Pregnancy is
a wonderful, exciting time in a woman's life. But it does come with its share of physical problems and emotional stressors.
Massage during pregnancy is a great way to soothe body and soul. This is tremendously important: A pregnant
woman shares everything with the fetus developing inside her--her oxygen, her nutrients, and her stress hormones. And
stress in the mother can affect the flow of oxygen and nutrients to her baby. When I work with a pregnant client, my goal
as a massage therapist is to decrease her stress, and to alleviate the aches and pains that can intensify stress
responses.
Pregnancy affects a woman's body on every level. Your massage
therapist should have a respectful awareness of the changes you are experiencing, and be able to devise a treatment that is
appropriate and safe for you and your growing baby at each stage.
You will notice several things about your pregnancy massage that are different from ordinary
massage, especially your position on the table, and the pressure of the massage on your legs.
A pregnant woman should avoid lying flat on her back, so that the weight of her baby
is not compressing any of the major blood vessels that travel through her abdomen. I will arrive with equipment to help position
you safely and comfortably for your massage. Please be sure to let me know if you are experiencing gastroesophageal reflux
problems, sciatic pain, or any other issues that might be affected by your position on the massage table. If at any time during
your massage, you should feel light-headed or nauseated, let me know immediately.
During your pregnancy, your blood volume will increase dramatically, to meet the greater demands
of you and your baby, and to protect you from blood loss during childbirth. The components of your blood that allow it
to clot will also increase dramatically--again, this is a natural, protective function of the pregnant body, but it can lead
to the formation of blood clots, especially in the deep veins of the legs. Before beginning your massage, I
will perform three simple tests to check for clots or other circulatory problems in your legs. If any of these tests
indicates that there might be a problem, I will not perform the massage but will recommend that you speak with your healthcare
provider immediately.
If there is no indication that a problem is present, I'll proceed with the massage, but will
use only very light pressure on your legs.
Many people make the mistake of believing that only deep-tissue massage is effective. This
could not be farther from the truth: The light pressure on your legs is not only tremendously soothing, it also
assists your lymphatic system in draining the excess fluid that can cause swelling in your feet and ankles--a major
complaint of pregnancy.
You should always be sure to communicate with your massage therapist about your level of comfort
during your massage; if there is anything I can do to make you more comfortable, I want to hear about it. You are the
expert in how you feel!
