I love massaging pregnant ladies! It is such a joy to have a “hand” in growing a precious little being. Massage is hugely beneficial for the mom and baby during these potent months.

I have been lucky enough to massage my sister, Sarah, in her pregnancies and in the delivery room. She is currently eight months pregnant and May 14 is the big day! I can’t believe in just one month we will see the fruit of her labor—literally.  She is such an amazing mother already to my nephew and I can’t wait to meet her baby girl!

Over the last 8 months, her body has swelled and made room for this little girl in quite a magnificent way. Every system in her body from endocrine to cardiovascular to digestive, respiratory, and musculoskeletal has all seen significant change.

You can imagine some of the biggest change happens in the abdomen. As the belly stretches and makes room for the growing uterus, Mom’s internal organs are pushed up into the diaphragm.  The breasts increase in weight (up to 2 lbs!) and the fascia around the ribcage, chest, and sternum is all pulled down. The whole thoracic area can feel very constricted and put a ton of pressure on the sympathetic trunk. This kind of pressure increases stress hormones and adds anxiety.

 

Pregnancy massage is great for reducing stress, decreasing swelling in the arms and legs, and relieving aches and pains in muscles and joints. Also, when medication may not be an option during pregnancy, massage can be excellent for pain relief in chronic back and neck pain.

Not only can massage be physically beneficial, but human touch can be comforting and provide emotional support around the big changes, fears about labor and delivery, and becoming a new mother.

Come see me this Thursday April 15^th from 11-4 at Birth and Beyond in Madison Valley.  I will be doing chair massage as a vendor at B & B’s Marketplace Event. This is a monthly event where local moms sell their homemade goods. Stop in for a quick 15 minute chair massage and support local creative moms!