So massage is safe for pregnant women, but is it effective?

Autumn babies are more likely to suffer from learning difficulties.  This is probably because their mothers levels of Vitamin D were at their lowest when they were conceived researches believe. In fact, there could be around 11% fewer cases of autism, dyslexia and other learning problems if mother's levels of Vitamin D were higher according to researchers from the University of Glasgow. In an analysis of more that 800,000 Scottish school children during 2006 - 2011, they discovered that 8.9% of children conceived between January and March when vitamin D levels are most likely at their lowest - had learning difficulties compared with 7.6% of children conceived between July and September. While the researchers can't be certain, they believe maternal levels of vitamin D are the most plausible explanation, especially as the first three months after conception are vital for brain development - and other studies have shown just how important vitamin D is to the process. This research has created a change in public health policy, and all pregnant women are now advised to take Vitamin D supplements. Reference

DF Mackay, GCS Smith, A Cooper et al, 2016, Month of Conception and Learning Disabilities: A Record-Linkage Study of 801,592 Children,  American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 184, Issue 7 pages 485-93

See >> http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/184/7/485.abstract

I know that I often say that one of the benefits of massage is that it may reduce anxiety.  I think most people would agree that being in hospital or undergoing hospital procedures may makes us feel anxious.  So I was interested in a recent study that looked at the effectiveness of massage with or without guided imagery (a therapist talking you through a scene to help you relax), prior to cardiac catheterisation.  As you can imagine anxiety is very common in patients prior to cardiac catheterisation, which can lead to high blood pressure and increase the amount of sedation necessary to complete the procedure. Fifty five patients opted to receive either a 15-minute massage (31 patients) and a 20 minute guided imagery (24 patients) in a quiet area of the hospital prior to cardiac catheterisation.  Self-report anxiety levels, blood pressure and heart rate were evaluated in the research participants as well as matched for comparison to a control group not taking part in the study. The results indicated that massage, with or without guided imagery, produced significant reductions in self-reported anxiety, with the combined intervention having a more pronounced effect.  In addition a lower diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were found when compared to the control group. In my experience slow, deep stokes help to reduce anxiety and as a team we often incorporate this into treatments. References Amstrong K, Dixon S, May S, Patricolo GE (2014).  Anxiety reduction in patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation, following massage and guided imagery.  Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 20 (4): 334 - 338.