Pregnancy is often a very uncomfortable time for many women. The natural changes in the expectant mother's body and the growing, moving baby inside her can trigger aches and pains that do not usually occur. Fortunately, prenatal massage therapy has been found to give some relief to the symptoms of pregnancy that many women have. These are some of the benefits of massage therapy during pregnancy.
Reducing Swelling
During pregnancy, it is not uncommon for the feet, legs, and hands to swell. This is often due to the added weight of the body putting pressure on certain blood vessels which decreases circulation. However, massage therapy stimulates the soft tissue of the body and helps improve circulation so that fluid can flow more freely and swelling is reduced.
Improving Sleep
Many pregnant women also have trouble sleeping. As the pregnancy gets farther along, the excitement and nervousness of having a new baby can make sleeping difficult at times. Fortunately, massage helps relax the nervous system and makes the body release hormones that allow one to get better rest.
Relieving Lower Back Pain
Due to carrying the extra weight in the abdominal area, lower back pain is one of the most common types of discomfort that pregnant women suffer from. The tightening of the muscles in the lower back also puts added pressure on the sciatic nerve which causes pain during pregnancy. Prenatal massage therapy can relieve lower back pain by loosening up those muscles, reducing tension in the lower back, and increasing blood flow in the area.
Providing Drug-Free Relief
Another great benefit of prenatal massage therapy is that it is an all-natural way to feel better throughout pregnancy. There are no dangerous chemicals to consume like when taking pain medications. Massage therapy is a safe alternative for an expecting mother to have relief without the worry of harming her baby.
Some expectant mothers also find that prenatal massage therapy helps get their bodies ready for labor and delivery. Massage therapy helps tone the muscles and keep them relaxed so that the body is in better condition when the delivery time arrives. Often the expecting mother's stress levels are much lower after having massage therapy during pregnancy so that labor is less difficult as well. Studies have shown that pregnant women who have had prenatal massage therapy are also less likely to suffer from postnatal depression than those who have not.
To learn more, contact services that offer pregnancy massage therapy.