Massages for Mommy: How Rubdowns Can Ease the Aches of Pregnancy

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AH, THE JOYS of pregnancy -- hearing the heartbeat for the first time and stockpiling teeny-tiny outfits. But there is the other stuff: the backaches, the stretched-to-their-limits ligaments, the swollen hands and feet. With prenatal massage promising to alleviate those pains and then some, it's no wonder expectant moms are drawn to the spa.

According to studies by the American Massage Therapy Association, pregnancy massage is one of the most popular specializations among massage therapists. Among the issues massage is said to help are back and joint pain, circulation, muscle tension, nerve pain and insomnia. Advocates also tout massage's ability to quell edema, or swelling, especially in the hands and feet.

But does it really do all that?

Definitely, says Deborah Wickenheiser, a therapist certified in pregnancy massage at the Teal Center for Therapeutic Bodywork at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington (1701 N. George Mason Drive; Tealcenter.com). "It helps overall with keeping the immune system active and in good shape," she says.

Maybe, says John Larsen, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University. "If they mean you'll have less ankle swelling, I don't know about that," he says, "But you can certainly have major improvement in the aches and pains of pregnancy."

And that's the main thing, says Emily Barton, a nurse practitioner at Georgetown University Hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "It helps with general sore muscle and ligament pain that comes with pregnancy. Those would probably be the top two factors that we would recommend massage for," she says.

The differences between prenatal and other types of massage are subtle, with the biggest being positioning and level of pressure. Rather than lying on an ever-expanding stomach, clients lie on their sides. And while a deep-tissue massage might sound appealing to counteract those battered back muscles, masseuses use a lighter touch on your more sensitive system.

Avoid hot-stone treatments, too. "We don't want the patient's core body temperature rising," Barton says.

"There's a lot of little nuances working with moms," says Wickenheiser, who uses a technique called myofascial release. It focuses on the fascia, or thin connective tissue that coats muscles. "We want to release that fascia so it's not stuck anymore so that you can actually be more straightened."

Another common pregnancy plague is sciatica, compression of the sciatic nerve in the back of the leg. To ease it, Wickenheiser crosses her arms, pushing the rib cage upward with one hand and the hip on the same side down with the other hand.

"Everything kind of gets squished in there with the baby, especially the further along you get," she says. "The idea is we're opening up the rib cage, we're opening up the back so that it can move and do what it's supposed to do."

Massage is safe during all trimesters, Larsen says. But high-risk patients should get the all-clear from their physicians before making an appointment.

Make sure the therapist is certified by the local board, Barton adds. In D.C., the licensing body is the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy within the Department of Health. Contractions, pain and overheating (from blankets or massage oils) are warning signs that the massage should stop, she continues.

Beyond allaying aches and pains, massage can be a last chance for relaxation before the baby arrives. "The pregnant lady feels better, and we follow the general philosophy that a happy mother makes for a happy domestic relationship and ongoing peace and tranquility," Larsen says.

So, go ahead. Dim the lights and play those soothing nature tunes -- doctor's orders.

» Your Condition: With Child — and Needles

If stripping down and being rubbed by a stranger isn't your thing, massage isn't the only holistic therapy pregnant women can turn to for relief. Acupuncturists and chiropractors also promise to diminish aches and pains naturally.

Acupuncturists use needles to penetrate the skin at points corresponding with certain parts of the body and manipulate them by hand or electrical stimulation. The process can help morning sickness, insomnia and fatigue, says Tracy Hackett, a Washington-area acupuncturist who runs Eastern Holistic Arts (Easternholisticarts.com).

"Your body is like an organized system of energy," she says. "It all systematically works together through bioelectrics. That's what acupuncture stimulates."

Proceed with caution, however. "There are certain points that are avoided during pregnancy," says Lisa Eaves, president of the Acupuncture Society of the District of Columbia. Spots on the inside of the ankle, the little toe, the abdomen and the top of the shoulder could trigger uterine contractions and labor, she says.

Have a fear of needles? Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to control pain. During pregnancy, "there's alterations that occur in every system in the body, including in the musculoskeletal system," says Bonnie S. Hillsberg, a chiropractor with offices in Woodley Park (3000 Connecticut Ave NW; Dcbonedoctor.com). "This is a very good time for a chiropractor to come in and work with the system to make sure that the pelvis is balanced so that the uterus is able to enlarge symmetrically with the baby."

Acupuncture and chiropractic work are generally safe for pregnant women, says John Larsen, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University.

Make sure the practitioner knows about your condition, adds Emily Barton, a nurse practitioner at Georgetown University Hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and "look for someone who's board-certified in whatever specialty you're looking for."

Written by Express contributor Stephanie Kanowitz