"Relax and Unwind: The Benefits of Prenatal Massage for Expecting Moms"

Massage is an excellent way to help you relax and enjoy your pregnancy. Massage can also be beneficial for the health of both you and your baby, as well as reduce stress.\

The benefits of massage during pregnancy include:

* Relaxation - Massage helps you relax by reducing stress and anxiety, which may help prevent complications such as preterm labor or postpartum depression. It also improves sleep quality, which is important because sleep deprivation has been linked with adverse birth outcomes like low birth weight babies.

* Pain relief - Many women experience aches and pains throughout their pregnancies due to increased weight gain, swollen ankles or legs from fluid retention (edema), backaches caused by poor posture while sitting at work all day long on top of carrying around extra pounds in their bellies...massages can provide much needed relief!

Physical Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy

* Reduces stress and anxiety.

* Improves sleep.

* Reduces muscle tension, which can help prevent back pain during pregnancy and postpartum.

* Increases circulation, which helps with fatigue and varicose veins.

Massage also promotes better posture, which can reduce aches and pains as well as improve your overall health during this time!

Mental Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy

Massage can have a positive effect on your mental health. It can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, increase self-esteem and boost overall well-being.

Massage also has a positive effect on the developing baby. Massaging the abdomen may help relieve constipation; massaging the lower back helps ease back pain; massaging the hands helps strengthen muscles in preparation for labor (and after).

Emotional Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy

* Reduced stress and anxiety

* Improved mood

* Improved self-image (you look good!)

* A sense of connection with your baby

Benefits of Massage After Delivery

After you give birth, your body will go through a lot of changes. You may experience back pain and swelling, as well as muscle tension that can lead to headaches and fatigue. Massage can help ease these symptoms by reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep quality and circulation (which helps with swelling), improving posture by stretching tight muscles in the neck and lower back area, reducing muscle tension throughout the body--especially in those areas where you might be experiencing pain or discomfort due to childbirth--and improving overall relaxation so that you can enjoy time with your newborn baby without worrying about how sore everything feels!

Tips for Choosing a Massage Therapist

When choosing a massage therapist, it's important to ask the right questions. You should ask for recommendations from friends or family members who have had massages during their pregnancies. You can also research the therapist's qualifications online and look at reviews from previous clients. When you call the spa or clinic, ask about their experience with pregnant women and whether they offer any special accommodations for pregnant women (such as heated tables).

Safety Tips for Massage During Pregnancy

When you're pregnant, it's important to be aware of your body and what it can handle. Massage during pregnancy should be gentle and relaxing--not painful or stressful.

If you experience any discomfort during a massage session, speak up! Let your therapist know what feels good and what doesn't so they can adjust their technique accordingly. Drink plenty of water before getting a massage so that both you and the baby stay hydrated throughout the session. Also avoid lying on your back after 30 weeks gestation because this position may cause compression of major blood vessels which could potentially reduce blood flow to baby or cause preterm labor if already at risk for those conditions due to other factors such as previous surgery or trauma related injuries sustained prior

to becoming pregnant

In conclusion, massage can be an invaluable tool for pregnant women. Not only does it provide physical benefits, but it also helps you relax and relieve stress. If you're considering getting a massage during your pregnancy, make sure to choose a therapist who is trained in prenatal massage. Be sure to ask about their training before booking an appointment!

If you're interested in learning more about how massage can benefit pregnant women, check out these resources:

* [The Benefits Of Massage For Pregnant Women](https://www.webmd.com/pregnancy/news/20140211/the-benefits-of-massage-for-pregnant-women) by WebMD

Becca Robinson LMT, Birth Doula