Pregnancy can be an amazing journey for a woman; a journey that allows them to feel their child as it grows and flourishes within them. However, it can be stressful on a woman’s body at the same time – the body is suddenly meeting the demands of two beings rather than one. Studies show that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can help reduce some of this stress as well as reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.
Hormone regulation is a key benefit of prenatal massage. With massage during pregnancy relaxation increases and stress decreases leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health. “Stress hormones” such as cortisol and norepinephrine are reduced and “happy hormones” like dopamine and serotonin are increased. Low levels of dopamine and serotonin are associated with depression during and post-pregnancy. These changes in hormone levels can lead to fewer complications during birth. Studies have also shown that there are fewer complications for the newborns, such as low birth weight.
Another benefit of prenatal massage is a reduction of swelling. How often have you heard (or experienced yourself) a pregnant woman’s concern with their swollen joints? Swollen joints are the result of reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage can relieve this swelling by stimulating soft tissues to reduce the collection of fluids in the joints. This can also help to improve the removal of tissue waste that are carried by the body’s lymph system.
Even without all of these benefits, prenatal massage has an additional benefit for a pregnant woman – it just plain feels good. Reward yourself and your body during those times when it is stressed and struggling to carry extra weight and provide for two rather than one and schedule a weekly massage. Your body will thank you for it!
