozen that I can name off the top of my head and I know as long as I don’t hold those points and my hands are gliding over them then there is no cause for alarm.
The recommendation for massage during pregnancy is once a month starting at 14 weeks, until the 8th month, then every 2 weeks until birth. This schedule will greatly benefit the mother and baby, helping to keep the stress levels down.
Now, what about getting a massage after you have given birth? Postpartum massage helps facilitate the restoration of your pre-pregnancy body, and alleviate muscle strain/fatigue caused by delivery. It rehabilitates skinconnective tissue and muscles of the abdomen and promotes structural realignment of the pelvis. It can also help with healing from a C- section, relieving spinal headaches and giving emotional support and nurturance which minimizes mood swings.
There are some precautions with a postpartum massage. For instance, massaging the legs up to 10 weeks after delivery, especially with a C-section, is prohibited. Also the therapist should know about proper adaptation of massage techniques during this time. Is the mother nursing, did she have a C-section? These two situations use different massage techniques, each unique to their circumstance.
“Postpartum women may receive a massage as early as 24 hours after birth. A doctor’s release is necessary if there were any complications with labor and delivery. Also abdominal massage has to be delayed for post-Cesarean section mothers and for women who have experienced complications during birth that contraindicate abdominal massage. Gentle Swedish massage on the rest of the body is appropriate for both vaginal or Cesarean births.â€￾
So don’t let your pregnancy aches get the better of you. Let massage help you get to your delivery date with a sense of saneness. Even if you are postpartum, massage is excellent for helping assist your body in getting back to normal.
(Source: Bodywork for the Childbearing Year; Kate Jordan)
Susan Santi is a certified massage therapist and owner of Ahhh Massage in Virginia, MN. Feel free to contact her with questions at 218-410-2144.