Introduce a Soon-to-be Mom to the Benefits of Massage Therapy

Back aches, cramped legs, swollen ankles and heart burn are just a few of the downsides of pregnancy. You may have often told your pregnant wife, friend or sister that if there is anything she would need, to let you know. How about actually living up to your offer and giving her a massage gift certificate?

The benefits of massage therapy are numerous and doctors and midwives agree that it can help the pregnant woman by relaxing and soothing muscles, alleviating back pain and giving her some time off her feet to be pampered. The recipient should always get the green light from her health care professional especially if she has a complicated pregnancy or has high risk factors. Once her doctor approves, she can indulge in the benefits of massage therapy and be taken to a different, relaxing world albeit temporarily.

While the benefits of massage therapy can not cure any serious medical ailments, the feelings of happiness, relaxation and rejuvenation that they do prove can be a welcome change for anyone who is up at night with heart burn or frequent visits to the bathroom. The benefits of massage therapy can also be a welcome change from the impending weeks and months of fatigue that are soon to come with late night feedings, diaper changes and staying up with a sick or colicky baby.

Special Considerations

Massage therapists have specially designed tables for pregnant clients that have a hollow cut out in the center so that they can lie on their bulging bellies without too much pressure on the baby. Kneading, rubbing, heat therapy, light and other methods and techniques can be used to eliminate knots in your body and ease away the aches and pains.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Of course the benefits of massage therapy are not permanent. Sooner or later you are bound to get back in to the routine of things and the aches and pains can return. However once you have experienced the benefits of massage therapy - provided you had a great experience the first time around - your friend could be adding it to her wish list for the bay shower. Even if a session costs a little more than you want to spend, you can pool in with a friend or two and get her something she really does enjoy. Or you could really make the gift last longer by treating them to a couples massage so that they learn how to perform the massage on one another for free.