Can You Get a Massage While Pregnant?

When it comes to being pregnant, there are a lot of things to think about. One of the questions that may come up is whether or not you can get a massage during pregnancy.

In this blog post, we will look at what types of massage are safe during pregnancy and which ones you should avoid. We will also discuss the use of essential oils in massages and answer some common questions about getting massages while pregnant.

Is massage safe during pregnancy?

A growing stomach and aching back. A tumultuous emotional ride. Welcome to pregnancy! Many women wonder if massage treatment is a safe method of reducing these physical and mental strains. The answer is generally yes, but there are exceptions.

Pregnancy massage has been found to provide a sense of wellbeing, greater relaxation, and improved sleep. However, certain techniques and trigger points in the body can induce contractions and early labour, so seeking advice is critical.

Prenatal massage is specialized, professional training that includes extensive education in safe ways to massage pregnant women. Before you book a massage, talk with your doctor about any restrictions and best practices that must be followed to protect yourself and your baby.

Massage guidelines for pregnant moms

While prenatal massage can work for many women, there are a couple of situations where clearly, it is best to be avoided. Let’s look at those first.

1. Women in their first trimester of pregnancy

Women can start massage at any time during their pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Most prenatal massage therapists, on the other hand, will not accept clients until the second trimester of pregnancy.

The first trimester is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, and some experts believe that the greater blood flow during massage may be harmful.

Second, there are areas in the body that are thought to start contractions or potentially prompt labour. As a result, many prenatal massage instructors demand permission from a physician before treating women during the first trimester of pregnancy.

2. Women with certain medical conditions

Massage therapy affects the circulation system, which may influence blood flow in the body and certain health problems. Before receiving a prenatal massage at any time during your pregnancy, consult your doctor if you have one of the following conditions:

• High blood pressure not controlled by medication
• Recent injury or surgery
• Recent organ transplant

Safe Techniques for Pregnancy Massage

There are some 80+ types of massage used by massage therapists around the world. Some of the most popular include:

• Deep-tissue massage, where firm strokes are used to push deep into the muscle.
• Swedish massage helps with joint mobility due to the use of long strokes.

Shiatsu employs pressure and tapping on acupressure points to invigorate the body’s natural energy (known as qi) The mechanisms that enable massage therapy to be effective are yet largely unknown.

To comprehend how various sorts of hand pressure may be used on the body, more study is required. But it has been shown to:

• Relieve pain
• Stimulate the release of certain hormones like serotonin sleep
• Promote physiological relaxation

How pregnancy massage is different

Pregnancy massage therapists alter their techniques to accommodate the modifications a woman’s body undergoes during pregnancy. Blood volume increases by approximately 50% during pregnancy, for example.

The legs become sluggish in terms of blood supply. The levels of anticoagulants in the blood, which are meant to avoid bleeding during childbirth, naturally rise as a result of decreased blood flow.

Pregnancy puts a woman in danger of blood clots in her lower legs, usually in the calves or inner thigh. To be safe, pregnancy massage professionals avoid deep massage and high pressure on the legs. Using strong pressure might cause a blood clot to fall free. Instead, they utilize very light, slow strokes on the legs.

Deep-tissue massage, deep acupressure, shiatsu, cross-fibre friction, and percussive tapping are all types of leg massage that you should avoid.

If the belly is massaged at all, gentle pressure is advised on the abdomen. Some massage therapists avoid massaging the abdomen.

When to Avoid Pregnancy Massage

Because there is so little research on pregnancy massage, many Western-trained physicians recommend a cautious approach. They may even suggest that all pregnant women avoid massage. There are no established guidelines as yet.

Be sure to speak to your doctor before you try a massage, especially if:

• You are experiencing nausea, vomiting or morning sickness
• You’re at high risk of miscarriage
• You have a high-risk pregnancy, such as placental abruption (where the placenta somewhat detaches from the uterus wall) or preterm labour.

Before offering pregnancy massage, a massage therapist may need written permission from your doctor and an indemnity agreement from you.

Using Essential Oils Safely During Pregnancy

Let’s begin by acknowledging that there is no prohibition on the use of essential oils while pregnant. There’s evidence that some essential oils may help with pregnancy-related issues such as nausea and depression, as well as relax anxiety.

When used properly, certain essential oils may provide the following key benefits:

• help reduce nausea and upset stomach
• soothe achy and sore muscles and help with joint pain
• help reduce irritation and swelling associated with haemorrhoids
• improve sleep and reduce tiredness
• improve skin elasticity
• reduce the appearance of stretch marks
• help reduce anxiety during labour

Essential oils that are safe

But there are a few things to remember and the first of these is that not all essential oils are deemed to be safe for use when pregnant and especially for pregnancy massage.

A couple of popular essential oils that are generally said to be safe are lavender and chamomile.

Lavender essential oil

Lavender is one of the most well-researched and popular essential oils, and it’s also readily accessible to pregnant people. Lavender has been proved to be an excellent aromatherapy treatment that promotes relaxation, especially during childbirth, according to several research studies.

One 2018 study even concluded that lavender reduces labour pain.

Bring a small diffuser with you to the hospital and add a few drops of pure lavender oil to set a relaxing atmosphere. Avoid breathing in the steam directly from your diffuser, as this may irritate your nasal mucous membranes.

You might also request your caregiver to massage you with diluted lavender oil during delivery. Or have a massage therapist use it during a prenatal massage.

Chamomile essential oil

The majority of people are aware that chamomile tea may be quite soothing. However, chamomile is also a kind of essential oil. It turns out that there are two distinct types of chamomile, each with its own set of characteristics.

According to studies, German chamomile is an excellent aromatherapy option for reducing tension and alleviating severe migraine attacks. However, German chamomile may be applied topically with a carrier oil after childbirth to promote skin flexibility and decrease stretch mark formation.

Essential oils to avoid during pregnancy

The list of oils to avoid is considerably longer than the ones that are safe to use throughout pregnancy. However, it’s because these oils haven’t been adequately tested and researched to show that they’re secure for usage during pregnancy, even when ingested according to dosage instructions.

Many of these important oils have the same problem, which is that if a pregnant person takes more than the advised amount, there is a toxicity risk.

Essential oils to avoid when pregnancy includes:

Always check with your care provider before scheduling a prenatal massage

Even though most medical experts believe that massage is beneficial at any stage of pregnancy, many prenatal massage practitioners choose to wait until after the 12-week mark due to the increased risk of miscarriage during the first trimester.

Before you begin receiving massages, be sure to check with your doctor or midwife. There are times when a care provider may say “no” to a full-body massage but “yes” to modifications, such as the use of a massage chair to target your neck, shoulders and upper back.

Then if you want to use essential oils as part of the massage, make sure you only use ones that have been studied and shown to be safe for use by pregnant women.