Pregnancy Massage

Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Massage and pregnancy has often received ambivalent responses from the health community regarding the safety and purpose of massage during pregnancy. Modern investigation and research is proving that prenatal / pregnancy massage therapy can indeed be a very instrumental ingredient in women’s prenatal care and should be given careful consideration.

Yet, so far only a handful of small studies have focused on massage in pregnancy. No definite benefits have been established. But one study at the University of Miami School of Medicine suggests that massage therapy might have multiple positive effects, including:

• Lowered anxiety
• Decreased back and leg pain
• Improved sleep
• Decreased levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine

In another study of pregnancy massage in depressed women, researchers found:

• Increased levels of the “feel-good” hormones serotonin and dopamine
• Decreased levels of cortisol, an indicator of stress
• An overall improvement in mood

Although most massage training institutions teach massage therapy for women who are pregnant, it is best to find a massage therapist who is certified in prenatal massage. Spa Directory suggests, that it is important to ask your therapist about relevant qualifications.