Prenatal Massage Is Good for You and Your Baby
There are many wonderful things about having a baby… however, pregnancy itself can have some discomfort. You may get tired, you’re often uncomfortable, your muscles are sore, and – after a while – you find yourself getting kicked in places you didn’t even know you had! Worse, because of potentially negative drug interactions, there are so few ways you can relieve all the pain and stress!
Well, there is one alternative: Prenatal Massage. Massage is the 100% natural way to make pregnancy easier, in a way which is completely beneficial to you and the baby!
Four Major Benefits of Prenatal Massage
- Reduce stress
More than anything else, massages are relaxing! There are so many ways stress can build up in the body when you’re trying to live your life while also managing your pregnancy. Sessions once or twice a week can do so much to relax you, and that pays off throughout your day. It even helps you sleep!
- Better hormone regulation
Studies have shown that women who receive bi-weekly massages see a marked reduction in norepinephrine and cortisol – hormones created by stress – and a big boost in the production of the “feel good” hormones dopamine and serotonin instead. That doesn’t just help you relax. Your baby is affected by the hormones your body creates and, in a sense, feels what you feel. If you’re relaxed and happy after a massage, your baby probably will be too!
- Reduced nerve pain
As pregnancy goes on, there’s an increasing change of sciatic nerve pain due to all the extra pressure being put on the pelvis and back. This turns into a self-reinforcing cycle: the pain of pregnancy causes nearby muscles to clench up, which only makes the pain worse. A good massage can loosen those muscles, reducing or even eliminating the nerve pain by un-pinching the nerve.
- Less swelling
Another uncomfortable side effect of pregnancy is a tendency of your body to retain fluid, particularly in the joints. This is something else that prenatal massage therapy can help with! Trained massage specialists can relax your joints, encouraging the fluid buildup to go away. This improves circulation as well.
Hudson Holistics Wants to Ease Your Pregnancy
Our licensed massage therapists have over thirty years’ experience providing care. If you’re pregnant in the Briarcliff Manor area, contact Hudson Holistics today to schedule your first prenatal massage!