Fertility Acupressure
Pregnancy Massage does more than just feel good!
Tiffany Field PhD researcher for the Touch Institute in Department of Pediatrics led a study of the benefits of Prenatal Massage for both mother & baby. Massage therapy has been proven to be beneficial during pregnancy.
Women who received massage therapy reported decreased depression, anxiety, reduced leg and back pain. Cortisol levels decreased and excessive fetal activity decreased. Sleep and sense of well being improved. The rate of prematurity was lower in the massage group. In a study of labors, women who received massage therapy experienced significantly less pain, less distress and their labors were on average 3 hours shorter with less need for medications.
• Massage therapy is the most common alternative therapy recommended during pregnancy. • Massage therapy has been demonstrated to be effective during pregnancy. The women reported decreased depression, anxiety and less leg and back pain. • In our study on labor pain, women receiving massage therapy experienced significantly less pain and their labors were on average 3 hours shorter with less need for medication. • The most important finding was the lower incidence of prematurity and low birthweight in the massaged women. • Postpartum depression and cortisol levels were decreased in the massaged women. The newborns of the massaged mothers also had lower cortisol levels than the newborns of the control mothers.
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