-
Slow down
Your body’s hormones are doing a wonderful little dance inside to grow your baby, prepare for delivery, followed by recovery and milk production. While the body does this all innately, today’s society is very fast paced, and it requires us to stay very busy. Being busy makes our body produce a high level of adrenaline which puts our body in a state of “fight or flight”. This survival technique can divert energy and nutrients to the most important organs and deprive less important areas like the immune system, extremities and digestion. Adrenaline can inhibit the production levels of other hormones like endorphins and oxytocin which could potentially delay birth or influence cervical dilation.
Receiving massage can help to regularly address stress levels providing you with a sense of calm, stabilising your blood pressure and provide a great environment to regulate hormone production so you can have the best possible potential for child birth.
-
Connection
Great relationships don’t just happen. They require attention, respect and kindness. During pregnancy it’s not just your growing baby you need to connect with but yourself also. One of the most important tools you will learn during motherhood is that “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Mothers are often the heart of a family and if they’re burnt out it can impact the whole family. Learning to prioritise your self-care is a healthy and vital step to start utilising during pregnancy.
Scheduling regular treatments gives you something to look forward to where you can mentally switch off to exclusively take care of yourself. You can reconnect with your body as it changes which can help limit low body image issues post pregnancy. Working with your body as it changes and being emotionally present are all healthy steps to ensuring you can have the most beneficial experience during this sacred time of life.
Kristy Jenkinson is a certified Pregnancy Massage Therapist at the Retreat Massage & Wellness Centre, Daw Park, SA. As an experienced therapist and a mother of two, she is committed to providing nurturing and support to all women during pregnancy and throughout the journey of motherhood. You can find her on her website www.theretreat-mwc.com, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
