Pregnancy Massage Therapy

While there haven’t been many studies on Pregnancy Massage Therapy, a small number of potential benefits have been identified. One study from the University of Miami School of Medicine suggests that prenatal and pregnancy massage therapy may help lower anxiety, decrease back and leg pain, reduce levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine, and even improve sleep. Please note: I can only work with prenatal clients up to 38 weeks pregnant (about 2 weeks before the due date). Another study on prenatal massage therapy in women with depression found that it increased levels of the “feel‑good” hormones serotonin and dopamine, and decreased levels of cortisol (a stress indicator). Overall, prenatal massage therapy helped improve the women’s moods during pregnancy. Prenatal and pregnancy massage therapists adjust their techniques to support the many changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy. Because of changes in blood flow, pregnant women are at a higher risk of blood clots, especially in the lower legs, inner thighs and calves. To avoid complications, prenatal massage therapists typically avoid using deep pressure on these areas, since strong pressure could potentially dislodge a clot. Instead, they use light, slow strokes moving toward the heart. Deep tissue massage, deep acupressure, shiatsu, cross‑fiber friction and percussive tapping techniques should all be avoided on the legs. If abdominal massage is done at all, it should be with very light pressure—and some therapists choose not to massage the abdomen at all.