Pregnancy can be physically and mentally taxing, and a massage is arguably the best way to alleviate pregnancy-related body pain and stressors. Some of the notable benefits of pregnancy massage include relief from physical discomfort, mood improvement, and prenatal depression and anxiety mitigation. Notably, prenatal massage is slightly different from standard massage therapy because pregnant women are considered unique. Therefore, keeping a pregnant mother and baby safe is a top priority for therapists. The safety assurance has encouraged more expectant mothers to get a prenatal massage.

This article highlights some of the safety measures therapists observe when conducting pregnancy massages.

Lying on the Side

Although you can start pregnancy massages early in the first trimester, the second trimester is the ideal starting point. Chiropractors guide expectant mothers to lie on their side rather than on their back or stomach as a safety measure. The reason is that lying on your stomach puts pressure on the abdomen, which is uncomfortable and unsafe. While some therapists use a massage table with a belly cutout, lying with your stomach dangling stretches the uterine ligaments. Similarly, lying on your back is unsafe because your belly can compress the blood vessels on your back and affect blood flow. Ultimately, lying on your side propped up by pillows is the best possible position during a pregnancy massage.

Superficial Tissue Massage

Although deep tissue massage has many health benefits for the general population, it is unsafe for expecting mothers. In fact, professional massage therapists and chiropractors never recommend deep tissue massage for their pregnant clientele. The reason is that deep tissue massage uses too much pressure, which can potentially dislodge a blood clot and pose serious health risks. That said, therapists might still offer deep tissue massage to expectant mothers but only after receiving a note from an obstetrician stating that it is safe. Otherwise, moderate pressure or superficial tissue massage that moves the skin is adequate for pregnant women.

Avoiding Certain Pressure Points

Everyone has pressure points that relieve tension or pain in corresponding parts of the body during massage or acupressure therapy. Therefore, optimal results are only possible if a therapist targets the right pressure point. However, therapists should avoid pressure points associated with pelvic muscles regardless of the pregnancy stage. The pressure points include BL32, BL60, SP6, and LI4, and massaging them can induce labour and lead to premature birthing. The good news is that professional and experienced chiropractors know the location of the pressure points; hence, you do not have to worry about the safety of your baby in the womb.