Can You Get A Foot Massage While Pregnant?

If there is one period when a woman craves a massage more than any other, it is during her pregnancy. Growing a child places a lot of strain on the body and can result in a lot of aches and pains.

A large baby bump can induce lower back pain as well as soreness in the legs and hips, especially if you have been on your feet all day. Speaking of feet, a pregnant foot massage may sound like pure ecstasy, but is it safe?

This article discusses whether you can have a foot massage while pregnant, as well as areas you should not massage a pregnant lady. A prenatal massage, when performed appropriately, may be a delightful pleasure for a pregnant woman.

Is It Safe To Massage While Pregnant?

A massage is an excellent approach to relieving stress and aches and pains in the body. Massage can be safe during pregnancy if done carefully.

It is critical to understand that massaging a pregnant lady differs from massaging someone who is not expecting a child.

If you want to get a massage while pregnant, there are certain key information and safety precautions you should be aware of:

Massage should be avoided throughout the first trimester.

Having a massage during the first trimester might cause dizziness and nausea.

Morning sickness is normally at its worst during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, and you don’t want to do anything to aggravate nausea and lightheadedness.

A mild neck massage might help relieve stress and anxiety, but a full body massage may make you feel ill. Massage during the first trimester may possibly trigger a miscarriage, albeit there is little scientific evidence to support this.

Certain pressure points must be avoided.

Acupressure points can be found all throughout the body, and some should not be manipulated when pregnant. Massaging specific acupressure spots is considered to produce miscarriage or contractions, resulting in preterm labour.

The location is crucial.

Massage should not be performed on pregnant women who are lying on their backs or stomachs.

Resting in the traditional massage position’ is not recommended for pregnant women because it can be exceedingly uncomfortable, and pregnant women should not lie on their stomachs.

Also, resting on your back after 20 weeks of pregnancy is not recommended since it might put pressure on blood vessels, reducing blood flow and causing blood pressure to decrease.

This is risky for mothers because it reduces blood supply to the uterus, placing your baby at risk. Massage a pregnant woman while she is reclining on her side or slightly reclining on her chair.

Get a professional masseuse.

Find a professional masseuse who has been specifically educated in prenatal massage to guarantee you get the safest treatment possible during your pregnancy.

Someone who has been taught to massage pregnant ladies would know which areas to avoid rubbing and which acupressure points to avoid.

A prenatal massage therapist will be able to carefully guide you into the most comfortable posture for your massage while keeping your blood pressure and blood flow to your uterus safe.

Inform your physician.

If you intend to have a massage throughout your pregnancy, you should always notify your doctor.

Your doctor will be able to advise you of all the risks and benefits of prenatal massage and may even be able to refer you to a trained practitioner who specializes in prenatal massage.

Is it safe to get a foot massage when pregnant?

Pregnancy takes a toll on our feet. Consider how much extra weight you are dragging around with you.

Your feet have to bear that hefty load all day, so it’s no surprise that by the evening, many pregnant women are pleading with their partner for a foot massage.

A gentle foot rub can assist to relieve aches and pains as well as relax and feel less stressed. Foot massage is generally safe during pregnancy. You can either request one from your partner or go to a professional for a more sumptuous pampering.

While you may be accustomed to receiving a foot massage at the nail salon when getting a pedicure, it is advised to limit your nail services during pregnancy because nail technicians are rarely also trained as prenatal massage therapists.

The danger of blood clots increases during pregnancy due to the substantial increase in blood volume in the body. If your legs are severely swollen or you discover hot red patches on your legs or feet, you should avoid massage and instead see your doctor.

A blood clot may be dislodged by massaging the deep tissue of the leg and feet. If you want your partner to rub your feet, tell them to use light pressure and make them aware of the regions of the foot they should avoid – more on this later.

While a foot massage can have many benefits for pregnant women, some evidence suggests that there may be a link between foot massages and the chance of miscarriage.

Can Foot Massage Cause Miscarriage?

Remember those acupressure sites we mentioned briefly earlier? Reflexology demonstrates that there are numerous acupressure sites on and around the foot that are linked to regions of the body that should not be disturbed during pregnancy.

When squeezed, the Spleen 6 point on the inner ankle, around 3 fingers breadth above the inner ankle bone, can activate the lower abdomen. During pregnancy, you don’t want to be interfering with the lower abdomen, which houses your uterus.

Between the Achilles tendon and the main ankle bone is the Urinary Bladder 60 acupressure point. Massaging here can induce labour, which is acceptable if you are nearing your due date but dangerous if you have not reached full term in your pregnancy.

When giving a pregnant woman a foot massage, the Urinary Bladder 67 acupressure point should also be avoided.

Also read; 6 Pregnancy Essentials For Every Pregnant Woman

The acupressure point is located just close to the pinky toe’s toenail and is supposed to induce contractions and encourage the baby into a prime position for birth, which is something you don’t want to happen before you are full-term.

With this understanding of acupressure points, there is fear that foot massage during pregnancy could induce early labour or cause the uterus to contract, resulting in miscarriage.

Although there is little scientific evidence to support this, pregnant women should always err on the side of caution when receiving a foot massage.

Where Should A Pregnant Woman Not Be Massaged?

We now know that you can massage a pregnant woman’s feet. A foot massage during pregnancy may be a wonderful and calming experience for a pregnant woman if done appropriately.

What about getting a full-body massage when pregnant? Is it okay to massage a pregnant woman’s entire body, or should she avoid certain areas?

Because of the multiple changes that a pregnant woman’s body goes through, it is not safe to massage her in the same way that you would anyone else.

Massage is not permitted in some areas of the pregnant body for a variety of reasons. Here’s a list of places you shouldn’t massage a pregnant woman:

The stomach

It may seem apparent, but you should not rub a pregnant woman’s stomach. A lady can safely apply body lotion or oil to her belly and stretch marks, but a deep tissue massage of the belly should be avoided.

Applying strong pressure or pressing deeply on a pregnant woman’s stomach can be exceedingly painful for the mum, as well as uncomfortable and perhaps harmful to her unborn kid.

The limbs

Gentle stroking up and down a pregnant woman’s legs is quite safe. Deep massage and forceful pressure, on the other hand, can dislodge any blood clots that have formed in the legs.

Pregnant women are more likely to form blood clots, and massage may induce a blood clot to migrate to a more harmful portion of the body.

Points of tension

We’ve already talked about the pressure points on and around the foot. However, acupressure sites on the wrist and between the fingers are thought to cause contractions.

You will need to avoid these points, especially if the woman is not yet at full term.

The Advantages of Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy is exhausting! Pregnant women go through a lot during their nine months of pregnancy, and if anyone deserves a massage, it’s a lady growing a baby. Pregnancy massage offers numerous advantages when performed safely, including

• Stress relief 
• Reduced anxiety 
• Helps ease symptoms of depression 
• Pain relief for aching muscles
• Improved sleep 
• Reduced fluid build-up and swelling 
• Reduced risk of postpartum depression

If your pregnancy is physically and mentally taxing you, a pregnant massage may be precisely what you need to feel better.

Final Thought

Our feet go through a lot during pregnancy, so it’s no surprise that many pregnant women crave a foot massage. It is okay to get a foot massage while pregnant; just make sure the person doing the massage knows how to do it safely.

In this post, we will discuss how to safely offer a foot massage while pregnant and which areas of the body should be avoided.

Now that you’ve got all the information you need, relax and enjoy your foot massage – you deserve it!