What spa treatments should be avoided during pregnancy?
Though your specific situation may prohibit other treatments (consult your doctor), there is only one kind of procedure you should always avoid while pregnant: full-body heat. Saunas, jacuzzis, tanning beds and heated body wraps can raise your internal temperature, which can put your baby at risk. Also, while pregnant women are often advised to avoid saunas in other countries, in Finland it is considered a normal activity during pregnancy and accompanied by young children.Saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms in pregnancy You may choose to avoid them because of the risks of overheating, dehydration and fainting, particularly in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.Using a hot tub or sauna can raise your core body temperature. Having a core body temperature that’s too high is called hyperthermia. It can harm your developing baby. Hyperthermia during the early weeks of pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of neural tube defects .Saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms in pregnancy You may choose to avoid them because of the risks of overheating, dehydration and fainting, particularly in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.Finns have used the sauna to live in, eat, address matters of hygiene, and, most importantly, give birth in an almost sterile environment. Unlike many other, more densely populated places in Europe, the availability of wood needed to build and warm the sauna has never been an issue.
Can I lay on my back for a massage while pregnant?
Lying on your side with a pillow to support your belly is usually the preferred and safest option. However, in early pregnancy—before 22 weeks—it’s generally safe for pregnant mothers to lie on their back. After 22 weeks, you should avoid lying flat on your back. It is generally safe for people to sleep on their stomach during pregnancy, although it may be uncomfortable and cause back or neck pain. Research suggests that it is safe for people to sleep in whichever position they prefer until around 30 weeks of gestation.In early pregnancy, your sleeping position does not increase the risk of miscarriage. After 20 weeks, sleeping on your left side is recommended, as it helps improve blood flow. Sleeping on your back at this stage may be less ideal, but it does not cause miscarriage.Unfortunately, back sleeping isn’t considered safe for you or your fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy. While you shouldn’t panic if you wake up and find yourself accidentally lying flat on your back, it’s best to do what you can to avoid it.As your pregnancy progresses, the best positions are sitting on a chair or stool or lying on your side. The left side is best later in pregnancy. After 12 weeks of pregnancy (or much earlier if you are carrying twins or more), avoid lying on your belly. After your fourth month of pregnancy, avoid lying on your back.
At what point in pregnancy should you stop getting massages?
As a general rule of thumb, antenatal massage can benefit you throughout your pregnancy with monthly appointments until around 27 weeks, then twice monthly appointments from around 27 weeks to 36 weeks, and weekly appointments from 36 weeks until you give birth. Most healthcare professionals and massage therapists recommend beginning prenatal massage after the first trimester, typically from week 13 onward.Waiting until you’re out of your first trimester is advisable,” Hill says. Limiting or avoiding massage during early pregnancy when miscarriage rates are highest is considered the safest route. Once your pregnancy is into the second trimester, the more massages the merrier.Breast massage during pregnancy and breastfeeding provides many benefits. The chest is generally the first part of the body in which we feel tension, even before we know we are pregnant.
What is a Thai pregnancy massage?
Thai massage for pregnant women is a gentle, relaxing variation on the traditional Thai massage . It is performed in a comfortable position for her, lying on her side. A neutral oil is gently applied, with no essential oils, which are forbidden during pregnancy. Ancient Egyptian, Greek and many far eastern civilizations used traditional massage during pregnancy to relieve unpleasant symptoms and discomforts. Swedish physician Per Henrik Ling in the late 1700s developed the Swedish massage technique that is now used as a basis for Pregnancy massage.