Being pregnant can obviously be a very stressful time, and massage can be an effective way of dealing with this stress. Some of the benefits of pregnancy massage include relief from muscle cramps & spasms, increase in circulation (which can reduce swelling), or relieving stress on weight-bearing joints, along with the standard psychological benefits of receiving a massage. It has also been found that massage can improve the outcome of labour, and reduce pain during labour. Massaging the mother also has positive effects for the baby - reducing stress is generally good for the baby, as stress affects a wide variety of systems in the body, many of which directly effect a growing child (one study even suggested that stress during the early stages of a pregnancy could effect the gender of the child!).
Pregnancy Massage
Being pregnant can obviously be a very stressful time, and massage can be an effective way of dealing with this stress. Some of the benefits of pregnancy massage include relief from muscle cramps & spasms, increase in circulation (which can reduce swelling), or relieving stress on weight-bearing joints, along with the standard psychological benefits of receiving a massage. It has also been found that massage can improve the outcome of labour, and reduce pain during labour. Massaging the mother also has positive effects for the baby - reducing stress is generally good for the baby, as stress affects a wide variety of systems in the body, many of which directly effect a growing child (one study even suggested that stress during the early stages of a pregnancy could effect the gender of the child!).