London Chiropractic & Massage – Prenatal massage in London, Ontario can provide expectant mothers with much-needed comfort and relief during pregnancy. This article will explore the many benefits of massage therapy for pregnant women and how treatments at our clinic can support women through the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy. Keep reading to learn how prenatal massage can reduce stress, ease aches and pains, improve sleep, and more for mothers-to-be in London and surrounding areas.
Prenatal massage is a specialized form of therapeutic massage designed specifically to nurture and support women throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery. Regular massage treatments during pregnancy can provide profound comfort by easing many common symptoms and discomforts associated with pregnancy. Prenatal massage primarily aims to:
In short, prenatal massage can support the overall wellness of expectant mothers both physically and emotionally as their bodies go through tremendous change while growing a new life.
As an expectant mother, your body is working hard to nurture and accommodate your growing baby. This incredible process places increased demands on your musculoskeletal system as well as your emotional state. Your body produces hormones such as relaxin that soften ligaments and joints in preparation for delivery. Weight gain, a shifting center of gravity, and enlarged breasts all contribute to postural adaptations and strain. Common pregnancy discomforts like back pain, sciatica, swelling, insomnia, headaches and many more can result.
A prenatal massage therapist understands these unique challenges of pregnancy and how to safely provide comfort through massage. Techniques are tailored to ease muscle tension, joint pain, promote relaxation and support your changing needs throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Prenatal massage can be beneficial throughout pregnancy. Many women find regular massage most helpful starting in the second trimester when common aches and pains become more pronounced. However, treatments can provide comfort starting in the first trimester as well.
Most experts recommend weekly or bi-weekly 60-90 minute massage sessions to gain the full benefits. Always communicate with your prenatal massage therapist and doctor about what is appropriate for your unique needs and pregnancy stage.
Here are some general guidelines on scheduling prenatal massage:
First trimester (0-13 weeks): Massage even just once monthly can bring relief from morning sickness, fatigue, headaches and changing body. Allow extra padding and position changes as your body adapts early on.
Second trimester (14-26 weeks): This is often when the most profound benefits emerge. Typical schedule is 60-90 min bi-weekly or weekly sessions. Muscle pain and other common symptoms are often noticeable by now.
Third trimester (27-40 weeks): Weekly massage helps alleviate late pregnancy discomforts like sciatica, swelling, back/hip pain, cramping, insomnia and anxiety near due date. Frequency can be increased as desired and tolerated.
Postpartum period: Gentle massage aids C-section recovery, encourages breast milk production, helps re-tone abdominal muscles and provides comfort during the transition into motherhood.
Always communicate with your massage therapist so they can adapt the massage techniques, positioning and duration to safely accommodate your unique changing needs throughout pregnancy. More frequent treatments may be beneficial if approved by your care provider.
There are many evidence-based benefits to incorporating prenatal massage into your self-care routine while pregnant. Here are some of the top benefits reported by expecting mothers who receive regular treatments:
The hormonal fluctuations, physical discomforts, worries about labor and delivery, and anticipation of life changes that accompany pregnancy can all heighten stress and emotional unease. Receiving regular massages provides comforting touch along with focused time to relax and turn inward. This has a profound calming influence to help expecting mothers restore a sense of peace and manage stress.
As the baby grows and pregnant women’s bodies change, pain often results from compensating posture, shifting weight, and added strain to the back and hips. Relaxin also loosens joints and ligaments. Massage techniques applied to the lower back, hips, neck, legs and other problem areas bring localized relief by targeting tense muscles, reducing inflammation, improving mobility and releasing endorphins.
The discomforts and frequent bathroom trips that often disrupt sleep for pregnant women can be exacerbated by high cortisol levels and anxious thoughts cycling through the mind. Receiving regular massage helps the body physically relax and turn off the stress response. This equates to improved sleep quality with longer, deeper REM cycles so essential for health and energy levels.
Massage techniques enhance circulation of blood and lymph fluid which strengthens the immune response and carries away pathogens, cellular debris and waste products. This purification safeguards the health of both mother and developing baby. Expectant mothers often report fewer colds and illnesses during pregnancies when receiving frequent therapeutic massage.
As pregnancy progresses, regular massage gradually prepares the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints for the upcoming demands of labor and delivery. Gentle stretching opens areas like the pelvic floor muscles, rotator cuff, thighs and hips to enhance range of motion and elasticity to handle the physical requirements late in pregnancy and during birth.
It is common for pregnant women to experience swelling or edema in the hands, feet, legs and ankles particularly in the last trimester. This is caused by increased blood volume and high progesterone levels. Massage helps fluid return to the lymph system rather than pool in tissues through lymphatic drainage techniques, tissue mobilization and lighter strokes that stimulate circulation.
Pregnancy involves an incredible spectrum of emotions from hope to fear, joy to anxiety, excitement to grief that can feel overwhelming. The quiet focused time during massage sessions allows expectant mothers to turn inward, experience present moment awareness, and process this flood of feelings. The therapeutic power of compassionate human touch during massage engenders comfort and supports emotional wellbeing.
