Pregnancy massage at The Raven Spa
According to the American Pregnancy Association, an organization devoted to promoting pregnancy wellness, therapeutic massage can offer a number of benefits to expectant mothers. In fact, they say that, “Modern investigation and research has shown that prenatal massage therapy can be an instrumental ingredient in women’s prenatal care and should be given careful consideration.”
In Massage and Pregnancy, the APA reports that, “Studies indicate 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.”
Here at The Raven Spa, one of the most progressive day spas in Los Angeles, we know that this is a special time in your life and we want you to be able to enjoy it to the fullest. That’s why we offer Pregnancy Massage at both our Santa Monica spa and our Silverlake location. Our trained and experienced therapists can ease your aches and pains and help you feel more like yourself.
And there’s more good news about the massage therapy available at Los Angeles spa The Raven! Research has shown that when massage therapy is part of a woman’s prenatal care, her levels of stress hormones and the hormones associated with relaxation are both altered significantly. That means you’ll feel better and your heart health will be enhanced, too.
“In women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression).
These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight,” the APA says. “The evidence strongly suggests there are maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.”
Swollen and painful joints are a common complaint during pregnancy, but fortunately it is one of the conditions that can be eased by massage therapy. “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,” the APA explains. “Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints. This also improves the removal of tissue waste carried by the body’s lymph system.”
Massage therapy can also provide real relief if you suffer from nerve pain during your pregnancy. Again, the cause lies with the weight of the uterus and the pressure it puts on the
muscles of your 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,” the APA says. “Many women have experienced a significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through massage.”
There are a host of other benefits that may be associated with massage therapy while you are pregnant. In addition to easing nerve and joint pain, the American Pregnancy Association says Pregnancy Massage can:
- Reduce back pain
- Improve circulation
- Reduce swelling
- Reduce muscle tension and headaches
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve oxygenation of soft tissues and muscles
- And help you get a better night’s sleep!
The APA says that massage therapy is safe throughout your pregnancy, but to be on the safe side we prefer not to provide massage treatments to women in the first trimester (you might want to consider scheduling an session of acupuncture or reiki at The Raven Spa of Los Angeles instead). The organization does, however, say that when certain conditions exist, expectant mothers should practice caution. So, if you can answer yes to any of the following questions, please talk to doctor or health care provider before scheduling an appointment for massage therapy:
- Have you had bleeding or pre-term contractions?
- Is yours a high-risk pregnancy?
- Are you or have you suffered from pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) or preeclampsia?
- Have you previously experienced pre-term labor or recently given birth?
- Are you experiencing severe swelling, high blood pressure, or sudden, severe headaches?
And if you have questions for us at The Raven Spa in Los Angeles, we hope you know that all you have to do is ask! We are here for you.
Whether you enjoy your Pregnancy Massage in our Santa Monica spa or at our Silverlake location, we hope you’ll share pictures of the baby with us when the time comes!! By then, The Raven Spa will probably be your favorite day spa in Los Angeles, maybe even one of your all-around favorite destinations, so you probably have our address locked into your GPS system, but just in case, here are the addresses if you want to go old school and mail us a picture:
The Raven Spa in Santa Monica is located at:
208 Pier Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Tel: (310) 3994747
Open Daily from 10 am – 9 pm
The Raven Spa in Silverlake can be found at:
2910 Rowena Ave, Silverlake, CA 90039
Tel: (323) 6440240
Open Daily from 10 am – 9 pm
