You might have heard these common myths about pregnancy massage that have stopped you from seeing your massage therapist when you fall pregnant.
But the truth is that massage during pregnancy – from first trimester to due date – can be a safe, effective and incredibly powerful tool in helping you to feel calm and relaxed during your pregnancy journey.
Pregnancy Massage Specialist Laura Calderone shares the 5 common myths of pregnancy massage.
Myth 1: Massage is unsafe in the first trimester
Contrary to popular belief, massage is safe during the first trimester – when performed by an adequately trained and experienced massage therapist. A qualified pregnancy massage specialist will understand when massage is safe and when it is not, and will undergo an extensive assessment prior to your treatment to ensure that massage is safe for you and baby.
Myth 2: Massage causes early labour
There is absolutely no evidence to back up this myth. The mere thought that massage can induce or cause a pre-term labour is absurd. If it did, obstetricians would perform massage all the time! A qualified therapist will ensure that you and your baby are comfortable and safe throughout the treatment, without the fear of waters breaking on the table!
Myth 3: Your table must have a hole in it, right?
Massaging a mum lying on her tummy is extremely uncomfortable for the baby and puts too much pressure on the mother’s lower back. Instead, massage can be done with mum lying on her side. This means that the massage therapist can still treat problem areas, such as hips, back and shoulders while making sure mum and baby are comfortable.
Myth 4: You must not touch the belly!
This myth has been perpetuated by the fear that a tummy massage causes harms to babies. When performed by a qualified massage therapist, abdomen massage can be extremely therapeutic and beneficial to mum and baby! Massage can support the abdominal muscles, reduce low back pain and can even enhance the mother’s emotional connection with her baby.
Myth 5: Won’t the toxins harm my baby?
We’ve all been told that massage releases toxins and it is only natural to be worried that these toxins will harm your baby too. Massage does release hormones and wastes from the body, but massage can also reduce stress hormones and increase the happy-feel-good hormones. So that’s not such a bad thing.
Remember, when it comes to pregnancy massage qualifications are vital.
When seeking massage during pregnancy, is vital that massage only be performed by an adequately trained therapist. A massage therapist trained in pregnancy massage will have the specific skills required to treat a mum with complex and high-risk health issues.
If you want to learn more about how massage can help you during your pregnancy, please contact Laura Calderone on 0407 512 009 or find out more at http://lauracalderonemassage.com