As due date approaches, massage techniques focus on opening and relaxing the pelvic floor, hip rotators, inner thighs and lower back. This limbers the soon-to-be-strained tissues for delivery while releasing tight fascia in childbirth-critical areas. Receiving massage in late pregnancy also releases endorphins and oxytocin to help manage labor pains.
Gentle massage in the postnatal period helps realign the body after birth, accelerates healing, reduces painful cramping and restores muscle tone. For mothers who choose to breastfeed, massage promotes milk production and can help relieve engorged breasts. The relaxing effects help counter postpartum fatigue and emotional volatility.
In summary, prenatal massage confers a host of benefits for expecting mothers from alleviating aches and pains to reducing stress and preparing for childbirth. Incorporating regular massage into prenatal care routines supports women through the physical and emotional journey of pregnancy and childbearing.
For most women, massage during pregnancy is completely safe when performed by a trained prenatal massage therapist. However, there are some circumstances when massage may not be recommended.
You should avoid massage if you have any of the following conditions:
Always communicate with both your doctor and massage therapist so they can assess any contraindications or precautions needed. Most therapists can modify techniques to accommodate pregnancy discomforts and ensure your safety.
Here are some other important precautions:
With proper precautions, assessment of risk factors and modifications, most pregnant women can safely relax, restore and reap the benefits of prenatal massage. Close communication with your massage therapist and healthcare provider ensures proper guidance is followed.
An experienced prenatal massage therapist will tailor the massage to address your unique aches, pains and problem areas safely. However, common areas of focus include:
Lower back: To relieve muscular pain and strain from compensation of shifted posture and center of gravity. As pregnancy progresses, the growing baby shifts the mother’s center of gravity and places increased strain on the spine and pelvis often resulting in low back pain. Massage here eases muscle tension, pain and spasms.
Hips: To alleviate tension and soreness from relaxin hormone loosening the sacroiliac joints. Targeting the hips and SI joints helps regain mobility, reduces pain in this high strain area, and prepares the hip flexors for labor.
Legs: To reduce swelling, cramping and heaviness, while boosting circulation. Pregnancy hormones often cause fluid retention and swelling especially in the legs and feet. Drainage massage techniques stimulate healthy circulation and lymphatic flow to relieve this discomfort.
Neck & shoulders: To ease headache, tension and poor posture associated with breast enlargement and abdominal changes. Massage gentle mobilizes the neck, upper back and shoulder muscles strained by pregnancy-related postural adaptations and added weight up front.
Feet: To stimulate reflexology points connected to pelvis and reproductive organs. Massaging reflex zones on the feet correlates to massage on reproductive areas you cannot directly touch while pregnant. The pressure sends signals to relax and bring circulation to the uterus and surrounding tissues.
Head/scalp: To reduce stress, tension headaches and promote relaxation. Pregnancy headaches are often caused by hormonal fluctuations, neck strain, stress or lack of sleep. Massaging the scalp, face and head areas brings relief by releasing endorphins, easing muscle tension and enhancing relaxation.
Hands & Arms: To reduce swelling, carpal tunnel and discomfort in these overused areas during pregnancy and new motherhood. Massage boosts fluid drainage and counteracts repetitive gripping, lifting and holding.
Adjustments are made as the belly grows larger and Mom’s positioning needs change. Lying safely and comfortably on the massage table becomes progressively more challenging.
There are a variety of massage techniques that can be incorporated safely during pregnancy depending on your changing needs. Common techniques include:
Swedish massage is often a foundational technique in prenatal massage. The warming strokes enhance circulation, loosen muscles and promote a calm state while safely working around a growing belly. Expect lighter pressure strokes tailored to your comfort levels.
Deep tissue can be incorporated carefully where needed to address individual areas of strain and chronic holding patterns. However, forceful deep pressure over the abdomen should be avoided. Your therapist will gauge depth based on your feedback and pregnancy stage.
Trigger points develop where muscles have shortened and tightened creating tender knots. These are common in the shoulders, neck and back during pregnancy. Targeted pressure on trigger points brings tremendous relief.
Your therapist may gently compress and release knotted muscles using neuromuscular techniques if appropriate. This deep work targets chronic holding patterns and can help rebalance posture. Feedback determines safe depth.
This technique doesn’t require deep pressure, making it very pregnancy-friendly. Myofascial release helps loosen restrictive fascial adhesions caused by growing belly, postural shifts and bodily strain. The sustained compression gently stretches and hydrates fascia.
The subtle pumping motions of lymphatic drainage massage gently stimulate fluid movement through the lymphatic vessels. This reduces swelling in places like the hands, feet and legs. Precise rhythm and direction is used to aid drainage and filtration.
The ultra-light touch in craniosacral therapy accesses the craniosacral system with little to no pressure. This assists with tension, pain, nausea and other prenatal symptoms without deep movements.
Reflexology applied to the feet, especially targeting the reproductive reflex zones, sends signals of ease and blood flow to the uterus without any direct contact. The additional relaxation benefits counter stress.
