Pregnancy and Massage Chairs: Should You be Worried?
Are you worried about whether or not it is safe to use massage chairs during pregnancy? Pregnancy is a strange time where almost everything seems off-limits, and things that were perfectly normal before suddenly pose possible risks. At least that’s how it felt when I was pregnant.
That’s why I am here to tell you about using massage chairs when pregnant. By the time you are through with this article, you will have one less thing to worry about.
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Massage Chairs: Pregnancy Shouldn’t Stop You
Advantages of Massage Chairs when Pregnant
There are a lot of things about table massages that might not feel comfortable to you during pregnancy: side-lying position, pressure on breasts, being undressed, and the smell of lotion. Massage chairs can help to eliminate all of these issues, as I’ll explain.
Lying on your side is standard for pregnancy massage on a massage table, but for many pregnant women, it’s just not comfortable. With a massage chair, you get to sit upright, which makes it possible to shift around and not have pressure resting on your hips.
Many pregnant women have swollen, tender breasts. Even if a specially-designed massage table allows you to lay face-down, it can be painful to have so much pressure on the chest. A massage chair alleviates that pressure and has room for extra pillows in case there is any pressure on the chest.
When you are pregnant, it is completely normal to feel self-conscious about your changing body, and to not want to be undressed in front of a stranger. When you receive a massage in a massage chair, you do not undress at all. If you are feeling shy, you will be much more able to relax and enjoy your massage.
Pregnancy often makes your nose so sensitive that even the mildest smells are unbearable. Many massage oils and lotions will smell intense and make it difficult to relax and enjoy the massage. Chair massage uses no oil or lotion which means that there is no distracting odor.
Massage Chair Design Features and Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause a lot of pressure to build up in the hips and low back– these are the problem areas of tension during most pregnancies. Another complaint is that the lungs have a reduced capacity as your belly gets bigger, and taking deep breaths can be a challenge.
Massage chairs are ergonomically designed to distribute the weight of the body comfortably in a seated position while a therapist exerts pressure on the back and hips. This is great because it allows a therapist to apply pressure to the exact right spots! The position of the body in a massage chair may also facilitate deeper breathing, which is exactly what you want when you are pregnant.
Chair Massage Reduces Risk in Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy is a stressful time of high-anxiety and strong emotions for a lot of us, and massage is great for reducing anxiety and depression in addition to relieving pain and tension. However, there are some risks associated with massage and pregnancy: blood clots from excessively deep pressure on the legs, pressure points on wrists and ankles that can cause contractions, and danger to the fetus from laying too long face-up.
Seated massage does not involve deep pressure on the legs, so there is little to no risk of blood clots in a massage chair. Also, the focus in a massage chair is on the neck, back, and hips, so it is unlikely that any pressure points in the wrists or ankles will be triggered. And because seated massage is upright, there is never any risk at all from laying face-up for too long.
Of course, women with high-risk pregnancies, pregnancy-induced hypertension or who have had pre-term labor in the past should seek approval from their doctor before having a chair or any other type of massage.
Techniques for Massage Chairs Perfectly Suited for Pregnancy
In addition to providing comfortable face-down seated massage positions, massage chairs also allow a pregnant woman to sit facing outward, which allows even greater comfort and less pressure on the chest.
In conclusion: if you’re pregnant and have been feeling worried about massage chairs, stop it! Not only is it completely safe to use a massage chair when pregnant, but there are also actually some serious advantages to chair massage compared to table massage.
Massage chairs are specially designed to accommodate all shapes and sizes of bodies safely and comfortably, including pregnant bodies. Many of the risks associated with massage are reduced or eliminated altogether when it comes to massage chairs. So, what are you waiting for? Take a load off of your pregnant body, and treat yourself to a session in a massage chair, today!
If you have any questions or want to add to this conversation, please comment below. How have massage chairs added value to your pregnancy experience?
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