Why Prenatal Massage Therapy?

Changes during pregnancy span the physiological, structural, functional, psychological, social, and spiritual realms. While pregnancy is a welcome blessing for most, it can bring with it apprehension as well. Massage therapy can help a woman approach her due date with less of this anxiety, and less physical discomfort too. Profound local and systemic changes in a woman's physiology occur as a result of conception and the process of labor. To provide for fetal needs, the circulatory system adapts in numerous ways. Resulting discomforts, such as edema, varicose veins, and complications including high blood pressure can occur. Hormonal changes provoke indigestion, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting in some women. Rapid, shallow, upper chest breathing develops as the growing uterus restricts diaphragm excursion and her pectoral girdle shifts more anterior. This restricted breathing can lead to physical discomforts and can interfere with attempts to counteract stressful stimulation with ...  more