Hello there! You must be pregnant, know someone who is, or are preparing for the beautiful journey that is pregnancy.
You might be wondering when a good time would be to start treatments such as massages, what the benefits and contraindications would be, how it all happens etc.
An expectant person can begin massage at any point in their pregnancy. Modern investigation and research have shown that prenatal massage therapy can be a very important component in prenatal care.
Along with becoming pregnant, there can be certain symptoms you may go through such as feeling nausea, vomiting aka “morning sickness”, heartburn, swelling of ankles and/or feet, nerve pain similar to sciatica, varicose veins etc. Rest assured, even with these symptoms, modifications can be made to enable you to have a massage treatment (but it’s always best to get clearance from your doctor as well).
There are also a handful of pregnancy conditions that are contraindications to massage such as pre-eclampsia, DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and placenta issues (previa, accrete or abruption). As long as you have your doctor/physician’s permission, you can still receive a tailored treatment which may include one, or either a combination of manual therapy, education and discussion and movement.
During pregnancy, the body goes through many stages of change and this requires your myotherapist/remedial massage therapist to make adjustments throughout each stage of pregnancy.
There are many people that come in to get a massage/treatment because they have started to have low back pain, hip pain, pain or tightness in the upper back or neck, swelling of ankles and hands, headaches and even starting to develop mindsets like nervousness or anxiety. Massage has been proven by myriads of studies, to reduce the above-mentioned complaints.
Additional research added even more insight into the role of massage in facilitating a healthier pregnancy. A small 2006 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences showed massage was a solid integrative treatment for severe pregnancy related nausea and vomiting, while a 2009 study in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies on 112 pregnant women diagnosed with depression suggested those receiving psychotherapy plus massage over a six week period experienced greater drops in depression than those getting psychotherapy alone.
To add to some more findings in research, a 2009 study in Infant Behaviour & Development also focused on pregnant women with depression, finding those undergoing massage therapy not only experienced less depression at the end of 12 weeks, but also carried that benefit into the postpartum period.
And to get into more research on the physical aspect, a 2010 literature review in Expert Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynaecology showed massage therapy decreased depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain in pregnant women also indicating those in labour used less pain medication and had labours averaging three hours shorter than average.
At Melbourne Pregnancy and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy, someone who is expecting can receive both pelvic floor physiotherapy by a pelvic floor physiotherapist along with working alongside a qualified myotherapist/remedial massage therapist who will incorporate a comprehensive intake process, manual therapy using various techniques, movement education and wellness planning that will always be tailored to each individual at whichever stage of pregnancy they are currently in.
Having both health professionals working under the same roof and circle is like having two strings to make one beautiful bow. And to make it even better, Melbourne Pregnancy and Pelvic floor Physiotherapy also offer prenatal yoga classes (and mum and bub yoga classes) tailored to each individual either one on one or in small group sessions. Now look at that beautiful bow!
References
Agren, A. and Berg, M. (2006). Tactile massage and severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy - women's experiences. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 20(2), pp.169-176.
Amtamassage.org. (2020). Massage + Pregnancy: A Powerful Combination | Massage Therapy Journal. [online] Available at: https://www.amtamassage.org/articles/3/MTJ/detail/3852/massage-and-pregnancy-a-powerful-combination [Accessed 28 Feb. 2020].
Field, T. (2010). Pregnancy and labor massage. Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 5(2), pp.177-181.
Field, T., Deeds, O., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Gauler, A., Sullivan, S., Wilson, D. and Nearing, G. (2009). Benefits of combining massage therapy with group interpersonal psychotherapy in prenatally depressed women. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 13(4), pp.297-303.
Field, T., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Deeds, O. and Figueiredo, B. (2009). Pregnancy massage reduces prematurity, low birthweight and postpartum depression. Infant Behavior and Development, 32(4), pp.454-460.