Prenatal Massage A Safe and Effective Form Of Pain Relief For Moms To Be

By Mary East, CMT

Being pregnant brings with it a whole host of emotional and physical changes for a woman. Some women sail through pregnancy with the greatest of ease, while others have a bit more difficulty.

When I was pregnant with my first child, the first one and a half trimesters were exciting and full of joy; but then the weight of it all came to a head in the form of 35 extra pounds in my front and created a great deal of lower back pain. If I had known about prenatal massage back then, I would have jumped at the chance to have the soreness in my lower back rubbed out and the rest of my body relaxed.

There are a number of reasons for the lower back, shoulder and pelvic pain many women experience while they are pregnant. Hormonal release of both progesterone and relaxin soften connective tissue and allow joints and ligaments to move more freely. This can cause muscles to work harder to keep joints in place, especially in the weight baring and postural muscles of the lower back, pelvis and hips.

Additional necessary weight gain and postural adjustments also produce stress on both the ligaments and muscles causing muscle fatigue and the associated discomfort.

Edema from water retention and changes in blood chemistry can cause tendon and muscle pain in the hands, wrists, legs, feet and ankles. These are but a few of the less desirable aspects of pregnancy, but massage can help.

Massaging the overworked and strained muscles can relieve pregnancy-induced sciatica, help increase blood flow, relieve stress and promote an overall sense of relaxation that is both good for mom and baby.

While prenatal massage is a safe and effective treatment for pain and discomfort due to pregnancy, there are some instances where massage is not recommended. If you are pregnant and are thinking of using massage to help with your pain, check with your ob-gyn and make sure they give the green light for this safe and enjoyable therapy.