Pregnancy Massage

The time during your pregnancy should be spent relaxing and emotionally and physically preparing for the birth of your child. Instead, most women are frazzled, stressed and just plain exhausted from working, taking care of other children and getting everything “done” before baby arrives. Along with the joys of pregnancy comes also some discomfort that makes getting everything done a little harder! Pregnancy massage is a fantastic way to reduce any discomfort from your pregnancy and creates a precious moment all to yourself to relax and give your baby all the positive benefits that result from you being relaxed. When you are relaxed, you and your baby are healthy. Getting a massage may seem like an outrageous luxury, but medical research shows that getting a massage is a very important part of your prenatal care. A pregnancy massage makes a great baby shower gift or can win big points for hubby!

Benefits of Pregnancy Massage:

*Massage helps mom's body to eliminate waste products through the lymphatic and circulatory systems, which combats fatigue and helps the mother feel more energetic.

*By aiding circulation, massage eases the load on mom's heart and helps to keep her blood pressure in check.

*Muscular discomforts, such as cramping, tightening, stiffness, tension, and knots, can all be alleviated.

*Massage helps carry away the lactic acid and other cellular waste products that build up and cause muscle fatigue.

*Massage can help relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes mom is experiencing.

*Massage relieves many of the normal discomforts during pregnancy, such as backaches, a stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches, edema, and sore, swollen ankles and feet.

*Massage increases local and general blood circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to the cells of both the mother and fetus. This means greater vitality and less fatigue for mom and better nourishment for her baby.

*Massage stimulates glandular secretions, which helps stabilize hormone levels.

*Massage can help relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes mom is experiencing.

*It relaxes tense muscles and tones loose muscles, and can also increase muscular flexibility. Flexibility will be most helpful during the last trimester and during the birth itself.

*Massage helps to soothe and relax nervous tension, which helps the mother sleep more easily and more deeply. Incidentally, doctors all agree that a relaxed mother will have a happier, healthier pregnancy and possibly an easier childbirth experience, too.

*Massage can be used during the birth to make it easier and more comfortable for mom, and after the birth as well, to help her regain her strength more quickly and ease postpartum stress.

- Stephanie Brandt is a Contributing Editor for C3 Mothering and a Certified Yoga Instructor. She specializes in pre-natal and mom-baby and mom-tot yoga. She is owner of Mama and Baby Love, LLC a yoga studio and organic boutique for women, babies and children.

You can contact her at sbrandt113@earthlink or go to her website www.mamaandbabylove.com for more information.