Do Massage and Pregnancy Mix?

Suffering from backaches, stress, headaches, insomnia, leg cramps, varicose veins, and increasing blood pressure? Congratulations! You must be pregnant! Now all you want to do is get your rapidly changing body to a masseuse and have all that pain kneaded away, but old wives’ tales caution against any form of massage. So is prenatal massage safe? We asked two of the best obstetricians their expert opinion on this issue.  

 

Is massage for pregnant women safe?
Rebecca B. Singson, M.D., chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at St. Luke’s Global City, says yes but she follows that up immediately with a warning: “You shouldn’t have a prenatal massage with someone who isn’t trained to do it. Prenatal massage can be bad if not done well, but it can be very good.”

Florante Gonzaga, M.D., chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at The New Medical City, is just as cautious. “Gentle massages can be good for your aching back and legs. It should not affect or induce labor, but you never let anyone touch your lower abdomen.”

What benefits can I get from prenatal massage?
Both doctors agree that gentle massages can alleviate body pain, relieve cramps and muscle soreness, reduce stress, and promote relaxation thus helping ease insomnia, and even possibly lower blood pressure.

Dr. Singson adds, “It can help maintain skin elasticity and possibly help prevent stretch marks. Touch and pampering can also provide emotional support and physical nurturing, particularly for moms who feel so alone by the physical or emotional absence of the father. Plus, pampering enhances the self-esteem of a pregnant woman.”

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I’ve never been comfortable with other people touching me. How can I get the benefits without massages?
In his opinion, Dr. Gonzaga would rather you get out of your chair and exercise. “Massage can keep your muscles healthy. But I’d rather you do some walking. As long as you’re moving, it keeps the blood circulating. The usual exercise should do the same thing.”

Can a massage cause me to miscarry?
Only if your masseuse is a traditional hilot who puts hard pressure on the uterus to purposefully abort a fetus. Otherwise, there are no studies that support this theory. Still, Dr. Singson advises patients to only book a spa appointment “from 16 weeks onwards. There is a 10 percent chance of miscarriage with any pregnancy. If a woman has a massage early and she miscarries, the massage might be blamed even though it really doesn’t cause a miscarriage. As a general rule, it’s best to wait till after the 16th week so you’re sure the pregnancy is going to continue.”

Pregnancy bible What To Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff also suggests that it’s best to wait till after the first trimester but only because “it may trigger dizziness and add to morning sickness.” It also says to not worry if you have had a massage in the early weeks: “There’s no danger, just the potential for being uncomfortable.”

What kind of massage strokes should I expect?
Dr. Singson says that the key is to keep the strokes gentle. “Massage during pregnancy is done either with the patient lying down on her side on a massage table with pillows between her legs, or, if the table has a hole to accommodate her tummy, she can lie face down. Essentially, the strokes used are mostly effleurage - smooth gliding strokes along the skin using the palms - with no hacking or chopping movements.” The main purpose of the massage is to promote circulation and relaxation so hard pressure is not advised.

Should certain body parts be avoided?
There are three areas that should be avoided: the insides of your wrist, the space between your heel and anklebone, and your abdomen. Dr. Gonzaga repeats, “As long as you don’t touch the abdomen. As long as the massage is on the arms, the legs, the back, but never never the abdomen.” Dr. Singson says that the wrists and ankles are what midwives and some
ob-gynes press to stimulate labor for women past their due date.

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How about body oils used in massage? Are they safe?
If you love aromatherapy, now is the time to use your nose wisely. What To Expect When You’re Expecting says, “Because the effects of many plant oils in pregnancy are unknown and some may be harmful, approach any kind of aromatherapy with caution.”

These oils are considered safe: chamomile, jasmine, lavender, neroli, rose, tangerine and ylang-ylang. Other oils can trigger contractions. Worried about your peppermint foot scrub? No need to fret since the oils used for these lotions, shower gels, shampoos and other beauty products are
not concentrated.

