The massage chair represents a perfect alternative for mothers who frequently need a massage session at home! This device allows you to benefit from relaxing mechanical manipulations without making any effort and while saving the costs of hiring a masseuse. Being able to suffer from fatigue and also needing to relax as much as possible, pregnant women often wonder if they can also use a massage chair.
Can they enjoy a relaxation session or do they have to wait before relaxing in the mode chair? co-sleeping with baby ? Here is more info.
Massage therapy: what are its benefits for pregnant women
Everyone knows that pregnancy rhymes with fatigue, stress and different kinds of discomfort for most women. It is the physical and hormonal changes that are at the origin of his problems. They then need a good massage to get rid of the daily worries they have to endure. According to research carried out by professionals, massage has different benefits for women during pregnancy. It reduces pressure and prevents cramps as well as back and leg pain.
It also reduces pain during childbirth and the duration of childbirth. Doing a massage on a massage chair from time to time is also an effective method to prevent the risk of premature birth. However, the duration of use of the chair should not exceed that recommended by health professionals. As no specific study has yet been carried out on this subject, the ideal is to limit the session to 15 minutes per day maximum.
When to use a massage chair during pregnancy?
Although the massage chair is not contraindicated for pregnant women, they should always be careful when using it. During a first full-term pregnancy, for example, the pregnant woman should not use a massage chair to relax. The equipment may have undesirable effects on her and her baby. This is also the case for a high-risk pregnancy. This may be a pregnancy with a threat of early birth, a malformation problem, a particular health problem, etc.
In case the woman has already had a history of early childbirth or a problem of pre-eclampsia. Usually, women who suffer from swelling or inflammation or severe headaches should also avoid using a chair intended for massage. The same goes for those who suffer from severe or pulling lower back pain.
Potential dangers of using a massage chair for a pregnant woman
The use of a massage chair is not unanimous among medical professionals. Some even prohibit the use of this device for various reasons. Here are a few :
The heating principle of the massage chair
Certainly, the heating element of the massage chair provides real pleasure for the pregnant woman, this element can increase her body temperature and thus endanger the fetus. It should be noted that the baby requires a very specific temperature to develop properly inside the mother’s uterus. In case an external factor brings more heat, it can have adverse effects on it. Increases in temperature are capable of disrupting fetal heart rates.
Pressure points stimulated by a massage chair
There are health professionals who claim that massage chairs can induce labor and cause premature labor. It should be noted, however, that this thesis has not yet been confirmed. Nevertheless, it is imaginable by looking closely at the functioning of a massage chair. It has the same characteristics as pressure point stimulators.
The massage chair during the first three months of gestation
In most cases, professional salons such as spas do not allow massages for pregnant women less than three months old. Others offer them very special sessions. In all cases, the staff who care for pregnant women must have unique knowledge acquired during training. He therefore knows the potentially dangerous areas that should not be massaged.
From this point of view, the use of massage chair is therefore not recommended for women less than three months pregnant. As these devices operate automatically, they cannot avoid dangerous areas. It is then more rational to go beyond this first phase of pregnancy before treating yourself to a good massage with a massage chair.
Summary of the use of a massage chair during pregnancy
The use of a massage chair during pregnancy is therefore not prohibited. However, you need to know all the essential information before getting started. It is also necessary to seek professional advice. This makes it possible to reduce or even avoid various complications.
In addition to the risks for the mother, there are also risks for the fetus. However, nothing says that a massage session is prohibited for pregnant women. They can then have a massage by professionals and avoid using a massage chair if there are threats.
In place of this equipment, there are other alternatives they can consider such as yoga, chiropractic therapies, traditional massage and many more.
In most cases, people who receive massages also use massage oils or essential oils to optimize relaxation. However, this practice is prohibited for pregnant women. Whether they offer the service of a professional or that of a massage device, they must not use any essential oil.
As these products are very concentrated in active ingredients and therefore very powerful, they can have negative effects on the health of mothers and their unborn babies. They must therefore be content with simple creams or light vegetable massage oils such as coconut oil instead of essential oils.