Massage is considered a treat in our busy lives. It allows us restful time to meditate, resolve stress, forget problems, and alleviate pain. For pregnant mothers there are many physically beneficial reasons to consider massage. Studies (note articles provided below) have found women who have taken advantage of massage sessions during their pregnancies can experience shorter labors, recover more quickly, have less pain, and feel better. The thinking is massage, prior to delivery, helps mothers focus in on their bodies, understand their physical capabilities, and be more in tune with the labor process. JUDY
Which Massage Style is Best for You?
I encourage you to talk with friends regarding prenatal massage. Using their suggestions, look for a masseuse who specializes in working with pregnant and postnatal women. Before beginning massage discuss the pros and cons with your Obstetrician and or midwife. There are many styles of massage. You will want to research which style of massage best serves your needs. These styles are not specifically for pregnant or post delivery women . Be sure to discuss the skill set of your masseuse regarding your particular situation prior to beginning your session. Here are several styles:
Swedish Massage: Common in the states, Swedish Massage provides for relaxation and comfort, while calming tension.
- Long, sweeping strokes (effleurage), usually used at the start and end of a massage
- Muscle kneading and rolling (petrissage), where the muscles are worked on just like kneading dough
- Friction, where deep pressure is applied to a particular spot with the thumb, fingertips, or knuckles
- Rhythmic tapping (tapotement), fast percussion movements like chopping and even pounding. (About.com notes, however, that percussion techniques have fallen out of favor for Swedish massages because they’re not relaxing—the way that karate chops to your naked, oiled body could be distracting)
- Best for: An intro to massage, stress relief, relaxation, releasing cramped or tense muscles, couples massage
Hot Stone Massage: Pinpoints stress points, using heat to relax tense muscles.
During hot stone massage, your body is not only weighted down with hot, smooth stones, but the masseuse also uses the stones to massage your body. It’s like being caressed by the smoothest (rollerball-like) hands, but also being scorched by them for a “Yeeooowwww!….Ahhhhh” effect. A hot stone massage is mostly relaxing, but it also is more invigorating than your run-of-the-mill massage, thanks to the almost-too-much heat bringing you back to focus on the moment instead of letting you drift off. The heat helps release the tension in your back and shoulders, mostly, so those muscles can be worked on more effectively.
Best for: “Centering” yourself, releasing very tense muscles, relaxation
Chair Massage:
You’ve probably seen these strange contraptions at conventions, the mall, nail parlors, and maybe even your office. Chair massages have you sitting face forward in a chair so the therapist can massage mostly your neck, shoulders, and back. You don’t have to take off your clothes or have oils slathered all over you. Depending on the massage therapist, however, a chair massage can really get the tension out of your upper body.
May be more comfortable during later months of pregnancy.
Deep Tissue Massage: Addresses specific problems such as lower back pain. During pregnancy you want to avoid using deep tissue massage on your extremities due to the possibility of blood clotting problems.
As the name suggests, deep tissue massage applies deep pressure onto specific trouble points. It feels very much like someone is torturing you on purpose by pushing into your knotted muscle, and the massage can leave you feeling sore. It’s not just more pressure all over your body, however (which would be true torture), it’s very specific, methodical treatment.
Deep Tissue is a very specific massage treatment in which the therapist uses knuckles and elbow’s to “strip out” muscle tissue as far down to the bone as possible. Sound invasive? It is! It is definitely not for everyone. However there are millions of people out there that would never have their treatment any other way. This modality can be helpful to the following people: athletes who are considerably harder on their bodies than the average person, people who are undergoing physical therapy to aid in the breakdown process of scar tissue, (AFTER PROPER HEALING FROM THE INJURY HAS OCCURED), or anyone who has very dense tissue and thus responds better to the work.
…It is very important to ALWAYS speak up and let your therapist know if you need the pressure to be corrected, (i.e. if you need them to lighten up because it is too deep, or to apply more because it is not deep enough). Most everyone needs more pressure in some areas and less in others. This occurs because muscle tissue that contains Trigger Points is more sensitive to pressure and can be tender to the touch.
This is not the kind of massage to ask for if you expect to feel relaxed during the therapy, and afterwards you might feel sore for a couple of days.
Best for: Treating stiff, painful trouble spots like the shoulder and neck
A chiropractor is recommended below. Contact Dr. Castro if you think this style of massage is best for you. She can direct you to a specialist.
