Pregnancy is a joyful and exciting time, but it can also be challenging on a woman’s body. From swelling to joint pain, massage offers many benefits that can help support a woman through the various stages of pregnancy.
While any massage can improve a person’s overall health, there are several special considerations to make when pregnant women are receiving massage. The goal is to provide a nurturing and relaxing experience that will reduce stress, alleviate tension and increase circulation while ensuring the safety of both mother and baby.
For these reasons, it is important that massage therapists are trained in a safe and effective approach to working with pregnant women. The AMTA’s NCBTMB-approved online pregnancy CE course teaches massage therapists how to identify common pregnancy issues, provide safe and effective treatments and support a woman’s emotional well-being during her entire pregnancy journey.
When a woman receives a prenatal massage, the therapist will begin by assessing her comfort level and checking in with her about any areas of discomfort. She will then use a massage table that is specifically designed to accommodate a pregnant client, often using pillows or bolsters to help her get in a comfortable position. The therapist will then apply pressure to the areas most affected by her client’s symptoms, including the low back, neck and gluteals. The therapist may also include the abdominal area as needed.
The increased blood flow stimulated by the massage will deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the uterus, placenta and fetus, as well as other major organs. This improves the mother’s immune system function, mood, response to stress and increases energy levels, all of which benefit the fetus. Massage can also ease the common aches and pains associated with pregnancy, such as low back and hip pain and round ligament pain in the legs and feet.
Another common complaint is sleep disturbances. The combination of pain, hormones and the baby bumping around at night can cause restless sleep. Massage can promote relaxation and enhance the quality of sleep, which in turn benefits both the mother and the fetus.
As a result of its numerous benefits, many doctors and midwives endorse prenatal massage as part of a holistic approach to prenatal care. They often maintain directories of certified Atlanta pregnancy massage therapists that have fulfilled stringent training and certification standards, simplifying the process of finding a professional who is trained to provide pregnancy massage therapy in Atlanta. In some cases, you may even be able to use your health savings account or flexible spending account to pay for your prenatal massage, provided that your doctor approves it. For more details visit https://www.atlantachiropractor.net/.