Pregnancy Massage Therapy Makes Happier Mothers and Healthier Babies in Brandon, Valrico, Riverview and Bloomingdale

We take it for granted that women are always happy when pregnant. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Even if the pregnancy is welcome, the physical, psychological and emotional toll on the woman is so great that depression is a common occurrence. It is therefore very fortunate that the University of Miami School of Medicine has proven in a study that pregnancy massage therapy eases the depression of pregnant women and even improves the health of their babies. This is good news for female massage therapy fans in Brandon, Valrico, Riverview and Bloomingdale.  Pregnant ladies can now massage away their blues in 33511.There are just too many physiological changes to adapt to during pregnancy and this causes much anxiety. A pregnant woman is also experiencing a lot of discomfort. What could normally be treated with over-the-counter pain relief medication can’t be dealt with that easily anymore since a lot of medicines are not safe for pregnant women. As the pregnancy progresses and the uterus grows bigger, the weight and pressure causes even more back pain and leg pain. All these plus fears about labor, delivery and the safety of the baby, coupled with issues of self-image and the impending responsibilities of parenthood are factors that could easily cause depression.In the study conducted by the University of Miami School of Medicine, 84 pregnant women diagnosed with depression were compared to a separate group of pregnant women who were found to be not depressed. The 84 depressed pregnant women were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group was the massage group. The women’s partners were trained to give them a set massage routine for 20 minutes twice a week. This was done for 16 weeks. The second group was the muscle relaxation group. The women were taught a 20-minute muscle relaxation routine which they were made to do twice a week also for 16 weeks. The third group was the control group. The women were given standard pregnancy care.The scientific study showed a greater improvement in mood and a decrease in anxiety among pregnant women in the first group who had received regular massage therapy. The decrease in depression was also cumulative and progressively increasing, with greater decrease shown on the last day of the study as compared to the first day. Interestingly, the pregnant women in the massage group also reported less back pain and leg pain.The study also assessed the effects of the massage therapy, muscle relaxation techniques and standard pregnancy care on the babies during the pregnancy, delivery and neonatal period using fetal monitoring and the Obstetrics Complications Scale. Fetal activity among the pregnant women was monitored at 18 to 24 weeks and at 36 weeks. There was a greater decrease in fetal activity among the pregnant women who had received massage therapy. They also had fewer premature births.According to the researchers from the University of Miami School of Medicine, it could be concluded from the study that massage therapy is