Is it possible to massage during pregnancy: features and recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many people like massage. Even in ancient times, this procedure was used to treat and prevent many ailments. Is it possible to do massage during pregnancy? This procedure can be useful and harmful, so it is advisable to consult a doctor. The nuances of performing a massage are described in the article.

Is it allowed?

Can I get massage while pregnant? Gynecologists usually recommend a relaxing massage, even if the women themselves do not ask anything about it. The procedures relieve pain in the legs and back, reduce the load on the joints, improve blood circulation, eliminate stress, and cheer up. But it is not worth contacting a specialist on your own. Only a supervising physician can accurately determine if there are any contraindications.

Is it possible to do massage during early pregnancy, for example, in the 1st trimester? During this period, it is not worth visiting the procedures, otherwise there is a risk of miscarriage. In ittime to do self-massage. Small strokes are good for a child because they are soothing and relaxing. It is advisable to perform these procedures on your own. Need to stroke:

• hands;
• feet;
• ears;
• neck, shoulders;
• chest;
• belly;
• collar part.

Thanks to a light massage, back pain is relieved, muscles relax, mood is lifted. With the help of touches and smooth movements, swelling is reduced, and due to better blood circulation, the fetus receives more oxygen and nutrients.

During self-massage, you can use aroma oils. It is only important that they are not allergic. In the 1st trimester, you can lie on your stomach when performing a session.

Indications

Massage during pregnancy is effective in the following cases:

• edema;
• backbone problems;
• lower back pain;
• stress and overexertion;
• disturbances in the functions of the circulatory system.

A visit to the masseur's office eliminates these problems. Procedures eliminate muscle tension and fatigue, cheer up. They also prevent the formation of stretch marks on the skin.

Although massage is useful, it is advisable to consult a specialist about its implementation. This will eliminate harm to the body of the pregnant woman and the baby. Beneficial types of massage are described below.

General massage

Is it possible to do this type of massage during pregnancy? Hisshould only be done by a professional. From the 4th month of pregnancy, you can stretch your arms, legs, back, neck, shoulders and other parts of the body, which will prevent pain, swelling, and improve blood circulation.

During the session, endorphins are produced - hormones of happiness that charge a woman with euphoria and lightness, eliminate stress and anxiety. It is advisable to perform the procedure for half an hour once a week. From the 3rd trimester, doctors usually allow them to be performed daily, if there are no contraindications.

The general massage differs from the classic one, because the second procedure involves harder touches. Body warm-up is performed according to its own rules:

1. The main massage areas include legs, arms, shoulders, neck, back.
2. Requires minor kneading, rubbing, stroking.
3. It is important that the movements are soft, careful, especially in the area of the sacrum and lower back. Pressing and sharp impacts are prohibited.
4. You can massage everything except the stomach.
5. Lymphatic drainage is used to protect against swelling of the hands and feet.
6. The back is massaged only on the side.

Procedures must be performed by a professional who has experience working with pregnant women. On the body of women there are "aborting" parts: on the hands of the base of the thumbs, heels, sacrum and coccyx, Achilles tendon. With an illiterate impact on them, this will negatively affect pregnancy.

Back

During pregnancy, the growth of the abdomen and breasts increases the load on the spine. It bends, the center of gravity shifts. And the muscles are tense. CanIs it possible to do a back massage during pregnancy? Acupressure is allowed to make you feel better. But it must be done carefully. At all stages of pregnancy, the massaging technique changes.

If at 4 months you can lie on your stomach, then at 7 months you will have to lie on your side. During the session, only the muscles of the back are massaged - the spine should not be touched. First, the specialist performs stroking, then rubbing, and then kneading.

Is it possible to massage the lower back during pregnancy? This procedure facilitates the course of pregnancy. Whether it is allowed or not is up to the doctor to decide.

The whole procedure should be followed by the feelings of the pregnant woman. The absence of inconvenience and discomfort, as well as pain, is important. During the session, the specialist stimulates the lumbar region to eliminate tension.

Is it possible to do neck massage during pregnancy? This procedure is useful because it relieves tension in the cervical spine. Not only a specialist can perform sessions. The main thing is that the movements are smooth, effortless.

Legs

Is it possible to do foot massage during pregnancy? Professional procedures can alleviate the condition. It is necessary to perform the procedures regularly, since during pregnancy the main load will be on the legs. During the entire period, blood circulation worsens in the legs, which causes cramps, swelling and swelling.

