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The Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy

The Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy

By Jill Brighton

Expecting a baby is cherished news for many couples. It is an event that will bring about a transformation in almost every area of your life: physical, emotional, relational, spiritual. Your body is changing daily, even hourly as it accommodates the growing life within. Receiving prenatal massage is one of the ways that muscular discomforts of a pregnant body can be relieved.

The benefits of massage during pregnancy are many and have been well documented. Since 1999, studies conducted at the Touch Research Institute from the University of Miami School of Medicine have reported that women receiving prenatal massage therapy had “decreased depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain. Cortisol levels decreased and, in turn, excessive fetal activity decreased, and the rate of prematurity was lower in the massage group.”1 2 Let’s look at each of these areas as related to pregnancy and massage.

Stress reduction

During pregnancy, thoughts of life with a child come to the forefront: finances, relationships with your partner – many aspects of your life will change. How about the birth process itself? Hospital or home? Doctor or midwife? And what about your ongoing daily stresses: work, time commitments with your family and community life? The list goes on! Cortisol and norepinephrine are stress hormones secreted by the adrenal glands. In women experiencing high levels of sustained stress, these hormone levels increase and linger in the body leading to rising anxiety, depression, mood swings, increased fatigue, insomnia, high blood pressure and excessive fetal activity.3 During pregnancy, the baby is exposed to these hormones, which might lead to problems with hyperactivity and other behavioural issues later in childhood.4

When relaxation massage is introduced, the stress hormones decrease and the brain releases other stress-reducing hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, calming both mom and baby. These hormonal changes with massage have also been linked to fewer complications during labour5 as well as a reduction in low birth weights, premature births, and postpartum depression.6

Relief for overworked muscles, joints

As pregnancy unfolds, your centre of gravity shifts. The abdominal muscles, which usually serve as postural protectors of the low back, begin to weaken. The lumbar muscles (quadratus lumborum, erector spinae, multifidi) strain to carry the load. This can lead to hyperlordosis (overarching) of the lumbar area and neck and, ultimately, an aching lower back and headaches.

As your uterus grows, the broad, round and sacrouterine ligaments that hold it in place stretch, sending referral pain to the sacroiliac region – the front of the hips, legs and groin.7 Relaxin is a pregnancy hormone responsible for softening the ligaments and connective tissues of the body to prepare and facilitate delivery.8 Your ligaments hold your joints and bones together and when they start to loosen, the surrounding muscle tissues need to work harder, not only to move your body but also to help support your joints. Walking becomes waddling; the muscles around the hip joints (gluteal muscles, deep lateral rotators, hip flexors and adductors) can start aching with these extra duties.

Studies from the Touch Research Institute again conclude that massage therapy during pregnancy, applied with moderate pressure in the areas affected9, reduces lower back and hip pain, increases range of motion and leads to reduced headaches and improved sleep patterns.10

When should you schedule

pregnancy massage?

Receiving massage during pregnancy is safe at any trimester. If you are healthy and the pregnancy is going well, there is no reason why you shouldn’t get massage. During the first trimester, massage once a month is fairly common. The physical changes listed above are not as prevalent and massage can be experienced while lying on your stomach if you are comfortable in that position. The only caution during the first trimester is to ensure that the low back area receives only moderate pressure, no deep or percussive strokes.

When entering the second and third trimesters (around 13 weeks) massage is received in side lying position to avoid any intrauterine pressure on the growing baby. How often you make your appointments depends a lot on the symptoms you are experiencing, their frequency and their intensity. Thus, massage sessions can increase from once a month to once every three weeks, then two weeks, etc. Some moms may need to receive treatment once a week during the last month. Since every person’s situation is unique, use these guidelines in discussion with your massage therapist.

Finding a prenatal massage therapist

It’s important to look for someone who has specialized training and experience in pre and post natal massage beyond the recognized provincial standards. Local massage associations as well as the College of Massage Therapy in those provinces that are regulated may be able to help you locate appropriately trained individuals. Ensure that the therapist you choose is certified in prenatal massage therapy.

Massage therapy has been proven to relieve many physical issues and it can improve your overall maternal health. Have a wonderful pregnancy!

If you are healthy and the pregnancy

is going well, there is no reason why

you shouldn’t get massage.

References

1 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20479957 Field T. 2010 Mar; 5(2): 177-181. Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics (D-820), PO Box 016820, Miami, FL 33101, USA.

2 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10212885 Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Hart S, Theakston H, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. 1999 Mar; 20(1): 31-8. Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida, USA.

3 www.ehow.com/about_5157195_effects-cortisol-women.html

4 www.mindpub.com/art332.htm Stress During Pregnancy can Affect a Child’s Health

5 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20479957 Field T. 2010 Mar; 5(2): 177-181. Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics (D-820), PO Box 016820, Miami, FL 33101, USA.

6 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20471091 Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M. 2010 May 12. Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami Medical School, United States; Fielding Graduate University, United States.

7 Pre and Perinatal Massage Therapy, Carol Osborne-Sheets 1998, p14-15

8 Massage Therapy Principles and Practice, 3rd Ed. Susan G. Salvo, 2007, p. 549

9 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20402578 Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M. 2010 May; 120(5): 381-5. Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA. tfield@med.miami.edu

10 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/pubmed Hernandez-Reif M, Field T, Krasnegor J, Theakston H. 2001; 106(3-4): 131-45. Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine and Iris Burman, Educating Hands, Florida 33101, USA.

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