Prenatal massage: Why regular massage while pregnant makes pregnancy easier.

A chunk of my massage therapy practice has been focused on seeing women through their

journey to childbirth. I, myself receive weekly massages while pregnant and I truly believe there

is no better time than while pregnant to receive massage.

My job is physical, it requires continuous pressure and stress from the body. Pregnancy was

not easy and I can’t say I enjoyed it. It was painful. My back was constantly sore, I went through

a period of pubic symphysis dysfunction as commonly known as “fire crotch” , my legs

spasmed, my hands were swollen and achy, it was kinda brutal. I’m not saying pregnancy was

the worst. There was such a beautiful connection created by my son and I in utero. The

movement I felt was incredible and creating life is such a magical experience but my body was

not my own, it belonged to him and he took what he needed to grow and thrive… motherhood in

a nutshell.

Massage was my source of pain relief and I was fortunate to work with massage therapists,

ready as needed.

So why does massage work so well when treating the aches and pains of pregnancy? The

evolution of the pregnancy journey is heavily weighed on the musculoskeletal system. Yes, it

also includes all other systems of the body but the musculoskeletal system is a direct

connection to the pain and discomfort felt while growing a human. In the first stage of pregnancy

the first surge of Relaxin overwhelms the body. A lot of women can experience some low back

pain even before they begin to “show”. Relaxin, a magical hormone that allows the body to

stretch and make way for the baby to pass through the birth canal, also creates laxity in the

ligaments and joints of the body which triggers muscles to work overtime to maintain stability,

thus all the aches and pains while pregnant. As the pregnancy progresses into the 2nd and 3rd

trimester, Relaxin levels out but the body is changing at a rapid rate. As the baby grows, the

center of gravity shifts forcing an imbalance to our regular phasic and postural muscle groups.

Depending on where the baby is sitting in the uterus increased levels of discomfort can be felt. A

baby that sits low in the pelvis can put additional pressure on the pelvis, creating pain in the low

back, hips, and pubic symphysis. A baby sitting higher up can push into the ribs and

diaphragm, creating shortness of breath, tightening accessory muscles of breathing in the upper

chest and in the intercostal space between the ribs. Some women experience all of these

symptoms. Pregnancy is different for every woman but the pain patterns stay relatively the

same. Relaxin has a resurgence towards the end of the pregnancy in the late 3rd trimester,

preparing the body for birth. At this time the body is also receiving oxytocin, “the love and feel

good” hormone. This is why a lot of women feel the discomfort of weight gain and feel “heavy”

but the localized aches and pains diminish.

Regular massage can assist the muscles in adapting to the changing body. With low back pain,

treating the low back, hips, and glutes can greatly alleviate the stress these muscles undergo

with the shift in the pelvis and the added pressure of a human sitting in your pelvic bowl. With

pubic symphysis pain, treating the hips, glutes, and adductors (inner thigh muscles) will relax

these compensatory muscles, which help with mobility and fluidity in motion. An ice pack to the

pubic region helps to alleviate the inflammation. When shortness of breath is a factor and the

ribs are expanding, working through the intercostal muscles (muscles between the ribs) and

diaphragm help make breathing less laboured and allows for a fuller breath to be taken. If calf

cramps are the issue, loosening up the gastroc and soleus will help alleviate that resting tension

that sits in the calves after a spasm. As the center of gravity shifts, the spine compensates with

exaggerated curves of the lumbar and thoracic spine, this can create added tension in the neck

and shoulders as the head and chin start to move moveward towards a head forward posture.

This can create tension headaches and stiffness in the neck. A massage will release tension

and treat unwanted hyperirritable nodules aka trigger points, allowing the tension to melt away,

alleviating headaches.

Understanding the physiological changes that can occur (common, uncommon, and high risk)

can help to create a safe treatment plan for pregnancy. Massage is almost always safe for

pregnancy and modifications can be made for certain circumstances. A Massage Therapist’s

duty is to accommodate the clients needs, to consider all possible options in order to provide the

safest and most effective treatment. There are so many ways to ensure comfort and safety.

Massage is always magic, but when pregnant, it is phenomenal!

Author - Melanie Gillians