Massage for each stage of pregnancy
Discover what types of massage will help during your pregnancy
As your body prepares to welcome a tiny human, it’s changing at the speed of light – and this can lead to a whole host of discomforts. Oh joy
Massage is a fast and simple way of alleviating many of those aches and pains, as well as the stress and anxiety that are also a normal part of pregnancy. Urban pregnancy massage therapist Vanessa offers some tips on it can help at every stage:
12-19 weeks
If (poor you) you are still suffering from morning sickness at this stage, massage can help relax muscles, which in return allows hormones to travel better throughout the body – as a result, reducing that horrible nauseous feeling. Studies have shown* that a short massage twice a week can really bring down the incidence of morning sickness.
20-30 weeks
At this point in pregnancy, some degree of backache may well be kicking in. A gentle massage (on your side, so there is no pressure on your abdomen) can really help with those aches and pains in the lower back and hips, as well as releasing endorphins that will lift your mood – clients often feel fed-up in this ‘middle’ stage!
30-40 weeks
As well as your expanding stomach, you may have noticed you’ve also developed swollen calves and ankles (aka ‘cankles’). Thankfully, swelling can be brought down by massage which helps stimulate soft tissues, reducing the collection of fluids in swollen joints.
‘As well as helping with specific pregnancy niggles, prenatal massage is one of the most incredible ways to help a pregnant woman to relax’ says Vanessa. Don’t forget to tell your therapist if you are pregnant, as certain essential oils used in aromatherapy massage are not safe in pregnancy. Also, Urban won't offer a massage to women who are under 13 weeks pregnant or offer any pregnant mothers a chair massage as a precaution.
