Throughout pregnancy, both the baby and mother go through many changes together. Having this in mind, we can start to build on our understanding of how the stages of pregnancy affect mothers. The stress that builds up over time due to the mother making her womb suitable for the baby has an impact on her body that can cause a lot of discomfort and even pain in certain situations.
Fortunately, mothers have options, and the benefits and risks of massage during pregnancy might be something worth considering. Mothers, and new mothers especially, should educate themselves on all things regarding pregnancy whenever they can. The sooner they do, the healthier they and their babies will be, both physically and mentally. There are specific ways that women can seek relief from the stress and tension of pregnancy, and one of these is a pregnancy massage.
The first thing to remember about this is that all mothers should seek approval and recommendation from their primary care physician before ever going out on their own to get a massage. There are licensed professionals within the medical field who know exactly how to treat pregnant women by performing multiple styles of massage to accommodate the woman during her visit and based on her ailments.
When looking for a massage office, there are certain things to look out for. First and most importantly, it should be hygienic. So, if it does not seem up to code, call your primary care physician to let them know so they can schedule you for another appointment elsewhere. The second thing you should be aware of is whether the massage office has their prenatal certification. Without this certification, the practitioner cannot legally work giving pregnancy massages of any kind to pregnant women.
The certification should be somewhere visible, either during check-in or in their office, where you can easily see it. The final thing to look out for is that the office uses proper technique and equipment. Most of you may not know what this means, and that is perfectly alright. It is up to the physician or practitioner to explain these things to you before the procedure.
