Prenatal massage: kézako?
If pregnancy is often synonymous with fullness and happiness for many future mothers, this period can also bring its share of inconveniences: tension in the back, stress, stretch marks , pregnancy mask ... The list is long! It is therefore completely natural for a pregnant woman to want to relax and take care of herself... and there is nothing better for that than a good massage! However, few women use it, thinking that it could be harmful to the baby. So are there any contraindications? Can you massage yourself or have a massage throughout your pregnancy? Are there any precautions to take in terms of prenatal massage? We tell you everything you need to know about enjoying the benefits of massages while expecting a baby, without taking any risks!
- What is prenatal massage?
- The benefits of prenatal massage
- Precautions to take when practicing prenatal massage
- Prenatal massage at home has>
What is prenatal massage?
Prenatal massage is quite simply a form of massage adapted to pregnant women.
The movements are gentler, certain sensitive areas (such as the stomach) are avoided, or simply touched, while others are intentionally targeted : for example, the legs, calves and ankles which may tend to swell during pregnancy . The massager can also target areas often overlooked by massages normally, such as the scalp, hands or feet!
The prenatal massage is performed lying on your back, or on your side so that the position is as comfortable as possible for the mother-to-be. Body pillows can also be used to support it. The duration of a prenatal massage session is adapted to the feelings and needs of the mother-to-be: from ten minutes to an hour, depending on her tolerance threshold.
The benefits of prenatal massage
Pregnancy is often a physically difficult period for pregnant women: fatigue, stress and various ailments intertwine. The first benefit of prenatal massage will therefore be to relax the mother-to-be, by giving her a little moment of pampering and fulfillment just for her!
During the massage, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin: this is the well-being hormone, a well-being that baby will also be able to feel in utero.
Thanks to the massage oils used, the prenatal massage will hydrate your skin (which can dry out during pregnancy) and soften your epidermis. Supple, elastic skin will stretch more easily when you gain weight, and will be less prone to the appearance of stretch marks.
On a physiological level, prenatal massage will help relax certain areas put under strain during pregnancy, such as the back or shoulders, or the sciatic nerve which often tickles future mothers!
Pregnant women who suffer from cramps can also find relief thanks to prenatal massage.
But that's not all ! It will also help restart blood and lymphatic circulation and thus reduce the feeling of heavy legs. By promoting venous return – that is to say by helping the blood to rise better from the legs to the top of the body to be recharged with oxygen – the massage of the pregnant woman will allow toxins and fats to be better drained. (thus limiting the appearance of pregnancy cellulite ) and water (accumulated in too large quantities, this can give rise to water retention ). In short, it can only help reduce the little ailments of pregnancy!
Precautions to take when practicing prenatal massage
Before indulging in the benefits of prenatal massage, a few precautions should be taken, for mother and baby!
Due to the significant hormonal changes that occur during the first trimester, it is recommended, as a precaution, not to receive prenatal massage at the very beginning of pregnancy, and to wait until the fetus is well stabilized. However, there is no problem (and it is even recommended) to coat yourself with anti-stretch mark creams or oils at home, as soon as you announce your pregnancy, and to massage your skin well to soften your epidermis. ;-)
You can therefore book your prenatal massage session from the second trimester , and benefit from it once a week if you wish. You can increase to twice a week in the third trimester. Once or twice a week: this is indeed the right frequency for the massage to have noticeable and lasting effects on your minor physical problems!
Make sure before your session that there are no contraindications to receiving a prenatal massage: it is better to avoid it if you suffer from nausea, diabetes or hypertension , or simply if you do not feel not in great shape that day. If in doubt, ask your gynecologist or midwife for the green light.
For a safe massage, trust a specialized masseur . There are in fact practitioners specially trained for prenatal massage: this way, you can be sure that their gestures are adapted to your condition and will respect your new forms. They know perfectly well the parts of the body to avoid, such as the area between the heel and the ankle: in reflexology it is considered to be linked to the uterus, and stimulating it could trigger premature labor.
Make sure that massage creams or oils do not contain any ingredients harmful to baby : no endocrine disruptors (like parabens), no carcinogenic ingredients, and no essential oils. The latter are regularly singled out, and rightly so: very concentrated, they pass into the blood and the placenta in a few minutes and can impact the baby's good development.
It may be wise to abandon classic massage products to opt for treatments specially designed for mothers-to-be – for example Sensory Oil or Daylily Melting Milk .
Prenatal massage at home
No time or not enough energy to go to an institute? Prenatal massage can absolutely be practiced at home. Some practitioners come to your home to provide you with a moment of relaxation.
Why not ask the future dad? The latter will be able to attend the session to learn the right actions, and reproduce them on you when the need arises. This is an opportunity to get your partner involved for a moment of relaxation together!
As you will have understood, during pregnancy, in the absence of any particular contraindication, there is no reason to avoid a massage session, quite the contrary! By respecting a few simple rules, you can completely benefit from a moment of relaxation in the second and third trimester, and even relieve some of the ailments linked to waiting for baby, such as heavy legs, water retention, pain. back, sciatica...A little help that's always good to take to have a peaceful pregnancy!
