Can you rub a pregnant woman feet

Some of these ideas may deny the benefits of massage to pregnant women who seek it and some of this misinformation could actually do harm by causing serious emotional distress. Many massage therapists have been taught that massage is contraindicated during the first trimester of pregnancy. The reason given is fear of causing miscarriage. This is probably based on fear of litigation rather than any actual potential that massage could cause harm.

Most miscarriages occur during the first trimester of pregnancy and the most common cause is genetic abnormalities. Many spontaneous abortions occur before the woman knows she is pregnant. Among women who know they are pregnant, the rate of miscarriage is 15 to 20 percent. Since most miscarriages occur during the first trimester, massage therapists may fear that if a woman miscarries after receiving massage, she may attribute it to the massage.

Most women do not know they are pregnant until they are well into their second trimester. The only way to completely avoid massage during the first trimester is to refuse massage to all women of childbearing age, which is something most massage therapists would agree is excessive. However, there is no reason to think that massage will cause miscarriage. Women engage in sports, exercise, household chores, sexual activities, and other tasks of daily living while pregnant.

Massage is no more vigorous or dangerous than any of these activities. If a woman is not restricted from normal activities due to other complications, it is not necessary to deny her massage during her first or any trimester. Unfortunately, many women are routinely denied massage because they are pregnant. Instead, she was turned away when she revealed she was pregnant.

Already distressed, she broke down in tears. Fortunately, she found me online and I was able to get her in promptly. She left feeling relieved and relaxed. How many pregnant women are turned away unnecessarily because this massage myth persists? There is no reason to believe that massage is hazardous to a woman or her child at any stage of pregnancy, provided that the mother is otherwise healthy and has no complications.

But does it have any benefits? Or are there more risks? Many women wish to opt for a pedicure foot massage while pregnant and get relief from the pain, especially after knowing that there are specific massages meant for pregnant women.

However, these have not been approved by any medical authority, so their benefits cannot be fully determined. Many spas do not accept pregnant women, and many doctors avoid recommending a massage therapist as well. But a well-experienced professional performing the right kind of pregnancy massage will be safe for the mother as well as bring the necessary benefits along with it.

These professionals undertake specialised training and certification and have the right knowledge of where to massage and which areas to avoid. There are many benefits of a foot massage during pregnancy.

Some of those are:. The process of the massage induces a calm and peaceful feeling and helps in restoring mental balance. This is essential for first-time mothers as the stress and anxiety of the pregnancy can get in the way of having a healthy delivery. For mothers who show signs of depression and are on medication, undertaking regular massages can help boost their mood.

It may also help in the delivery of a healthy baby. Undergoing a foot massage during the third trimester of your pregnancy can bring the right benefits when done correctly. Using the right massage oil and massage technique is just as necessary. Here are a few steps your partner or caretaker can follow to perform a foot massage properly. This will make it easier to massage the feet. Beginning from the feet, start massaging from the toes to the ankle while applying pressure. Keep massaging the feet for about minutes.

Pregnant women having a regular reflexology foot massage, while avoiding areas that cause risks, can improve good mental health and as well as physical balance while relieving stress and anxiety of pregnancy. According to the reflexology principle, by massaging certain areas on your feet and as well as your hands, you can influence the other areas and organs in your body.

However, please note that you need to consult your doctor at all times before applying to any reflexology treatments. By getting a certain type of foot massage, pregnant women might get stimulated to labor, which requires no medication and drugs.

Yet, before beginning any physical treatment, you might better consult your physician just to stay on the safer side. Today, alternative medicine, such as acupressure, is preferred by many expectant mothers to help them induce labor. According to acupressure practitioners, certain points on your body can be massaged in order to induce labor when you are at the end of the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Bladder 60 point is a pressure point on the ankle to induce labor. This point is called Kunlun, and located on the foot. You can locate the area between your ankle and the Achilles tendon. Along with heal obstruction, it is also used to induce labor and as well as relieve the pain. All you need to do is to apply a light pressure to the point by using your thumb and keep massaging for a few minutes. So-called Zhiyin, you can locate this acupressure point near the edge of your nail, next to your pinky toe.

According to the practitioners, the point can be used to stimulate contractions while turning the fetus. All you need is to use your index and thumb finger and press on the bladder 67 points to start inducing the labor. It should feel as if you are pinching the toe. The reflexology areas and ovaries: the first one is directly connected to the uterus, while the latter is located on the inside and outside of both ankles in the hollow areas just under the ankle bones.

Visit us to see why thousands clients are ecstatic about our service! Privacy Policy. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Benefits of foot massage while pregnant. Improved blood circulation In general, pregnant women tend to retain higher fluid levels.

INSIDER asked a few experts about which pressure points to avoid specifically during a foot massage that might actually cause labor. Foot massages are fine as long as they are performed by a well-trained practitioner, and preferably one with specific training in pregnancy, Eldyka Simpson , a registered massage therapist, registered acupuncturist, and a birth doula told INSIDER.

She explained that a strong stimulus of certain points in the foot can encourage uterine contractions and cervical ripening.

So, in the simplest terms, practitioners avoid these points through pregnancy so as to avoid causing preterm labor. Michelle Ebbin , a touch therapy expert with Soothe , told INSIDER that during pregnancy, getting a soothing, gentle Swedish massage, can help improve your blood and oxygen circulation and can leave you feeling relaxed and energized at the same time.

So, where exactly are these pressure points that should be avoided?