Is massage beneficial for all pregnant women?
Not all pregnant women can benefit from massages. “A prenatal massage should be done only if you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy,”  he says.

Dr. Singson lists the following conditions as warning signs:
- A history of premature labor
- Signs of premature labor or threatened abortion
- Any evidence of a low implantation of the placenta
- An incompetent cervix or any other cervical dysfunction
- Gestational edema
- Proteinuria
- Eclampsia
- Gestational diabetes
- Multiple pregnancy
- Heart, liver, or renal disease
- Hypertension
- Rh factor incompatibility or genetic problems

Will my baby share any of the great benefits of massage?
Dr. Singson says your baby will appreciate a massage, too! “Massages improve the well-being of a pregnant woman, and remember that a happy, healthy mother will also likely yield a happy healthy baby.

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Pregnant? Book an appointment here!*

- Beautiful Mother-To-Be
Take your pick from gentle body scrubs, stretchmark prevention, and bust beauty care to facials that will prep your skin for the hormonal changes ahead. You’ll surely feel beautiful inside and out!
Cost: All treatments at P2,300 for 90 minutes   
Contact: Clarins Institut at Rustan’s Makati (817.8414).

- New Life Prenatal Massage
Find relief from the many discomforts of pregnancy with a soothing 60-minute massage or a two-hour pampering treatment.
Cost: Starts at P1,150 for 60 minutes
Contact: Neo Day Spa at Bonifacio Global City (815.8233); Greenhills (584.6789); Boracay (036.506.3131)

- Prenatal Massage Therapy
The therapists are trained by obstetricians so you can be assured you’re getting a safe massage. Better yet, ReBirth Spa is based in a hospital so you can drop by after a visit with your OB-Gyne. Its therapists can even go to the delivery room to help you during labor.
Cost: P750
Contact: Rebirth Spa at the Asian Hospital & Medical Center, Alabang (771.9206)

* Prices are subject to change

Tips to remember!
1. Always consult your OB-Gyne before getting a massage.
2. Always inform your therapist that you’re pregnant before starting any treatment.
3. Don’t fall asleep, so you can monitor if the strokes remain gentle and sensitive body parts are avoided.
4. If you start to feel unwell during a massage, stop immediately.

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Mommy Loves Massages!
“Starting on my fifth month, I called home service for massages. I had a massage almost every weekend! My legs were so tired from carrying our little bundle of joy. While I had reservations about getting a massage while pregnant, a lot of my mommy friends encouraged me to get one. They just reminded me not to get the ‘hard’ massage, not to lie down on my stomach, and to totally avoid the abdomen and uterus area. Do I recommend massages for pregnant women? Yes, of course!”
—Jane Kingsu-Cheng, writer, mom to Jared, 2 years old

“I had scalp and shoulder massages at The Spa during my second trimester. During my third trimester, I got a lot of back massages from my husband. We learned about these back massages from our birthing class. I heard from relatives and friends that a massage during pregnancy was a big no-no! This was contrary to what I learned from pregnancy books, which say you may have massages as long as they are from certified massage therapists for pregnant moms. Our birthing class also taught us the proper way for husbands to massage their pregnant wives - the tools to use and parts of the body to avoid. I just had to make sure I was getting it from the right people. I enjoyed getting massages from my husband the most. He had always expressed his desire to share with me all the joys and pains of pregnancy, and his massages were a great way to show me some lovin’!”
—Ichi Apostol, homemaker, mom to Joaquin, 1 year old

“I went to Neo Day Spa for 10 sessions throughout my whole pregnancy. I also went to a Chinese foot massage place right before giving birth - I think they pressed too hard on my foot that’s why I went into labor hours later! I really had no reservations about getting a massage because I knew I was in safe hands, with trained therapists. The only warning I got was to avoid the back of the foot. But, gosh, I needed those massages! I gained around 60 pounds for crying out loud! So, yes, I will advise other pregnant women to get a massage... but only by trained therapists, to be sure.”
—Monica Eleazar-Manzano, businesswoman

Photo from flickr creativecommons