Prenatal Massage – When, How Often, & Benefits

Congratulations! You’re going to be a mother! For the next 9 months, you will be creating a life, and every mother wants to do everything in their power to make sure their baby grows healthy and strong.

Pregnancy can take a toll on a woman’s body. The new aches, stress and responsibility can make an expecting mother feel more stressed out and tense than she’s used to. There really is no better time than during/right after pregnancy to pamper yourself with an Elements Massage™!

So, how can a massage from Elements Massage™ benefit a woman during pregnancy?

We all know that massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress and relieve the effects of muscle tension. Studies show that massage performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, depression symptoms, relieve achy muscles and joints and can potentially improve labor and your newborn’s health.

Massage can relive various discomforts experienced during pregnancy:

• Massage can help regulate hormones. Hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (those associated with causing stress) are reduced while dopamine and serotonin levels (those hormones know as feel-good hormones) increase. Improving and regulating these hormone levels has shown to lead to fewer complications during birth

• Massage can help reduce swelling. Many expecting mothers experience some kind of swelling of the joints, also known as edema. This swelling is caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the blood vessels by the uterus. If you experience swelling during pregnancy, massage can help stimulate the soft tissues and reduce the collection of fluids in your swollen joints

• Massage can help with relieving your nerve pain. Often during late pregnancy, many women experience sciatic nerve pain. This happens because the uterus will rest on the muscles in the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure caused by the uterus causes the upper and lower legs to swell, which puts pressure on the nerves nearby. Massage therapists help to release the tension on the nearby muscles

Massage can also help pregnant women relieve back pain and headaches, as well as even help them sleep better.

Often times, prenatal massage is only offered after the first trimester for the protection of the baby. This is the case at Elements Massage™. We understand the delicate nature of pregnancy and the baby’s safety is of the utmost importance to us.

Every woman’s pregnancy is different and requires special care and attention that is specific to her needs. The Elements Massage™ studios only allow massage therapists with specific training and certification in prenatal massage to perform prenatal massage therapy. We specifically match you with the appropriate massage therapist based on your request and needs.  

You may find that you want to have multiple sessions throughout your pregnancy. Elements Massage™ offers the Elements Wellness Program™; a cost-effective way to receive regular massage therapy. You may also find that massage not only helps alleviate some of your pregnancy discomforts, but that it helps relieve stress after the baby is born and you are adapting to life as a new parent! Our Wellness Program can help you get the therapy you need at a reasonable price.

Book an appointment with your nearest Elements Massage™ today! You can rest easy knowing that you’re taking good care of your little one, and you’re also taking good care of yourself too! You deserve some pampering!