Is It Safe To Do Massages During Your Second Trimester?

• The most enjoyable trimester!

Hello mama-to-be, great news! Welcome to your second trimester which is also known as the most comfortable of all three! Get ready to bid farewell to the horrid morning sickness and other early pregnancy symptoms you may have experienced in your first trimester. Other than feeling less queasy during this trimester, you will also begin to feel more energetic and your pregnancy may begin to feel more “real”!

• Are massages during pregnancy safe?

All pregnant ladies are recommended to avoid massages during their first trimester when the risk of a miscarriage is the highest. Despite the myths we have heard about how massages are a no-go during pregnancy, it is actually considered safe from the second trimester onwards for most pregnant ladies! Just be mindful to get the stamp of approval from your gynae and inform your massage therapist that you are pregnant.

• What are the benefits of prenatal massage?

We all know the wonders of a relaxing massage session, but it actually benefits a pregnant lady more than we imagine! Massage therapy releases endorphins which helps to reduce the heightened level of stress in expectant mothers, and stabilizes her hormones. During a massage, her blood flow increases and rejuvenates the mother’s body. This boosts the lymphatic system whereby toxins are flushed out effectively. Circulation is also improved in the mother’s body through massages, enabling her body to better deliver nutrients and oxygen to her foetus.

While an expectant woman copes with the physical demand that pregnancy brings, it is no surprise that she might experience sore muscles or joints, swelling of hands or feets or an aching back that feels like it’s going to break anytime.. Regardless, there is nothing a good session of prenatal massage cannot solve! Massage loosens and relaxes tenses muscles, and reduces swelling too. Another piece of great news – massage reduces stomach pressure and relaxes the nervous system which relieves the dreaded heartburn that most mothers experience during pregnancy!

Other than the many physical benefits that prenatal massage brings about, the overall mental wellness that it brings about for expectant mothers is also worth mentioning. Pregnancy is without a doubt a stressful period of time. In addition to adapting to the changes that pregnancy brings about physically, there are a ton of other changes and preparations to be made before the baby arrives. Whether it is being extra cautious at all times, finance planning or just preparing for this huge change in your life may be more overwhelming than we think. It is important for expectant mothers to be mindful of their mental wellness especially more so during pregnancy since prolonged periods of stress can cause direct harm to the baby.

Massage therapy works wonders for our nervous systems and produces a sense of calmness as our bodies relax. This alleviates anxiety and reduces worries, thereby promoting undisrupted and better quality sleep. Massages soothes mental fatigue which naturally improves the overall mood of expectant mothers