Pregnancy is a time of enormous physical and emotional changes that come with the amazing process of growing a new human being inside you.
Some of these changes can be challenging. Aches and pains in muscles joints and nerves, swollen ankles, varicose veins, nausea in the first trimester, heartburn in the last, tiredness, perhaps some anxiety, particularly for new mums-to-be.Massage or Reflexology as part of your ante-natal care can aid relaxation, improve mood, release tension, aid sleep, and be an important way to look after your mental, emotional and physical health and improve your sense of wellbeing.
Regular massage during pregnancy can give you more comfort and ease in your body.
Research suggests it can help you to be more relaxed when you give birth, and even lead to less labour complications and better health for your baby.
The Many Benefits of Massage and Aromatherapy During Pregnancy
Why have an Aromatherapy massage during pregnancy?
- it is deeply relaxing and enjoyable
- for mental and emotional health and wellbeing - massage reduces stress and anxiety, decreases symptoms of depression and regulates your fluctuating hormones. In particular it decreases stress hormone such as norepinephrine and cortisol, and increases hormones such as dopamine and serotonin which protect against depression, and make you feel good
- to gently mobilise and ease restrictions in hip and shoulder joints
- to ease the aches and pains in muscles and joints. Increased weight, loosened ligaments, and shifts in your posture from a changed center of gravity can lead to neck, shoulder, lower back, tummy and/or pelvic pain
- to reduce nerve pain, eg pain in the sciatic nerve from the lower back down the legs is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as muscles tighten and press on this nerve
- to encourage more restful sleep, and to revitalise you, reducing tiredness
- to nourish the skin and improve the skins suppleness and elasticity as it stretches to minimise stretch marks
- to support your digestive system and reduce issues such as gas, indigestion, nausea or heartburn.
- to increase blood circulation, reducing stress on the heart, keeping blood pressure in check, helping to prevent or reduce the appearance of varicose veins, thread veins and haemorroids
- to increase your awareness of breathing and encourage relaxed abdominal breathing, which with increased blood circulation means more oxygen to nourish the body of mum and baby
- to stimulate the lymphatic system to prevent or reduce swelling of joints such as ankles or wrists from fluid retention (oedema)
- to reduce headaches
- to alleviate sinus congestion
- to encourage good postural awareness and introduce pelvic tilts and pelvic floor exercises
- to improve labour outcomes and newborn health - when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care, there are fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight.
One of the most obvious differences with a pregnancy massage is positioning. In the first trimester, you may receive a massage similar to what you would have had when not pregnant, though more gently and with extra care around the lower back and tummy. Or you may be one of the women* who already have tender, swollen breasts and find it uncomfortable to lie on your front.
By 13 to 14 weeks going into the second trimester, most women will no longer be comfortable to lie face down. Then at around mid-pregnancy, the growing womb puts too much pressure on the vein that returns blood from your legs to your heart, and so lying flat on the back has to be avoided as well.
So, a sidelying position, with plenty of cushions, wedges and pillows for support and comfort, is used to do the back and sides of the body, and a reclining position, well propped up and with pillows under your knees is used to do the front of the body.
Lifting, holding and carrying of your baby for feeding and care can be a challenge to a body that still has softened ligaments and perhaps extra weight, and can lead to arm, shoulder and back pain.
For most mums, its an emotional time, with highs and lows of joy and tears - especially with a first baby. For some mums, 'baby blues' may turn to post-natal depression. Holistic therapies can help support you and improve your wellbeing.
For those breastfeeding, studies show that massage improves milk production through relaxing your chest muscles, and increasing your prolactin levels, a lactation hormone, and there are also essential oils that can help with milk flow and with various issues that might arise, such as mastitis.
Unless you had a C-Section or there were any complications during the birth, it is appropriate and beneficial to receive either Massage or Reflexology from as early as 24 hours after the birth if you feel ready to do so. If there were any complications to the labour or delivery, then check with me and with your midwife, if you are still under their care, or your GP. You will normally be transferred from midwifery to the health visitor team at around 10 days after giving birth.
I can also advise on some simple Reflexology to use on your newborn to help them relax and sleep well, particularly if they have colic.
- to gently mobilise and ease restrictions in hip and shoulder joints
- to ease the aches and pains in muscles and joints. Increased weight, loosened ligaments, and shifts in your posture from a changed center of gravity can lead to neck, shoulder, lower back, tummy and/or pelvic pain
- to reduce nerve pain, eg pain in the sciatic nerve from the lower back down the legs is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as muscles tighten and press on this nerve
- to encourage more restful sleep, and to revitalise you, reducing tiredness
- to nourish the skin and improve the skins suppleness and elasticity as it stretches to minimise stretch marks- to support your digestive system and reduce issues such as gas, indigestion, nausea or heartburn.
- to increase blood circulation, reducing stress on the heart, keeping blood pressure in check, helping to prevent or reduce the appearance of varicose veins, thread veins and haemorroids
- to increase your awareness of breathing and encourage relaxed abdominal breathing, which with increased blood circulation means more oxygen to nourish the body of mum and baby
- to stimulate the lymphatic system to prevent or reduce swelling of joints such as ankles or wrists from fluid retention (oedema)
- to reduce headaches
- to alleviate sinus congestion
- to encourage good postural awareness and introduce pelvic tilts and pelvic floor exercises
- to improve labour outcomes and newborn health - when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care, there are fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight.
