Where NOT to Massage during pregnancy?

Ah yes, a massage. One of the simpler pleasures of life. From a quick kneading on your shoulder to a full-on body massage, a massage never fails to help you relax and make your day a little bit better. Be it an injury, tense muscles or just plain stress, a massage is the way to go.

Now that you’re pregnant, things are a little bit different than when you were not carrying a human within you. While it is fine – even encouraged – for you to get a massage when you’re pregnant, there are some parts of your body that you must avoid massaging, especially if you are doing it on your own or you ask someone who is not qualified to perform a prenatal massage. Naturally, this leads to myths about what you can or cannot massage when pregnant.

 Feet

Ever been tickled on your feet? I bet you couldn’t handle it for more than a few seconds. That’s because your feet are really sensitive. Now that pregnancy is upon you, your senses are heightened as a way for your body to better protect itself and the baby better. That is all fine and well, but there are some downsides to this. Certain parts of your feet and lower legs become “switches” during pregnancy, being able to trigger reactions regarding your pregnancy. The 3 spots on the legs to be avoided are: the reflexology areas around the ankles, SP6 acupressure point, urinary bladder 60, and urinary bladder 67.

The reflexology areas around the ankles are thought to be directly connected to the uterus and ovaries. The SP6 acupressure point also controls the muscles in the lower abdomen. The urinary bladder 60 and urinary bladder 67 points, which are located in between the achilles tendon and heel, and on the baby toe respectively, also can induce labor if too much pressure is applied, according to acupuncture. However, this has been debunked as a myth, and it is known that massages on these spots do not cause any induced labour.

Hands

Yeah, massaging your hands is also highly discouraged during pregnancy. See that meaty strip of flesh in between your thumb and index finger? That’s a no-go zone for the masseuse. Also known as the Hegu, massaging this area can and very likely will cause contractions. Other than that, the wrist also presents a risky part for massages. While an experienced masseuse can massage that part and relieve insomnia, morning sickness, and also to help regulate your heartbeats. And that is yet another myth. Truth is, the points of the hands affect labour just as much as the feet. They do not.

The body 

Also known as the trunk, the body is where your baby is now a tenant for about 9 months, without paying any rent. This is probably the most sensitive part of your body now. The lower trunk is the part that you’re going to want the masseuse to avoid unless they are specifically trained for prenatal massages and know of your conditions extensively. That is literally your baby’s room. Ground zero. That said, when done properly, a good prenatal massage on your trunk and abdomen can help a lot. Just remember to not cut any corner or take unnecessary risks. Especially regarding you and your soon-to-be-born baby!

Knowing is half the battle done. Since you now know what NOT to do, it is time to do what you should! If you want a pre pregnancy massage without any worries about negative effects, try doing it with the professionals at Postnatal Massage Singapore!