5 Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy is often depicted as a joyous time, when you spend nine months relishing your changing body and getting excited for the arrival of your little one.

However, the changes your body goes through can be anything but ‘joyous’ and instead cause significant discomfort and stress.

For instance, with pregnancy can come pain in the pelvis, lower back, and sciatic nerve, which runs down the back of each leg. During pregnancy, some people can also experience heartburn, oedema (fluid retention), and insomnia.

Pregnancy massage, like the one we offer here at Thai Fusion Spa, has become an increasingly popular means of reducing pregnancy discomfort. In this article, we will look deeper at 5 benefits of pregnancy massage.

In the meantime, if you would like to view our full range of massage treatments or book online, please head to our website.

Benefits

Lowers stress and improves sleep quality

Thai massage incorporates gentle stretching with applied pressure, which reduces the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) in the body and subsequently promotes relaxation.

Increased relaxation can, in turn, facilitate a deeper night’s sleep.

Deep sleep is important for pregnant women, as it allows their bodies, which are already strained from growing another human, to repair and ‘reset’ for the next day.

Reduces oedema

During pregnancy, your hormones change and can cause your body to retain more fluid than usual, thereby leading to a condition known as oedema (fluid retention).

When a person has oedema, the affected tissue can become swollen and painful – in pregnant women, it typically occurs in the legs, ankles, feet, and fingers.

Thai massage can promote circulation in the lymphatic system and help it rid the body of excess fluid.

Relieves shortness of breath

During pregnancy, you can experience shortness of breath as the uterus grows, pushes into the abdomen, and reduces the amount of space in the lungs for oxygen exchange.

Pregnancy massage can help soften the muscles around the lungs and allow you to feel more comfortable.

Pregnancy massage can also promote deep breathing techniques, which are useful for staying relaxed and keeping your oxygen supply up during labour.

Stabilises blood pressure

When you are pregnant, your blood volume increases to supply extra blood to the uterus and other organs.

This can lead to a spike in blood pressure and pre-eclampsia, a potentially deadly condition characterised by high blood pressure.

By relaxing the muscles and promoting better circulation around the body, Thai massage can bring your blood pressure down and promote good heart health.

Lowers your baby’s stress hormones

Pregnancy can be a stressful time due to hormone changes and anxiety about what to expect from birth and motherhood.

Stress hormones can subsequently enter the amniotic fluid and increase the chances of having a preterm or low-birthweight baby.

As such, getting a pregnancy massage to promote deep relaxation can help you and your baby grow better together.

Final thoughts

Pregnancy massage, like the one we offer here at Thai Fusion Spa, can help ease the physical and emotional discomfort that can come with gestating another human.

By stretching and applying gentle pressure to your body, pregnancy massage can help lower your stress, improve your quality of sleep, manage your risk of oedema and high blood pressure, make it easier to breathe, and keep your baby happy.

To view our full range of massage treatments or book online, please head to our website.