One of the best things that you can do for yourself during pregnancy is to get a massage. A massage can help your circulation, and it can help keep your blood pressure in check. A massage can, in many cases, help to reduce your stress levels. The aches and pains that come with pregnancy can often be relieved with massage therapy, too. Massage therapy may be able to help out your joints that are weight-bearing and that tend to get strained while pregnant. For some women, getting a massage during therapy can help to deal with insomnia.
If you’re going to get massage therapy during pregnancy, however, there are some things that you should keep in mind. Getting massage therapy during pregnancy isn’t exactly the same as getting massage therapy when you’re not pregnant. Your anatomy is a bit different during this time, and so the massage therapist should be making some adjustments to the massage process.
If you’re thinking about getting massage therapy during pregnancy, there are some questions that you should ask the therapist first, such as:
- Has she worked with pregnant clients before?
- Has she received any special training for giving massage to pregnant women?
- How will she change and/or adapt your massage therapy now that you are pregnant?
The answers that she gives you to these questions will help you to decide whether or not you feel comfortable having her continue massage with you while you are pregnant.
In addition, keep in mind that some states or localities may license their massage therapists.  If this is the case in your area, you should be certain that your massage therapist not only is licensed, but meets any requirements that the licensing organization has for giving massage therapy to a woman who is pregnant.
As always, make sure you talk to your doctor about this or any other therapies and activities that you might wonder about in terms of safety.
