Body Massage

Massaging the body during pregnancy should be done with more care than the massage that is general done for normal persons. When a woman becomes pregnant and when the child grows inside the stomach, the centre of gravity of the body changes. Due to this, women undergo more strain on the abdominal muscles, the legs, the back, the shoulders, and the neck. This leads to the development of ache in lower back and the legs. It is normal for pregnant woman develop certain ailments such as persistent nausea, aching legs, backache, edema or swelling, and varicose veins.

Such ailments could be successfully treated by massaging the skin with special ‘pregnancy oils’ (a good example here) , which are a blend of extracts from essential oils with natural organic oils. Such oils keep in the skin supple and soft through pregnancy. It is important to ensure that ‘pregnancy oils’ do not contain chemicals and other ingredients that could harm the skin, the muscles, and the growing child.

Pregnancy oil massage offers the following benefits:

• Pregnancy oil massage eliminates waste products such as lactic acid and other similar cellular waste by energizing the circulatory and lymphatic systems, reducing fatigue and enhancing energy
• Removes stiffness, tightening, cramping, tension, and muscle knots.
• Through proper massaging, the load on the heart could be eased and the blood pressure kept in check
• Relieves several prenatal discomforts such as leg cramps, stiff neck, backaches, edema, swollen or sore feet and ankles, and headaches.
• Stimulates secretion of glands to stabilize hormone levels in the body
• Relaxes nervous tension and providing a soothing effect to induce good sleep
• When loose muscles are toned up and tense muscles get unwound, the muscular flexibility is enhanced. This is particularly useful in the later stages of pregnancy.

Several books on pregnancy are available in bookstores and on the Internet that provide valuable advice on several aspects of pregnancy. However, very few books highlight the benefits of a proper pregnancy oil massage. One good book on this subject is Nurturing Massage for Pregnancy: A Practical Guide to Bodywork for the Perinatal Cycle By Leslie Stager.