Trigger Point Massage:
Like Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Massage focuses on specific areas of the body, rather than massaging the whole body. In this technique, the therapist pinpoints exactly the “problem” muscle and coaxes it with deep pressure to relax.
A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. A trigger point in the back, for example, may reduce referral pain in the neck. The neck, now acting as a satellite trigger point, may then cause pain in the head. The pain may be sharp and intense or a dull ache.
Trigger point massage therapy is specifically designed to alleviate the source of the pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release. … The results and benefits of trigger point massage are releasing constricted areas in the muscles thus alleviating pain. You can experience a significant decrease in pain after just one treatment. Receiving massage with trigger point therapy on a regular basis can help naturally manage pain and stress from chronic injuries.
Deep tissue and trigger point massages are very similar. The difference is that deep tissue massage uses various traditional massage techniques to work the tissue, whereas trigger point massage is literally looking to manipulate or press on that one point that relieves tension in an entire area (perhaps not even nearby).
Best for: Chronic muscle pain and tension
Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular therapy is a subset of trigger point massage. A highly trained therapist applies pressure to the areas where you have muscle spasms—muscles that are painful to the touch.
Neuromuscular therapy is a form of soft tissue manipulation that aims to treat underlying causes of chronic pain involving the muscular and nervous systems. This medically oriented form of massage addresses trigger points (tender muscles points), circulation, nerve compression, postural issues, and biomechanical problems that can be caused by repetitive movement injuries.
Neuromuscular therapy will feel painful at first, but it should relax the muscle and help it get more oxygen and blood flow.
Best for: Treating injuries and issues like poor circulation or posture problems, and lower back pain.
Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu (literally, “finger pressure”) is an ancient technique from Japan. It combines gentle stretches with finger pressure to work on different pressure points. The idea is to fix imbalances in the flow of energy in your body. Although there’s no concrete evidence of Shiatsu’s use as a healing method, people who have had this massage still report stress and pain relief.
A scientific explanation is that shiatsu calms an overactive sympathetic nervous system, which improves circulation, relieves stiff muscles, and alleviates stress.
Unlike other types of massage, you stay clothed during the treatment.
Best for: Ailments such as headaches, back pain, and lack of energy
Thai Massage
Thai massage works your entire body. It’s one of the most invigorating types of massages, as the therapist rigorously manipulates your body, moving it into yoga-like stretches. (It’s sometimes referred to as “Yoga for the lazy”.) The therapist uses every part of his or her body—hands, knees, legs, and feet—to not only stretch you but also apply pressure on your muscles and loosen your joints. You might even get walked on! This type of massage is both energizing and, at times, relaxing.
Best for: Improving energy, increased flexibility, overall health and well-being
Sports Massage
Sports massage is designed specifically for the very physically active (whether you’re a professional athlete or not). It combines Swedish, Shiatsu, and other techniques to concentrate on the areas that are related to your sport. Athletes often get sports massages to prepare for peak performance, prevent injury, and also treat injury.
The benefits and effects of sports massage include physical effects such as circulating blood and lymphatic fluids as well as stretching muscle tissue and breaking down scar tissue.
There are physiological effects such as reducing pain and relaxing muscles as well as psychological affects which include reducing anxiety levels.
Best for: Athletes
The massage types above are some of the most popular massages you can get, but there are many others. Regardless of the type of massage you opt for, be sure to tell your therapist which areas you especially need work on, whether you have any health issues, and, during the massage, how the pressure feels.
Please leave the information for massage therapists you like in the comment for others to enjoy!.
There are also chiropractors who specialize in prenatal and postpartum care of mothers. Dr. Yvette Castro is such a caregiver. Her practice is located in Long Beach, California. Dr Castro has recently given birth to her first baby. She prefers to begin work with clients prior to conception or early in their pregnancies. This gives her a baseline for future treatment. She provides suggestions for exercise during pregnancy, how to avoid injury, diet, and birth preparation. In addition she is certified for pediatric treatment, and postpartum massage. For your convenience Dr Castro makes house calls! Dr. Yvette Castro, Bay Shore Wellness, 562-810-4916, drcastro@baysidewellness.com
Websites with massage information for you:
Prenatal Massage Techniques with video
http://codenamemama.com/2011/11/21/prenatal-massage-techniques/
The American Pregnancy Association
Massage and Pregnancy: Prenatal Massage
http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/prenatal-massage/
Prenatal Massage Video
Prenatal Massage Techniques – Pregnancy & Parenting – ModernMom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDEL3UphWzA
MASSAGE DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY KARINA L. FABIAN
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