Pregnancy is beautiful. How is it even possible to fall in love so deeply with this small human that you are growing inside of you? You nurture your baby, knowing that you will do everything you can to nourish and protect it. You avidly read all of the pregnancy books, ensuring that you are eating the right foods and taking the correct supplements so that you can be at peace with the knowledge that your little love is healthily blooming. Everybody regularly tells you how ‘well’ you look and how much pregnancy really suits you, and you kindly smile and thank them.
But let’s talk insider reality. Pregnancy may be internally beautiful, but like hell do you feel beautiful externally. You feel HUGE, your feet are swollen, your boobs hurt and you are walking like . . Actually scrap that, you are waddling. WADDLING!! The focus of nurturing is entirely on the life you are so proudly growing, and takes over any self care routine you may have had before. As your baby grows, your body grows and you feel tired and your body aches under the pressure that pregnancy puts on all of your joints and muscles. You may be conscious of caring for your little life, but you have lost all focus on just how important it is to love yourself too.
As Mums, new or veteran, we are naturally unsure about what is classed as ‘safe’, but there are lots of treatments, exercises and diets that are adapted for pregnant women. One things that studies have proven over and over, is just how great massages are for pregnant women and how they can benefit you before and after those 9 precious months. Well, if studies have proven it, you have obviously got to have one!
Let us outline some of the benefits for you;
– Mental and physical relaxation: Throughout pregnancy, your mind is whirring with questions and anxieties about the upcoming birth of your baby. Having a massage soothes and relaxes the nervous system by releasing endorphins into your body. As a result, you will feel more relaxed and at ease. This prepares you for an easier birth, as massage has a sedating effect on your nervous system reducing your perception of pain
– Emotional support and nurturing touch: Massage helps the release of oxytocin, the hormone that helps to reduce levels of fear and anxiety. Oxytocin release during massage also helps you to form a deeper bond and connection with your unborn baby.
– Suffering with the dreaded pregnancy symptoms? Pregnancy massage assists in remedying many of the common symptoms including headaches, leg cramps, sciatica, stiffness, tension and knots, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, heartburn and acid reflux, fatigue, varicose veins, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, legs and ankles, neck pain, sacroiliac and hip joint pain and constipation.
– Pregnancy massage supports the return of blood to the heart and increases blood flow to the uterus and placenta. With the enormous demands placed on the circulatory system during pregnancy, blood volume may increase up to 60 percent compared to pre-pregnancy levels. As pregnancy progresses and the uterus enlarges and presses deep into the pelvis, blood flow to the heart is hindered. Improving your circulation through massage also improves your immune system, so you are less likely to catch infections.
– Reduces the risk of depression: Multiple studies show that massage reduces symptoms of depression. Studies show pregnancy massage produces higher levels of feel good hormones and lower levels of stress hormones. When the body feels better, so does the mind. This eases stress related to pregnancy and you will also sleep more easily and more deeply. Fatigue is a common in pregnancy, so pregnancy massage can help re-energise you.
– Helps you through labour: Studies show that women who have received regular prenatal massage tend to have shorter labours. Their babies are more likely to be healthier, are less likely to be born prematurely, have low birthweight, have lower stress hormone levels and normal heart rate patterns
The most important thing is that it gives you time to relax, unwind and connect with your baby and body. You are spending 9 months giving your all to this incredible journey, but you must focus on both yours and yourbaby’s wellness in order to reach the end goal healthily, and without stress. There is no set research into how often you should have a massage throughout your pregnancy, but our suggestion is to receive a session at least once a month. The gold standard, however is to receive one session in your fourth and fifth months, two sessions in your sixth and seventh months, three sessions in your eighth month, and four sessions in your ninth month. With each session, your body is practicing more with deeper relaxation, and tension patterns are lessened or erased. There is an increasing effect as each session builds on the last one.
You may be having a baby shower, you may want to treat yourself, or to be honest, you may just simply deserve a treat from your significant other. So, it’s time to start dropping those hints! We will just leave this link here for you to copy into the next message to your partner or besties, hopefully you might be treated to more than one!
https://swwc.as.me/pregnancy
Remember, these precious 9 months are not just about growing a baby, they are about your strength, courage and mental and physical wellbeing.
