Prenatal Massage

Posted by Jason Norman on September 9th, 2022

Prenatal massage in Brick will help to rub away the strains and pains of pregnancy and help your body and mind feel better.  Yes, it is safe to have a massage while pregnant after the first trimester.  Before a pregnant woman has a massage, she should check with her obstetrician to make sure it is okay.

They are adapted for the anatomical changes that a woman goes through during her pregnancy.   This is not your typical massage because, with a baby belly, you cannot spend most of the time lying face-down or facing up.  Lying face up puts pressure on a major blood vessel that can leave you feeling nauseous because the blood flow to your baby can be disrupted.

The trained massage therapist will use special holes or cushioning systems that will allow a pregnant woman to safely lie face down, providing room for their growing breasts and belly.  For a prenatal massage in Point Pleasant, the therapist may have them lie on their side using cushions and pillows for support. 

There are many benefits to having a prenatal massage.  It has been shown that they can help to reduce the stress hormones your body puts out.  It can also help you loosen your muscles and relax.  A prenatal massage in Brick can help increase the blood flow, which is important during pregnancy.  It can also help to keep the lymphatic system working at peak efficiency.  The massage can help your mind reconnect with your body. 

It may also help you with:

• Joint, back, and neck pain
• Insomnia
• Cramping in your legs
• Swelling in your feet and hands but you should check with your obstetrician if you notice this to make sure it is not preeclampsia.
• Sciatica
• Sinus congestion
• Headaches
• Carpal tunnel pain

When a prenatal massage in Point Pleasant is done, the areas of the body that they focus on are determined by how their body is experiencing pregnancy.  If they are experiencing a lot of discomfort in their chest and shoulders due to activated glands and swelling breast tissue, they will focus on the neck and shoulder area.  They do not do deep pressure massage because, during pregnancy, women can be susceptible to blood clots.  Deep pressure massage could dislodge a blood clots if they have any.  This is especially true on the legs.  This area should have light pressure used.  They should check first for pitting edema.

Before getting a prenatal massage, make sure that they are specialists in this type of massage with at least 16 hours of advanced training in maternal massage.  There is no special certificate to show they have it so you need to ask.  Ask your obstetrician for a referral to one who has this training.

Conclusion

It is safe to have a prenatal massage after the first trimester but always check with your obstetrician first, especially if you have high blood pressure or diabetes.  Having a massage can help to take some of the pressure and stress off of you, particularly if this is your first pregnancy.