Prenatal massage is a wonderful way to help get you through your pregnancy. Mothers-to-be report lower stress and pain levels, improved sleep, better relaxation, and pain relief when receiving a massage while pregnant. In today’s blog from Emerge Medical & Well Spa, we look into a few prenatal massage techniques that can help you feel your best.

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Positioning

Prenatal massage can be performed with a woman lying on her back or side. She may even feel most comfortable sitting up. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable, the staff at Emerge Medical & Well Spa can adapt. Positioning often depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy, your comfort level, and what part of your body you want to be massaged.

Types of Massage

There are more than 80 types of massage, but not all of them are appropriate for a prenatal massage. Our massage therapists could recommend a deep tissue massage that presses into your muscles to alleviate your aching back or shoulders. Swedish massage, with its long strokes, helps with joint flexibility. Shiatsu uses pressure and tapping to stimulate your body’s natural relaxation response.

About the Legs

Our massage therapists take the utmost care of you and your baby during a prenatal massage. Pregnant women have a risk for blood clots in the legs during the third trimester. We typically avoid deep massage and strong pressure on the legs. Even if you feel pain and bloating in your legs and feet, we’ll try to alleviate your discomfort as much as possible with a light prenatal massage in those areas.

Consult With Your Doctor

We always want you to be in the best possible health before, during, and after you see us. Please consult with your doctor before getting a prenatal massage. Your doctor can advise you on what can and cannot be done based on your specific situation. Rest assured, our staff will follow your doctor’s guidelines.

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Prenatal Massage at Emerge Medical & Well Spa

Emerge Medical & Well Spa in Tulsa wants you to be happy and healthy during all stages of your pregnancy. Talk to us about a prenatal massage today for stress relief and relaxation before you become a new mom. Contact Emerge Tulsa or call (918) 392-8606 for more information.

What to Expect From a Prenatal Massage

Pregnancy is not always a joyful experience. In fact, most expecting mothers are likely to experience some discomfort, back pain, trouble sleeping, and general fatigue. Luckily, receiving a prenatal massage from a skilled massage therapist can help alleviate some of those discomforts and make your pregnancy easier. If you are having a normal, healthy pregnancy, you can receive massages throughout the first, second, and third trimester.

Some expecting mothers are unsure if a prenatal massage is right for them or the baby. To ease some of those anxieties, Emerge Medical & Well Spa in Tulsa discusses a couple of things you can expect from the experience.

#1. Personalized Attention

Personalized attention is one of the main focal points of a prenatal massage. The massage therapist understands that you may be experiencing a range of discomfort, so they work with you to provide personalized care. Before the massage, your massage therapist will ask you a few preliminary questions about your pregnancy, health history, and lifestyle. During this time, you can tell them about any pain or discomfort you are experiencing. If you are experiencing back pain or some soreness in the feet, let them know so they can focus the massage to meet your needs.  

#2.  Relaxation

Your body and mind feel at ease when you receive a prenatal massage. Through the power of touch, your muscles will relax and the level of stress hormones in your body will decrease. To improve your relaxation, your massage therapist will play soothing music and create a tranquil atmosphere. After your massage, you will feel the benefits of this deep relaxation for days to come.

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#3. Reduced Swelling

The swelling of the hands and feet is a major discomfort that occurs during pregnancy. However, prenatal massages are shown to increase blood flow and reduce swelling, alleviating headaches and any pain you feel in your hands and feet.

#4. An Open Atmosphere

You should never feel embarrassed to talk to your massage therapist. If you ever feel uncomfortable or you have a particular area that is causing you pain, be sure to let them know. If you feel the need to get up, move around, or use the restroom, please let them know. This time is for you, so do whatever you can to get the most out of the experience.

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Prenatal Massages at Emerge Medical & Well Spa

Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Emerge Medical & Well Spa specializes in massages and body treatments, including prenatal massages. To schedule an appointment with a skilled massage therapist, contact us today at 918-392-8606!

Health Benefits of a Prenatal Massage

Pregnancy can be an exciting and hopeful time. If we are being honest, however, we can admit it is just as often a time of physical discomfort, emotional strain, and hormonal havoc. Luckily, the medical community has made huge leaps and bounds in addressing these difficulties of pregnancy.

With doctors now providing a regiment of prenatal vitamins and offering natural and other birthing options, we have come a long way from the dark ages when women were induced into “twilight sleep” before giving birth. Prenatal massage is just another step in the chain that focuses on mothers as more than just vehicles for their children but as people with needs that need to be met. Let’s take a look at the health benefits of a prenatal massage at Emerge Medical & Well Spa.

Relaxed Muscle Tension

Like all other forms of massage, prenatal massage relaxes your muscles. When you are pregnant, this does even more good than that easing-into-your-bones sensation we all love. Reduction of muscle tension frees up blood flow and can make it easier for you to carry the extra weight.

Decreases the Likelihood of Depression

Though most research focuses on postpartum depression, many women suffer from prenatal depression as well. We often want to tell our significant others to try putting on 30 pounds in 9 months while having something kick their organs around! Much of this stress comes from physical discomfort, yes, but much of it also comes from hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy.

A massage can help reduce stress and actually increase certain positive hormones. In studies focusing on prenatal massages, researchers found that mothers’ cortisol and norepinephrine levels decreased while their dopamine and serotonin levels increased. Serotonin, as a mood stabilizer, will help keep you even-keeled. Dopamine, on the other hand, is related to your reward center, and it can flood you with those feel-good feelings after a massage. Cortisol and norepinephrine, however, relate to stress, and their reduction can only mean a good thing.

Reduced Chance of Complications During Labor

Giving birth is never easy, but some of us do have it easier than others. All prenatal care is about balancing your health with the health of your child. Typically these things go hand in hand, and that’s true with prenatal massages. The change in hormone levels has been known to decrease the chance of complications during labor, helping protect both you and your child.

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Get a Prenatal Massage at Emerge Medical & Well Spa

At Emerge Medical & Well Spa, we have highly trained and experienced massage therapists who know exactly how to help you relax. Contact Emerge Medical & Well Spa today to get the massage you deserve.