The Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

The greatest miracle of all is the creation of life inside of the mother’s body! Maternity massage aims to nurture the expectant mother and the developing fetus. As an LMT, I am blessed to help women throughout their pregnancies.
In this article, I would like to sum up the benefits of pregnancy massage therapy based on the latest scientific research and the mechanisms for massage therapy effects.
The benefits of maternity massage:

1. Numerous research [3] suggests that the expectant mother experiences reduction of the muscle tension of the upper and lower back, decrease in sciatica pain, and increased tone of the overstretched abdominal and gluteal muscles. Massage supports the lymphatic drainage which results in the reduction of peripheral edemas. Another benefit of massage is the increase in general blood circulation and red cell count; and stabilization of hormonal levels;
2. Three independent studies conducted by T. Field [1] point to decreased anxiety and depression during pregnancy and even postpartum due to lowering of cortisol levels and elevation of the feel-good hormones (serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins). Furthermore, less depressed mothers during the neonatal period experience more bonding with their infants;
3. Massage positively influences the baby by decreasing excessive fetal activity and the rate of premature birth. Fewer prenatal complications, including a 75% lower prematurity rate and a 80% lower incidence of low birthweight were reported by the research. Plus, the newborns have lower cortisol levels if their mothers were given massage therapy; therefore, they are calmer, more mature and more interactive than babies whose mothers weren’t massaged;  
4. Less pain during labor is a huge benefit of massage therapy. In the study on labor pain, the pregnant women’s partners massaged their back and legs from a side-lying position during the first 15 min of every hour of labor. It resulted in the shortening of the labor time by at least 3 hours with less need for medications due to increased vagal activity. In addition, to reduce pain during labor, perineal massage should be incorporated on the 32nd week of pregnancy to ensure flexibility and soft tissue elasticity and avoid having tears or episiotomy by giving birth. The general recommendations are: 10-15 minutes every day by the woman or her partner using appropriate amount of lubricant;
5. Massage therapy has very important benefits for breast-feeding mothers [3]. There are 3 major components of breast massage: opening of the lacteal ducts; alternate massage; and manual expression. I educate my clients in person on proper techniques of each type of massage;
6. Lastly, the human touch provides much needed support, calms the nervous system down, and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (the relaxation response) which in turn boosts mother’s digestion and assimilation, the immune system, and fosters the child’s development.

There are two major mechanisms for massage therapy effects:

1. “The gate theory” implies that pressure messages travel more rapidly than pain messages, reaching the brain faster and closing the gate for the pain message at the level of the spinal cord;
2. Increased vagal activity which lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels.

 
The best time to receive maternity massage is starting from the third month of pregnancy. I recommend at least one session per month, and then increase to 2-4 times per month in late 2nd and 3rd trimester depending on your unique situation and your body’s needs. Make sure to trust your body to a licensed massage therapist who has experience with prenatal massage therapy. As research suggests, moderate pressure is essential to obtain massage therapy benefits [2].
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In conclusion, massage therapy has been demonstrated to be effective during pregnancy. The women reported decreased anxiety, depression, and leg and back pain. Massage therapy (back, legs, and perineum) prior and during labor is a great way to decrease pain, the duration of labor, and prevent vaginal tears. Breast-feeding mothers benefit from massage therapy as well. Massage therapy fosters the fetus’ development and enhances the bond between the newborn and the mother. Moderate pressure provided by LMT with experience is important to achieve the benefits of maternity massage therapy.
 
References:

1. Field T. Pregnancy and labor massage. Expert Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2010;5(2):177–181. doi:10.1586/eog.10.12 retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2870995/
2. Tiffany Field, Miguel Diego & Maria Hernandez-Reif (2010) Moderate Pressure is Essential for Massage Therapy Effects, International Journal of Neuroscience, 120:5, 381-385, DOI: 10.3109/00207450903579475
3. Turchaninov, R. and Gray, K., 2000. Therapeutic Massage: A Scientific Approach. 2nd ed. Phoenix, AZ: Aesculapius, pp.44-45
4. “What is perineal massage?” retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2aqVOG6Tc
5. Photo credit: Inna Kohr, my best friend, who was getting massages from me during her second healthy pregnacy.

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