Pregnancy Massage
General Information
Pregnancy Massage is quite a specialized field, as there are many factors that must be taken into account. It is a period of immense change physically and emotionally and the nature, extent and timeliness of those changes can vary greatly from client to client. Even the news of pregnancy before the obvious symptoms have set in can result in a diverse range of strong emotional responses.
From a physical perspective, the human body goes through a period of rapid change that can be very difficult to cope with for some women. Pain often develops in the lower back, through the hips and buttock or down the legs. Headaches, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and swelling of the extremities are all common symptoms during pregnancy.
What are the Benefits of Pregnancy Massage?
The symptoms listed above are examples of those that may be effectively treated with massage, lymphatic drainage, acupuncture and other natural therapies. Further to this, massage can help to balance the client in what can otherwise be a 'rollercoaster' of emotions and events throughout the trimesters.
What are the Risks of Pregnancy Massage?
These are a number of precautions associated with pregnancy massage, but a well trained therapist who has received specific training in pregnancy massage will be well aware of these. The best way to feel comfortable about the experience of being massaged whilst pregnant is to discuss these issues with the therapist, or with your doctor beforehand.
What are the Qualifications of a Pregnancy Massage Therapist?
The most important factor here is to ensure that your therapist has a recognized massage qualification and has undertaken further or specific studies regarding pregnancy massage. It is very common for therapists with a basic massage qualification to undertake workshops to learn the current precautions and techniques associated with this modality.