Many people schedule a massage in San Francisco with one thought in mind: relaxation. But there are many more benefits of massage, especially during pregnancy. Massage therapy during pregnancy is a wonderful complementary choice for prenatal care. While it does reduce stress and promote overall wellness, if can also be a healthy way for many pregnant women to relieve normal discomforts experienced during pregnancy, like aching backs, stiff necks, cramping legs, swelling (edema), and headaches.
Massage therapy during pregnancy can help in the following ways:
- Relax tense muscles and reduces tension headaches
- Strengthens immune system
- Improve Circulation, increases the amount of red blood cells, and increases lymph circulation
- Release endorphins
- Reduces anxiety, enhances self image, nurtures and stimulates emotional growth
- Lowers blood pressure, slows respiration
- Decrease levels of stress hormones – promotes quality sleep, improves productivity, improves concentration
- Increase flexibility and improves muscle tone
- Improve Posture
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Decreased back, leg, and hip pain
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Improved sleep
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Calms mother and fetus
Women with normal, low-risk pregnancies can benefit greatly from the variety of massage techniques offered by Mama Lounge in San Francisco. We do recommend that women having high-risk pregnancies consult their doctor or midwife before receiving a massage.
Pregnancy massage experts must adjust their techniques to address the changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy. For example, blood volume increases dramatically, up to 50%, during pregnancy. There are also a few physiological changes that increase the odds of a blood clot in the legs during pregnancy. Blood flow in the legs may become sluggish, while the levels of anticoagulants in the blood also increase. This is designed to prevent hemorrhaging during delivery, but may also increase the risk of blodg clots in the lower legs, typically in the calves or inner thigh. This is one of the reasons that pregnancy massage experts avoid deep massage and strong pressure on the legs. Rather, your San Francisco Pregnancy Massage therapist will use a lighter touch and always be conscious of the comfort of the mother and avoid any acupressure points that are contra-indicated in pregnancy.
If you’re interested in a prenatal massage, please contact us today!
