While pregnancy can be exciting and life-changing, it can also be quite harsh on the body. As you continue to nurture your baby throughout your pregnancy, you may find yourself facing several side-effects and changes. Luckily, a great way to cope with these changes is by getting prenatal massage therapy from a professional massage therapist.
When done properly, massage can help make pregnancy easier on your in many different ways. Of course, it’s best to consult with your doctor first before you book an appointment. Once your doctor gives you the green flag, you can look forward to these top five benefits of prenatal massage therapy.
Reduces Swelling
One of the most common side-effects of pregnancy is swollen feet, legs, and hands. Your expanding uterus is putting pressure on your blood vessels, preventing your blood from flowing as smoothly. Other causes include hormonal changes, increased fluid retention, and more.
Prenatal massage therapy accomplishes two things at once by stimulating blood flow and draining lymph fluid from your lymphatic system. Both of these can reduce swelling and help you feel more comfortable during pregnancy.
Reduces Stress
Massage has been proven to reduce the hormones associated with stress, such as norepinephrine and cortisol. At the same time, it also increases the ‘happy’ hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin. By balancing these hormones out, prenatal massage therapy will be able to reduce your stress levels and help with anxiety.
Reducing your stress levels is a crucial part of self-care during pregnancy. This is because lowered stress results in an easier delivery with lower chances of birth complications.
Acts as Natural Pain Reliever
It’s best to be careful when taking medicine during pregnancy, even with over-the-counter painkillers. Every woman’s body is different, after all, and the effect of a painkiller may differ from one person to another. You may need to consult your doctor before taking any to avoid risks. Natural painkillers are more recommended for pregnant women, such as massage therapy.
The stimulated blood flow caused by massage can help with alleviating pain and discomfort. It also helps with relaxing your muscles, helping any musculoskeletal pain you may have.
Conclusion
Booking your first prenatal massage therapy session is one of the best things you can do for your pregnancy. You’ll be able to make your pregnancy much easier for you, as long as you ensure that you get your doctor’s permission first. If you’re interested in what massage therapy can offer you, you can book a session with Massagedaily.ph today.