"The pregnancy full body massage and aromatherapy massage I have received has proved beneficial to my mind and body. It has cleared a few negative energies I wasn't fully aware I was holding onto, alleviated the constant heartburn I was enduring, completely relaxed me and allowed me to connect with baby bump, which is very difficult in a busy home environment with 2 very small children already. I recommend to any pregnant ladies, whatever stage there at as u have taken me though 2 of mine with expert hands. Your a natural and I can't wait for my next session the blend of oils used were perfect for my pregnancy needs and left me blissed out x"- Ms Paula Baldwin, Lancaster
Comfortable Positioning Throughout Your Pregnancy
By 13 to 14 weeks going into the second trimester, most women will no longer be comfortable to lie face down. Then at around mid-pregnancy, the growing womb puts too much pressure on the vein that returns blood from your legs to your heart, and so lying flat on the back has to be avoided as well.
So, a sidelying position, with plenty of cushions, wedges and pillows for support and comfort, is used to do the back and sides of the body, and a reclining position, well propped up and with pillows under your knees is used to do the front of the body.
For Reflexology, you won't notice much difference in positioning other than needing to be a bit more sat up and with maybe some additional cushions, later in pregnancy.
(* I use the term women or mums a few times on this page. If you are a transgender or non-binary person and looking for someone who can support you during your pregnancy, please know you are welcome. Please let me know on your booking form your preferred pronouns, and anything you would like me to know to work with you appropriately, help you feel comfortable and able to relax.)
There is always a small chance of miscarriage in pregnancy, and some women worry that massage or Reflexology might cause this to happen. However, there is no evidence at all that it is unsafe to have massage or Reflexology at any point during a normal pregnancy, and massage is a traditional practice which has stood the test of time in many cultures around the world.
It is however recommended that you choose a therapist with professional qualifications, and additional education about Pregnancy and training in how to support women safely and comfortably at this time. This is particularly important if you have any pre-existing conditions or develop any complications.
Safety and Peace of Mind Throughout Your Pregnancy
Massage or Reflexology
There is always a small chance of miscarriage in pregnancy, and some women worry that massage or Reflexology might cause this to happen. However, there is no evidence at all that it is unsafe to have massage or Reflexology at any point during a normal pregnancy, and massage is a traditional practice which has stood the test of time in many cultures around the world. Aromatherapy
Robert Tisserand, co-author of Essential Oil Safety (Churchill Livingstone 1995), and an International foremost authority on Aromatherapy has thoroughly investigated all the published research on the safety of essential oils and their components. He believes that there is no reason for pregnant women to avoid essential oils, so long as they are not taken orally, and with the exception of Camphor, Hyssop, Indian Dill seed, Parsley seed/leaf, Sage (Dalmation or Spanish) and Savin. I however restrict myself to a smaller selection of oils that are known to be particularly beneficial in pregnancy and recommended by my teacher, and will not use essential oils if you are concerned about them.
Training
I attended a 2 day course in massage and Aromatherapy for pregnancy, labour and post-natal care accredited by the IFPA, and trained with Sally Earlam in Maternity Reflexology, in an online course and Zoom assessment accredited by the Association of Reflexologists.
Informing Your Medical Providers
Before you book, you should also let those who are overseeing your ante-natal care, such as your midwife, GP, or Medical Specialist know, and give them the opportunity to discuss with you if they have any concerns about the treatment you would like to have.
Preparing For Labour
I can advise you on the use of Massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Acupressure points to prepare for, and during Labour.
Post - Natal Treatments
I would encourage you to schedule yourself a session of Massage or Reflexology post-natally as well as during your pregnancy (though a treatment intended to be pre-natal may end up being post-natal instead!). Many of the same benefits of treatments during pregnancy are as important or even more important during the immediate post-natal (or also called post-partum) period of 6 weeks after childbirth. After all the challenges of giving birth, your body needs to recover, and also continues to go through big changes.Lifting, holding and carrying of your baby for feeding and care can be a challenge to a body that still has softened ligaments and perhaps extra weight, and can lead to arm, shoulder and back pain.
At a time when you may be exhausted after labour, and need sleep to recover, frequent feeding interrupts your normal sleep pattern. Your womb is contracting down to a non-pregnant size, and all your internal organs shifting back down your belly. The extra 50% fluid you had during pregnancy is no longer needed.
Your hormones go through more shifts, as hormones that were high during pregnancy lessen and hormones for breastfeeding and emotional bonding need to increase. Your estrogen levels don't drop back until about 2-5 months after the birth, and your pelvis and pelvic floor may also take some time to recover. The 'delayed post-partum period' is considered to be around 8 months.
For most mums, its an emotional time, with highs and lows of joy and tears - especially with a first baby. For some mums, 'baby blues' may turn to post-natal depression. Holistic therapies can help support you and improve your wellbeing.
For those breastfeeding, studies show that massage improves milk production through relaxing your chest muscles, and increasing your prolactin levels, a lactation hormone, and there are also essential oils that can help with milk flow and with various issues that might arise, such as mastitis.
After the 6 week check, if everything is progressing well, some hot stones could be used on small areas, or warm stones on larger areas - while avoiding raising the core temperature of the body.
I can also advise on some simple Reflexology to use on your newborn to help them relax and sleep well, particularly if they have colic.
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