Pregnancy Massage

Expecting a little one sometime soon? Wonderful! But along with that little bundle of joy comes some aches and pains that you may be unfamiliar with. Pacific Bay Health has you covered with licensed massage therapists trained in administering pregnancy massage.

Also known as a prenatal massage, pregnancy massage is adapted for the anatomical changes you go through during pregnancy. In a traditional massage, half your time might be spent lying face up, while the other half of the time you’re lying face-down on your stomach. That isn’t the case with a pregnancy massage. As your shape and body changes, a trained massage therapist makes accommodations with different positions and special support pillows and cushions.

A variety of massage techniques, such as deep-tissue and Swedish, are used during a pregnancy massage to alleviate discomfort in the body. This is accomplished by utilizing safe body positioning and mild pressure applied to the body’s muscle groups. Some of the problems that massage can assist with are swollen limbs, inflamed joints, back pain, insomnia, and increased anxiety.

Studies over the years have indicated that hormone levels associated with stress are significantly reduced when massage therapy is incorporated into prenatal care. This can help regulate moods and increase overall cardiovascular health while also increasing levels of dopamine and serotonin.

As a general rule of safety, please consult with your obstetrician before beginning any new therapeutic practices.