Have you wondered about prenatal massage? Many have heard that it is dangerous but this simply isn't true if you go to a trained professional.

I am going to give you 5 reasons that you should definitely get massage while pregnant!

1. Relaxation

This goes for everyone, and may seem pretty obvious, pregnant or not. However, in pregnancy, it has extra importance. Swedish massage techniques help lower cortisol (our stress hormone). Excess anxiety and high stress levels can effect our babies. Some studies have connected high levels of cortisol with lower birth weight. They also strongly suggest that reduced stress can increase positive birth outcomes and experiences for both mother and baby.

2. Pain Relief

We all know a good massage feels good. During pregnancy, our pain relief options are limited. We can't just willy nilly take pain meds and muscle relaxants. Cue your Registered Massage Therapist to the rescue. They work to relax the muscles effectively and that decreases pain in the muscle itself and the joint(s) it acts upon. We can help you discern what the specific issue is and help you work to resolve it or support it through your pregnancy instead of just masking the pain. This can be applied to some of the common complaints in pregnancy such as sciatic nerve pain, low back pain, and headaches (so long as the headaches are tension/posture related and not determined to be a sign of pre-eclampsia!).

3. Lymphatic drainage

If you have swelling in your pregnancy, you know how miserable it can be! Massage can help the lymphatic system along to keep the swelling under control. Wrist swelling can cause carpal tunnel symptoms, and ankle swelling can be really uncomfortable to walk on. If your swelling is severe, seek out a therapist with extra training in Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD).

*If you have sudden swelling of the face and hands, please see your doctor!*

4. It is safe!

Some have heard that massage is dangerous in pregnancy. Barring any severe complications, massage is safe. Depending on where you are in your pregnancy, certain modifications will be made. In the first trimester, Abdomen work and deep low back massage may be avoided. There is no evidence that massage can cause a miscarriage but we all like to be extra careful. In the second and third trimester, you won't be placed on your stomach (duh!) or flat on your back to reduce the risk of feeling dizzy. This dizziness can be cause by baby's weight on your inferior vena cava and decreasing blood flow to your brain so we put you in a side-lying or semi-seated position to negate it.

5. Because you deserve it

Maybe this should be number 1....

Really, if you want a massage, get one. Find an RMT that has extra training in prenatal massage. All are taught how to treat pregnant women safely but some learn how to go above and beyond that to prioritize your comfort on top of safety.

You are growing a human and that is reason enough to take care of yourself. This is no easy task and as you prepare to birth this baby, your body can use all the TLC you can give it.

Happy Birthing!