Expect sessions to be slower-paced, more gentle and avoid deep abdominal pressure. You will spend time on your side or using specially designed pregnancy cushions and bolsters to ensure comfort and safety. Communication with your therapist is key so they can accommodate your evolving needs and sensitivities.
At our multidisciplinary clinic, we are pleased to offer therapeutic massage tailored specifically for expectant mothers. Our registered massage therapists receive specialized training in prenatal techniques to safely nurture and support women through every stage of pregnancy into postpartum. Check out more on Busting Chiropractic Myths in this blog post!
We provide a calming, supportive environment where you can relax and receive focused care to help you feel your best during this miraculous time. Our therapists will listen attentively and adjust massage pressure and positioning as your pregnancy progresses. Your comfort, health and safety are our top priorities.
Here’s what sets our prenatal massage services apart:
Specialized tables with cutouts to safely accommodate growing bellies in prone and side-lying positions. We utilize supportive bolsters, cushions and padding for optimal comfort.
Advanced training and extensive experience performing prenatal massage adapting to all pregnancy stages and common discomforts. We tailor the massage precisely to your needs.
Ongoing communication and check-ins during sessions to adjust pressure, depth and techniques based on your feedback and changing pregnancy stage.
Highly skilled in safely incorporating deep tissue, neuromuscular, trigger point, and myofascial techniques when appropriate to provide targeted relief without abdominal pressure.
Warm, compassionate therapists who understand the emotional spectrum and sensitivities of pregnancy. We create an affirming environment.
Optional add-on enhancements like aromatherapy, hot towels, or heat packs for hands and feet to promote deeper relaxation.
Seamless coordination alongside our chiropractors, physiotherapists and other on-site practitioners to develop integrated care plans that support you through pregnancy and postpartum.
In addition to massage, we also provide integrated services such as chiropractic care, orthotics, physiotherapy (including Shockwave Therapy, learn more in this blog post)and more to comprehensively support women’s health and wellness during pregnancy. Our collaborative approach addresses body, mind and spirit through therapeutic touch, patient education and holistic care.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the many comforts and proven benefits of prenatal massage. Please don’t hesitate to call, email or book an appointment online to learn more or schedule your first prenatal massage session. We are here to support you every step of your pregnancy journey.
The Reset’s London Chiropractic & Massage clinic offers a range of services including chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and manual therapy. These therapies are designed to improve your overall health and wellness.
The chiropractor in London is Dr. Eric Jackson. He has over 40 years of experience in the field and is dedicated to helping patients improve their health and well-being through chiropractic care.
Chiropractic and massage therapy can provide several benefits. They help relieve pain, improve flexibility, enhance blood circulation, reduce muscle tension, and promote overall relaxation. These therapies can also help in the recovery from injuries and improve the body’s natural healing process.
Chiropractic and massage therapy can improve your health by addressing and correcting misalignments in the spine and promoting proper alignment. This helps ensure optimal functioning of the nervous system, which plays a vital role in overall wellness. By reducing pain and tension, these therapies can also contribute to improved sleep, reduced stress levels, and enhanced immune function.
BioFlex laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment method that utilizes low-level laser technology to stimulate healing at the cellular level. It is effective in managing pain, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue repair. This therapy can be used in conjunction with chiropractic and massage therapy to provide comprehensive care.
To request an appointment at Reset’s London Chiropractic & Massage clinic, you can call our office or book by clicking the link belo. Our friendly staff will be pleased to assist you and find a convenient time for your visit.
Chiropractic and massage therapy can benefit individuals of all ages, from children to seniors. The techniques and treatments can be modified to suit the specific needs of different age groups, ensuring a safe and effective approach to care.
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We are a wellness-based clinic that focuses on a thorough assessment to help determine the root-cause of your symptoms, to get you back to moving, living and feeling well. We can’t wait to meet you!
330 Pond Mills Road, Unit 102 London, Ontario N5Z 5A9
Monday — 8am-11:30am
Tuesday — 8am-12pm & 3pm-7pm
Wednesday — 9am-2pm
Thursday — 8am-11am & 3pm-7pm
Friday — 11am-5pm
Saturday — 8am-12pm
Phone: (519) 649-4046
Email: resetchiropractic@gmail.com
Reset Chiropractic & Rehab
We are a wellness-based clinic that focuses on a thorough assessment to help determine the root-cause of your symptoms, to get you back to moving, living and feeling well. We can’t wait to meet you!
330 Pond Mills Road, Unit 102 London, Ontario N5Z 5A9
Monday — 12PM - 7PM
Tuesday — 9AM - 7PM
Wednesday — 10AM - 7PM
Thursday — 9AM - 7PM
Friday — 9AM - 4PM
Saturday — 8AM - 2PM
Phone: (519) 649-4046
Email: resetchiropractic@gmail.com
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Welcome to Reset Chiropractic & Rehab! In addition to being an experienced London ON chiropractor, we are a holistic, multidisciplinary clinic in London, Ontario run by a husband and wife team, Dr. Arjun Bali and Dr. Jess Pileggi.
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