The benefits of massage for fertility don’t stop once you’re pregnant. Studies show that prenatal massage has notable benefits for both mother and baby. The key is to find licensed practitioners specially trained to provide pregnancy massage.

Women with healthy, low-risk pregnancies can enjoy prenatal massages throughout their pregnancy - continuing through the third trimester. During your first appointment, we’ll take a detailed and thorough account of your reproductive and medical history to ensure massage is a safe next step for you.

NOTE: Women who are bleeding, having early contractions, or experiencing a high-risk pregnancy (or have a history of high-risk pregnancies) should seek approval from their OB/GYN before scheduling a prenatal massage appointment.

5 Proven Benefits of Prenatal Massage For Mama & Baby

Many people think of massage as a “luxury” even though studies prove over and over again that massage benefits the body, mind, and spirit. Pregnant women are especially supported by the use of massage during pregnancy.

The American Pregnancy Association (APA) emphasizes its support of pregnancy massages due to research-based findings demonstrating how massage promotes pregnancy health for the mother and her unborn child. Here are five ways prenatal massage can help you enjoy a healthier pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Hormone regulation

The combination of pregnancy hormones, which include the gearing up of lactation hormones, means your body is a regular hormone factory on fire. The massage techniques used for prenatal massages work to improve circulation and the movement of lymphatic fluid through your body. In doing so, these gentle massage techniques allow pregnant women to relax as the massage activates the production of hormones known to reduce stress while ridding the body of adrenaline or other “stress hormones” that can become blocked or stuck.

The APA writes that in multiple studies conducted in the past decade:

…women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression).

Since you and your baby share the same blood and hormone supply, your de-stressed, more relaxed, and hormone-balanced state benefits you both. During massage treatments, you can add services like Gua Sha to increase circulation or energize a stagnant lymph system.

Reduced pregnancy discomfort

Pregnancy is a time of great joy, but some women also experience significant discomfort. The combination of prenatal massage and personalized acupuncture can significantly reduce some of the most common pregnancy discomforts, including:

Morning sickness
Lower back aches (including sciatic pain)
Joint pain
Swelling (edema)
Muscle tension and headaches

Integrating pregnancy massages into your prenatal care routine may mean you experience very minimal to no pregnancy discomfort, making for a much more satisfying experience.

Improved sleep

There’s no mystery that sleep cycles are disrupted with the addition of a new baby. However, many first-time mothers are surprised to experience disrupted sleep cycles long before the baby is born. Hormone-related changes, along with the ever-expanding abdomen, mean most women begin waking up more than usual during their first trimester.

Massage-related benefits of reduced stress, balanced hormones, and reduced physical discomforts mean most women who get regular prenatal messages report they sleep better than women who go without them. Don’t forget to mention any particular pregnancy issues you’re experiencing so your massage therapist can modify or augment the massage to activate certain pressure points.

Reduced nerve pain

The pressure of the growing baby can lead to pinched or triggered nerves. This can sometimes result in nerve pain or discomfort, such as sciatica (which can affect the lower back, hips, legs, and feet), restless legs, or generalized muscle tension or pain. Your prenatal massage allows you to relax, while specific prenatal massage techniques reduce nerve pressure and inflammation.

Improved labor & delivery outcomes

Clinical studies also show that women who have regular prenatal massages experience improved labor and delivery outcomes. This includes shorter labor, shorter hospital stays, and fewer incidences of post-partum depression. Equally inspiring is the data we have on babies whose mothers received pregnancy massages.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), clinical trials “...indicate that infants born to mothers who had massage therapy had lower cortisol levels, better neonatal outcomes, and fewer incidences of low birth weight and prematurity.”

What exciting and empowering news. Your prenatal massage is a proactive way to create a safer, healthier, and more peaceful future for your infant-to-be.

Schedule A Prenatal Massage With Mitchell Family Acupuncture

Mitchell Family Acupuncture’s specialty includes a personalized approach to pregnancy, postpartum, and pediatrics/family medicine that promotes well-being and vitality for all. We love to watch our pregnant clients blossom and grow while reaping the benefits of our personalized prenatal massage. Schedule your appointment today.