Expecting A Child? How Massage Can Benefit Both You And Baby

Whether you just found out you are expecting a child or are in your second or third trimester, you are likely always looking for new ways to improve to improve your health during pregnancy and researching just what you can do to keep your new baby healthy and happy after they are born. If you haven't heard, massage therapy can provide numerous health benefits to women during pregnancy, and infant massage is a great way to help keep your new baby calm and content as they adjust to being a brand-new part of your family. 

Read on to learn more about the benefits of prenatal massage now and how infant massage can benefit you and your baby later. 

Prenatal Massage Therapy: Reduce Your Stress Levels & Alleviate Pregnancy Pains

While keeping your life stress-free during pregnancy may seem impossible, it is important to minimize stress in your life while pregnant to protect both your health and the health of your unborn child. Un-managed stress during pregnancy can lead to you experiencing high blood pressure, which puts your baby at risk for preeclampsia and other birth defects. Women under intense stress during pregnancy are also more likely to deliver premature babies and/or deliver babies with low birth-weights. 

If you are like many women, you are also experiencing pregnancy aches and pains, and as you know, keeping use of OTC pain medications during pregnancy to a minimum is important for the health of your unborn child. 

The good news is that you can battle both pregnancy stress and pain by obtaining prenatal massages. Studies have shown that women who obtain a prenatal massage just every two weeks for five weeks during pregnancy experience a drop in their bodies' levels of cortisol, which is the hormone the human body releases when under stress. In addition, emerging research is showing that massage can help relieve many types of pain. 

There are numerous other prenatal massage benefits, including an increase in your body's level of serotonin, which is a "feel good" chemical that helps prevent depression, so treat yourself to a bi-weekly massage during pregnancy to improve your health and baby's. 

Infant Massage: Strengthen Your Bond with Baby and Help Them Sleep Soundly

After your baby is born, continuing to receive massage therapy can help keep you calm as you adjust to your new routine. However, also be sure to give baby a massage for 10-15 minutes a few times each week to help them reap the many benefits of massage, as well. Massaging a baby also lowers their stress-hormone levels, which can help keep them calm and relaxed, and increases their serotonin production, which helps them feel happier and more content. 

Massaging your baby also helps reinforce your bond with them and can lead to them sleeping more soundly at night, which can help you get a good night's sleep, as well. Follow the baby massage instructions at Parents.com, and you can look forward to providing baby a great massage that benefits both them and you. 

If you are expecting a child, then realize that prenatal massage can help keep both you and your unborn child healthy and minimize the chances that you will develop pregnancy-related health problems. Also, be sure to give baby a regular massage after they are born, so they can reap many great massage benefits, as well.  

For more information, contact a site like http://dccrocksprings.com/.