Treating Body Changes during Pregnancy with Massage

Treating Body Changes during Pregnancy with Massage - PNSG

Your baby constantly growing is great news, but it can take such a toll on your body – and not just in changing your weight and body shape.

Your hormones changing not only affects how you feel and causes you to react differently to things you once enjoyed (alcohol, cigarettes, or even your husband’s smell!), but they can change things physically too.

Here are other things you can expect to happen to your body and how to prepare yourself.

(Disclaimer: They’re not all bad!)

Stretch Marks

The change in your hormones softens the fibres of your skin, affecting the elasticity of your skin’s texture.

With your body stretching here and there, it is not uncommon to notice stretch marks at those places.

Hence, you will start to find stretch marks around your tummy, breast, and thighs around your second trimester.

That is your body adjusting to the growing foetus in you, so be happy! They might not disappear entirely after birth but gradually fade and become less noticeable.

What to Do 

There isn’t anything you can do to make it disappear, but there isn’t any reason you should too!

Stretch marks are not something to be ashamed of. They are unique to everyone’s body and skin complexion. It is a mark that symbolises the natural process your body goes through and what it carries (literally a human being), so if you must react to it, just be proud of your stretch marks!

That said, sometimes stretch marks can itch, so you should constantly apply cream or lotion.

Prevention also works great, so during pregnancy, you may constantly massage the area where stretch marks might appear to reduce their appearance.

Back Pain & Lower Hip Pain

You probably would not have a good posture as you progress, especially when reaching your third trimester. If you haven’t noticed, walk in front of a mirror and observe how you stand. You might find yourself arching backwards to counterbalance the weight of your baby, which is causing a considerable amount of stress on your back.

Though more obvious at the front, expanding the uterus can do something to your back. Throughout your pregnancy, you may experience back pain that gradually increases or that comes and goes. 

One of the main reasons could be the increasing weight of your uterus which can affect your posture and walk. Your muscles also tend to tense up, adding to the backache.

What to Do

Be careful not to fall and take a seat if you feel swaying when walking. Fortunately, there are various exercises you can practise during pregnancy to soothe the pain level.

You can practise stretches to relieve your back aches and prevent them from frequently occurring. Stretching your back, sides, and chest will prevent back pain, cramps, and joint aches.

Getting a massage is a highly viable option if you are not fit to stretch. Find a massage therapist that is skilled and trained to perform a prenatal massage, as this condition can worsen as your baby gradually moves down into your pelvis with their head pressing on your lower back. Your massage therapist will focus on your spine, massaging it to soothe muscle tension.

On your lower back, the massage improves your misaligned pelvis, reducing the natural back pain from pregnancy. Your back pain will be relieved by reducing stress on your back and lower hip area caused by the load of your baby bump.

This massage also helps you correct your posture and adjust to a changing alignment.

Pregnancy Boobs

Good news; your breasts are looking fuller! The bad news is that you might enjoy this phenomenon less than you previously thought.

It happens because your milk ducts are enlarged to store the milk and prepare themselves for breastfeeding and lactation. Changes to this particular body part may appear a few weeks after conception before you notice your period is ‘late’.

This is why the discomfort you may feel in your breasts is noted as one of the early signs of pregnancy. Your breasts could feel tender and swollen. This is a good change because it usually happens before your other body parts show noticeable changes.

Generally, you just have to let it be as it is the production and storing of milk taking place for your soon-to-arrive baby. Once you are several months in, your heavy breasts might cause slight discomfort as gravity does its job.

What to Do

Put on a full-coverage supportive bra (as a pressure bandage) and a nicely fitted, not-too-tight top. Make sure not to place too much force or pressure against your breast, as they are extra sensitive during this time.

You can lightly apply cold compresses like ice packs on them. Although quite contradictory, you can also get into warm showers to relieve the tense muscles.

Getting a pregnancy massage (on other body parts) can help ease the pain due to improved blood stimulation. If it gets to the point where you feel pain, refer to your doctor for medical solutions. 

