Is massage safe when you are pregnant?

I know the top priority for pregnant women is to keep the baby safe. With this in mind I want to start by stating there is no evidence that demonstrates

  • massage can induce labour
  • massage can cause miscarriages
  • massage creates complications

It is important to remember women’s bodies were designed to become pregnant and nuture a baby to full term.  Pregnancy is not an illness.  In addition pregnancy can’t be made worse by massage.  Muscles are still muscles, joints remain joints, nerves stay nerves. The effects of massage on muscles is the same if you are pregnant or not pregant.   It is common sense that the masseur ensure that the pregnant women is comfortable normally by lying them on their side and proping them up with cushions.

So in short massage is safe for pregnant women.

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