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Hi Christopher
Thanks for your reply! It confirmed what I thought.
I would like to ask what the contra-incdications of massage in prgenancy and why! I have found a number of things indicated, but none say why!
I would be most grateful for any help on this matter.
Many thanks,
Mike
AnswerYou are welcome, Mike. Massage is excellent for pregnant women. There are a few things to be aware of, though.
First it is important to understand what a woman's body goes through. One of the amazing things that happens is the increase in production of a hormone called relaxin. Its purpose is to loosen and relax the ligaments and tendons in the pelvic girdle to assist in the dilivery of the baby. This also loosens all the other ligaments and tendons in the rest of the body. This means that there should be no pulling, especially on the small joints of the fingers and toes. It also mean that the pressure needs to be lighter, to avoid possible injury to any of the joints in the body, like the rib-vertbral joints.
As many pregnant women find, pregnancy decreases their tolerence to heat. Virtually all of my expecting clients like a colder room, and I do not do hot stone or use hot towels for prenatal massage. Besides adding heat to an already warm body, heat can help loosen ligaments and tendons, leading to injury.
With the storm of hormones that a woman's body produces, this is not the time to be using essential oils. Most contain natural hormone-like compounds (like esters) that would add more stress to their bodies.
Because of both the increased weight of the baby in the front, and the weakening of the support system (the skeleton) because of the hormone relaxin, massage is great for their bodies. There are two typical places where they will feel pain: In between the scapulae, due to the enlarged breasts, and in the low back, due to the weight in the belly pulling forward. They must be put in side-lying position after the 4th month, usually. When they can no longer sleep on their stomach, that means that hte baby is to large to lie face down.
And one of the most important things: When they are on their backs, they need to be inclined, with their legs elevated. This will prevent the baby from laying on the vena cava, which makes the woman dizzy and sick to their stomachs.
Also, something I remembered about the skeletal system contraindicating massage. Osteoporosis contraindicates a lot of ROM exercises, especially with the neck. The bones could be too brittle, and that might cause some small fractures. In the neck, you can break off the pons, the small piece of bone on the first vetebrae the the skull rotates arouond, if you do ROM exercises with the neck.
Again, please let me know if there are any other questions I can help you with.
Sincerely,
Christopher