Swollen Body Parts

Did you know that the increasing weight of the baby does not cause approximately 25% of your pregnancy weight gain in you?

This weight gain is caused by fluid or water retention. Some even refer to it as water weight.

Some of your body parts, like hands, face, legs, ankles, and feet, start to swell up and increase in size around your second and third trimesters.

Fret not when this happens, as it is just a way of softening your body to prepare a home for the baby to develop.

Once you have given birth, you can lose this undue weight gain and obtain your pre-pregnancy shape back – probably a better shape since you will gain wider hips that can make your body curvier, which is something often desired by many.

What to Do

If you want to maintain your body weight and shape during pregnancy, you can watch your diet and practise exercises like yoga.

Suppose you have always done a particular exercise regularly before pregnancy; you may continue doing so if it does not overexert or put too much strain on your body.

For your feet, try to use them less (i.e. rest your feet more). You may notice your ankles looking more swollen than the rest of your feet, and that is due to your whole body weight being placed on them. Put on comfy footwear that has a slight heel on them.

Again, a massage can also benefit your body tremendously. Massage your legs starting from the feet, moving up toward your knees. You might also find your fingers expanding and your rings beginning to feel tight.

You can firmly (not forcefully that it hurts) press the nails and bases of your fingers. If you do not feel fit to do too much movement, you can consider getting a prenatal massage to avoid complications. Massaging your swollen body parts like legs and arms can treat water retention. It relieves your strained muscles and, in turn, improves blood circulation, which helps eliminate excess fluid, strengthening your strained muscles and treating your pregnancy swellings. It requires minimal effort, and you can relax throughout the process.

Pregnancy Stress & Headache

It is usual for pregnant women to have strained shoulders and necks along with their headaches. Due to the increase in hormonal production, you might also experience declining sleeping quality. 

What to Do

During pregnancy, rest is vital to a healthy mind and body; get enough sleep in the first and third trimesters when exhaustion can hit. However, it’s also important not to oversleep as excessive shut-eye can leave you feeling groggy or with headache pain.

If you’re stuck indoors, try getting some fresh air every few hours – even opening a window helps!

Massage therapy is famously known for providing relaxation and reducing anxiety. A relaxing massage therapy will lower stress hormones, reducing stress and giving the mom a calmer pregnancy experience. A pregnancy massage will effectively reduce the chances of migraines and tension headaches throughout your pregnancy.

Pregnancy Cramps

We understand how pregnancy cramps can mess with your daily routine, including your sleep. Cramps usually are related to circulatory changes and pressure on the nerves in your legs due to the pelvis pressing on your lower back. Cramps typically happen during the second and third trimesters. 

What to Do

Experiencing leg cramps during pregnancy can be uncomfortable and disrupt sleep. Try taking a few moments each night to stretch your feet, wear compression stockings, or take breaks from sitting or standing for long periods.

You can also opt for a prenatal massage to help release muscle knots, thus improving blood circulation and soothing inflamed nerves. Through prenatal massage, the muscle tension will lessen, reducing your cramps. It can relieve muscle aches and joint pains.

If you have difficulty falling asleep due to this issue, a massage will promote better sleep, ensuring sufficient sleep during pregnancy. Concerning its safety, doctors and modern medical practitioners have widely approved prenatal massage.

Typically, your massage therapist will avoid massaging your abdomen, breast, and chest areas to ensure that the massage will not affect your baby’s position or cause any complications.

Closing words

Some of the issues you might encounter are not easily tackled, so embracing them is the next best thing to do. The most important thing is not to suppress your feelings and always make your loved ones know how you feel about the changes you are dealing with.

Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, and you deserve to enjoy every second of it, especially with some full-body pregnancy massage.

So, wait no further. Pick up your phone now, not to search for “pregnancy massage sg” but to swing by our homepage to view our prenatal massage packages that suit you today! So, prenatal foot massage soon? 

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