Massage During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Sarah Pachtman, Sarah Fogarty
Abstract
Massage is systematic touch and manipulation of the soft tissues of the body that is increasingly being used as an adjunctive therapy for stress relief and to promote relaxation and wellbeing during pregnancy and as an alternative to pharmacologic or invasive forms of analgesia during labor. Literature to support the use of massage in pregnancy and labor is limited; however, evidence to support its use has been increasing over the past 30 years. Massage has been shown to be valuable to pregnant women with anxiety, depression, leg, and back pain, and has shown significant benefit in perception of pain during labor.
Topics & Concepts
MassagePregnancyAnxietyMedicineRelaxation (psychology)Labor painDepression (economics)Physical therapyObstetricsAlternative medicinePsychiatryInternal medicineMacroeconomicsEconomicsPathologyGeneticsBiologyMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumPregnancy-related medical researchMaternal and Perinatal Health Interventions