Pregnancy Massage Myths: Separating Fact From Fiction

Course overview

There are many ideas in the public square regarding pregnancy massage and its safety, or lack thereof. Many spas and massage establishments refuse to perform prenatal massage during the first trimester. Some refuse to perform any deep tissue massage, while others refuse to perform any abdominal massage in any stage of pregnancy. Some say that during pregnancy you have to avoid massage in various places, ranging, depending on who you talk to, from the feet and ankles, legs, abdomen, low back, and shoulders; essentially the entire body except the arms, and maybe some people say that, too. Rumors and concerns about massage or reflexology for the feet is another concern. Common concerns might be: Can reflexology cause a miscarriage in the first trimester? Can massage cause preterm labor in the second or third trimester? Does bodywork increase morning sickness? These are all rumors and myths that we will study in this course. Which of these ideas are based on fact, and which should be relegated to the trash heap of old disproven wives tales? As a massage therapist, are you contributing to the spread of false information, either by word or action? The purpose of this course is to look at the facts and fiction on each of these concerns. All of our sources are from published medical research. It is imperative that massage professionals are united with a cohesive message, rooted in fact, regarding pregnancy and its benefits vs. risks. The purpose of this course is to help establish the legitimate concerns about pregnancy massage, but just as importantly, if not more so, to establish the truth about common myths and misconceptions regarding the safety of pregnancy massage.