Thursday, 09 May 2013 14:13

Massage Therapy is Beneficial During Pregnancy

By Alison Keller, LMT | Families Today

It is beneficial to receive massage therapy during pregnancy to help support and maintain an overall balance in a woman’s constitution. This is so important for both the mother and baby. Properly applied massage technique for the legs during pregnancy is most important because it helps to keep the increased amount of fluids moving. 

All and any deep massage or swedish massage techniques are inappropriate because of the possibility of blood clots within the blood vessels of the leg becoming dislodged. But it is appropriate and important that the lymph system, including in the legs, be assisted in its function of moving the fluid and wastes throughout the body properly for good health and a healthy pregnancy. Properly applied light lymph drainage technique performed on a pregnant woman’s legs is the effective and safe technique to help relieve some of the increased lower extremity fluid retention. Keeping fluids moving throughout the legs is very important for a healthy pregnancy. 

During pregnancy there can be a significant amount of fluid retention in the lower extremities and for most women, this amount increases as the pregnancy progresses.  With this increase in fluid comes generalized feelings of tightness, fullness, stiffness and a decrease of mobility and movement within the joints. This most often produces general increases in body temperature that is normal during pregnancy due to the many changes in the hormones and heart, along with increases in blood volume, clotting factor and inner tissue fluid as a woman’s body prepares for childbirth. 

However, if there are localized areas of heat, redness or swelling, severe pain in the legs or any signs of pitting edema then a woman should call her doctor or health care provider who is monitoring her pregnancy immediately. This could indicate possible thrombosis or other serious conditions that may require medical intervention. 

Manual lymph drainage technique applied lightly will assist the movement of fluids within the legs without the risk of dislodging any blood clots within the veins. This is also the appropriate technique to be applied postpartum as well, for up to a minimum of three months because it takes time for a woman’s system to return to the pre-pregnancy levels of balance. Before any massage is applied during pregnancy the therapist should perform a check for pitting edema of the legs and any indications for possible contraindications for massage.

When it is determined that pitting edema is not present, then it is safe to work with the lymph drainage technique lightly on the legs so that relief of pressure and needed movement of fluid in the lower extremities can be achieved. It is important that a pregnant woman stay properly hydrated and maintain proper exercise, body positions and movement during pregnancy to support good circulation and fluid movement. Massage plays an important role during pregnancy by helping to reduce the risk of complications from fluid stagnation or blood clotting. A massage therapist that properly applies techniques to a pregnant woman’s legs will help maintain the important and necessary movement of fluids & circulation and relieve some of the uncomfortable feelings due to the normal changes that occur during pregnancy.

Read 5397 times

Blotter

  • Saratoga County Court  Kathleen M. Callanan, 62, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced to 1 year in local jail, after pleading to felony grand larceny.  Cassandra R. Barden, 38, homeless, was sentenced to 1-1/2 to 3 years incarceration after pleading to felony attempted assault, charged in Milton.  Ashley Vetrano, 35, of Glens Falls, pleaded to felony robbery, charged in Moreau. Sentencing May 23.  Gabrielle Montanye, 63, of Stillwater, was sentenced to 5 years probation, after pleading to felony attempted identity theft, charged in Ballston Spa.  Daniel J. Koenig, III, 53, of Round Lake, was sentenced to 2 to 4 years incarceration, after…

Property Transactions

  • BALLSTON Eastline Holdings LLC sold property at 12 Aspen Dr to Shaun Scott for $596,673 Sunmark Credit Union sold property at 15 17 & 19 Main St to Landmark Holdings 2023 LLC for $240,000 CORINTH Gary ONeil sold property at 115 Hollister Dr to Aaron Schips for $345,000 GREENFIELD Jeffrey Fuller sold property at 4 Lanie Dr to Jacob Brooks for $221,700 Bernice Moeller sold property at 395 North Creek Rd to Devin Vernon for $270,000 MALTA  Maureen Weise sold property at 13 Pepperbush Pl to Robert ONeill for $245,000 MECHANICVILLE Robert Murphy sold property at 406 Park Ave to…
  • NYPA
  • Saratoga County Chamber
  • BBB Accredited Business
  • Discover Saratoga
  • Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association