Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy

During pregnancy a woman's body undergoes many changes, some of them stressful and uncomfortable. Massage is a perfect way to reduce stress and promote general well-being.

• Massage helps the mothers body to eliminate waste products through the lymphatic and circulatory systems, which combats fatigue and helps the mother feel more energetic.
• Muscular discomforts, such as cramping, tightening, stiffness, tension, and knots, can all be alleviated.
• Massage can help relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes mothers experience.
• Massage relieves many of the normal discomforts during pregnancy, such as backaches, a stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches, oedema, and sore, swollen ankles and feet.
• Massage increases local and general blood circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to the cells of both the mother and foetus. This means greater vitality and less fatigue for mothers and better nourishment for her baby.
• It relaxes tense muscles and tones loose muscles, and can also increase muscular flexibility. Flexibility will be most helpful during the last trimester and during the birth itself.
• Massage helps to soothe and relax nervous tension, which helps the mother sleep more easily and more deeply. Incidentally, doctors all agree that a relaxed mother will have a happier, healthier pregnancy and possibly an easier childbirth experience, too.
• Massage can be used during the birth to make it easier and more comfortable for the mother, and after the birth as well, to help her regain her strength more quickly and ease postpartum stress.

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