Studies show that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.

The Swedish Massage method is the recommended technique used because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.

Here are the top 3 benefits of Prenatal Massage:

Hormones are chemical messengers and sometimes, well, they can be quite challenging to manage, to say the least. However, studies indicate that when massage therapy is introduced to women’s prenatal care, hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered; leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health. Hormones associated with stress (norepinephrine and cortisol) were reduced, and hormones associated with happiness (dopamine and serotonin) were more prominent. These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight.

Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce the collection of fluids in swollen joints. This also improves the removal of tissue waste carried by the body’s lymph system.

Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves.

Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced a significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through massage.

You'll want to avoid massage during the first three months of pregnancy as it may trigger dizziness and add to morning sickness.

More importantly, the first trimester of pregnancy carries a much higher risk of miscarriage. Due to this it is generally recommended to avoid massage during the first trimester of pregnancy .