Knead your legs one by one. First, strokes are performed from the knee to the thigh up. Circular rubbing is done in the same direction. The warm-up of the calf muscles should be done with the thumb in a circle, without touching the fossa with the knee. The ankle is taken with one hand, and the foot is rotated in different directions with the free hand. The fingers are kneaded separately. The session ends with a uniform stroke.

Belly

Is it possible to massage the abdomen during pregnancy? It is allowed, but very carefully. Its purpose is to reduce skin stretch marks. Procedures can reduce the risk of fetal loss and improve the condition of the reproductive system. Professional massage sessions can strengthen the ligaments and muscles around the uterus, simplify the last months of pregnancy.

Procedures improve the condition of the placenta, providing the baby with the supply of nutrients. According to gynecologists, after such a massage, flatulence, indigestion and constipation are eliminated. It should be done with light strokes clockwise.

Chest

Is it possible to do breast massage during pregnancy? This is a great preparation for breastfeeding your baby. This procedure should be performed for about 20 minutes a day.

Circular strokes are performed from the mammary gland to the nipples. The procedures improve metabolism, normalize blood circulation, and breast skin does not lose elasticity during 9 months, which are difficult for the body.

Anti-cellulite

Cellulite is a change in the structure of fatty tissue in the thighs, buttocks, legs. It occurs when the skin loses elasticity, which gradually leads to fibrous dense subcutaneous nodules that visually make the skin bumpy.

Is it possible to do anti-cellulite massage during pregnancy? This procedure will be useful for the prevention of cellulite. Massage should be from the limbs to the body, moving in the direction of the lymphatic tract. If there are varicose veins on the legs, then these zones are not affected.

The skin is squeezed with 2 palms so that a triangle is obtained, and then with the thumb from the center of the triangle it is smoothed towards the other fingers. This improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. Excess fluid is also being removed.

Face

Is it possible to do facial massage during pregnancy? This procedure is not prohibited and useful. You can perform it yourself to relax the muscles of the face, restore skin elasticity, and eliminate headaches. It is important not to overdo it with cosmetics.

Vacuum

Massage with a vacuum - a procedure to combat cellulite. It is performed only in a beauty salon in a specially equipped room using vacuum devices. During pregnancy, it is used on problem areas - thighs, buttocks, and only with the permission of a gynecologist.

The procedure consists in treating the problem area with oil. Then, using a vacuum device, the suction cups stick to the skin. Over time, the apparatus is displaced, performing a deep effect on the subcutaneous tissue. Due to the vacuum, the skin is drawn into the suction cups, which improves blood circulation. This reduces the risk of cellulite, improves overall skin condition.

Canned

This massage should be done with caution during pregnancy. If it is carried out incorrectly, it can lead to bruising and asterisks. These procedures improve tissue metabolism, train lymphatic and blood vessels, reduce swelling.

The procedure is the same as with the vacuum one, only ordinary cans are used, which are also effective. During the session, women should not feel pain. If there is reddening of the skin, then the compression force of the can is reduced. Banks move in different directions: in a spiral, straight, in the form of a figure eight, zigzag, in a circle.

Poses

Pregnant women in their last months cannot take traditional positions. But massage is a relaxing procedure, so they need to take a position in which the massage movements are calm, relaxed and effective.

Before the session, you need to create a relaxing atmosphere with an aroma lamp and calm music. Suitable postures include:

1. The woman is placed on her back and leans on pillows.
2. In recent months, it is difficult to lie on your back for a long time. Therefore, it is desirable to sit comfortably on the side when 1 leg rests on the pillow in a bent state.
3. It is allowed to sit on your heels. To do this, the knees are apart, the hands are folded on the hips, and the back is left straight.
4. You can sit on a chair. The legs are left bent and the feet touch each other.

With these postures, massage procedures will be very useful. It is recommended to follow proceduresfrom a specialist who knows all the nuances of these sessions.

Contraindications

Gynecologists may prohibit massage. Normally procedures cannot be performed when:

• toxicosis;
• epilepsy;
• high pressure;
• tumors;
• skin ailments;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• exacerbation of chronic ailments;
• severe back pain;
• varicose veins;
• infectious diseases;
• threatened miscarriage;
• high temperature.

It is forbidden to massage at the beginning of pregnancy. Massaging the abdomen is not performed until 4 months and at any time if there have been strong hormonal or physical changes in the woman's body.

In other cases, doctors advise to perform massage from the 3rd trimester. Usually prescribed from 2 sessions per week. Before childbirth, it is useful to massage the abdomen and perineum to activate labor.