The 4 Best Massages During Pregnancy
Receiving massages during pregnancy can be very beneficial for expectant mothers by helping them feel better and cope with all the changes that occur as the months progress.
Pregnancy brings about many changes for women. Unfortunately, discomfort is practically inevitable. One way to reduce discomfort is through good massages during pregnancy.
Without a doubt, these are an effective and easy way to alleviate discomfort. In addition, various types of massages during pregnancy are available. All of them respond to the different needs of women and benefit not only the mother, but also the baby.
The 4 best massages during pregnancy
1. Massages on the head, face and neck
These are a series of excellent massages to decrease tension in the body. In the case of the head, all you have to do is exert a little pressure on the scalp with your fingers. This helps to keep headaches at bay during pregnancy.
It’s an effective massage and can be easily done in the comfort of your home. There are also some implements that you can use on your scalp to produce a sense of general well-being.
The muscles of the face and neck also receive a lot of tension on a day-to-day basis. Since they’re very sensitive muscles, blood circulation improves efficiently with light massages. This helps to reduce tension.
These massages are extremely simple. Move from the neck upwards with small touches with your fingertips, going to the chin, cheeks, ears, temples, forehead and especially the eyebrows, where a lot of tension accumulates.
This massage is very relaxing and can be performed during any stage of pregnancy.
2. Massages on the legs, ankles and feet
Some of the massages that can’t be missed during the gestation phase are those performed on the legs, ankles and feet. The lower extremities receive the greatest pressure overload. Therefore, they tend to suffer pain, fluid retention and swelling.
This causes a lot of discomfort for women throughout their pregnancy, especially as it progresses. Massages in the lower extremities help to improve circulation.
Ideally, the massage will be performed by a specialist, who will know how to create the best effect. Similarly, your partner can help at home with lighter massages.
This type of massage helps to reduce inflammation, pain, fluid retention and leg cramps.
“Pregnancy brings many changes for women, and discomfort is practically inevitable. One way to reduce it is with a good massage.”
3. Massaging the back
The lower back is heavily affected during pregnancy. This is due to the increase in weight experienced at this time. A specialist must perform massages on the lower back.
With these back massages during pregnancy, it’s possible to reduce tension in the lower back area. Thus, inflammation of the nerves and muscles may decrease, which prevents possible cramping.
These massages are recommended for the second and third trimesters, which is when the weight gain becomes more noticeable.
4. Massage in the perineal area
These massages help you to prepare for the moment of delivery. They can be easily performed at home.
Obstetric specialists recommend massages in the perineal area for the third trimester of pregnancy. The idea is to perform stretching and gentle massages in this area.
This way, you can avoid tearing the area or having an episiotomy at the time of delivery. It’s best to perform these massages for 5 minutes every day approximately 6 weeks before the expected delivery date.
Before performing any type of massage during pregnancy, consult with your physician. He or she can say which ones are appropriate, when to start them and how often to do them.
