Foot Massage In Pregnancy[2022]

Introduction

Foot massage in pregnancy is commonly used worldwide. Imagine, the heaviness, strains, cramps, and anxiety you feel when you get pregnant?

During pregnancy, pregnant mums experience a big tummy, swelling in their ankles, feet, and legs. These signs and symptoms will distort the life and well-being of women during their period of pregnancy, leading to anxiety and depression.

To ease all these discomforts, pregnant women urge support and nurture from their health care providers, and foot massage is found to be one of the best soothing therapies that helps a lot.

Foot massage in pregnancy has a tremendous benefit. It reduces pain, drains retained fluid, eases tension and depression, and a lot more.

To find out more, read on our blog articles.

What is Foot massage in pregnancy?

When mothers become pregnant, there are lots of physiological, structural, and hematological changes that occur in their bodies as a result of conception.

Changes like huge belly, hand swelling, foot swelling, leg swelling, being Anemic, are among the many alterations encountered following pregnancy.

During this time period, in order to ease and get relief from these awkward bodily alterations, pregnant mothers seek support and help from their healthcare providers.

Here, foot massage plays a tremendous role in soothing the aches, heaviness, and discomfort of these changes occurring in pregnant women.

Foot massage is a technique applied to pregnant mums cautiously to reduce the pains and unfavorable conditions which unfold following these physiological changes.

But, know that all massage modalities are not safe for all individuals, including pregnant women. Below, we will discuss the safety and precautions as well as contraindications that should be undertaken prior to a foot massage in pregnancy. To learn more on foot massage in pregnancy, Click Here.

Contraindications for foot massage in pregnancy

All massage styles are not safe for all individuals, including pregnant women. If done unnoticed, these can cause potential hazards, including life-threatening risks.

So, what are the risks that should be ruled out before commencing foot massage in pregnancy? The following are the main threats that should be ruled out before commencing foot massage. This includes:

• Deep venous thrombosis/DVT/
• Pitting edema
• Any open sores, wounds, or blisters
• Warts, feeling of warmth, or reddened skin
• History of blood clotting
• Heart disease
• Cancerous skins
• Any leg and foot fractures

Precautions and safety

Indeed, the above-mentioned contraindications are applicable not only to pregnant women, but also to all individuals who seek foot massage. To read more, Click Here.

But, beyond these contraindications, there are some specific safety precautions that should be considered before doing foot massage in pregnancy.

In fact, here, there are some contradictory premises on the application and use of foot massage in pregnancy. Even though it is not well researched, there are different views regarding foot massage during pregnancy.

Some scholars claim that foot massage during pregnancy hasn’t any problems, rather, they utter as the benefit outweighs the risk, but, still, it is not supported with pieces of evidence.

On the other hand, there are some other individuals who oppose the above notion, and firmly believe that foot massage in specific areas could cause miscarriages and preterm labor. So, to be on the safe side, they totally disagree with doing foot massage during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Areas to be avoided during foot massage in pregnancy

Sp6 Acupressure point

It is located three fingers width just above the inner ankle bone. It is believed to connect with the lower abdomen via the reflex effects.

So, massage therapists should avoid rubbing this area.

Urinary bladder 60

This area is found behind the ankle bone towards the outer side. This is also connected with the lower abdomen of pregnant women, and you should avoid massaging it.

Urinary bladder 67

This is found on the lateral edge of the toenail. Massaging here contracts the uterus and facilitates the early delivery of the conceived fetus.

So, avoid rubbing around this area.

Wrists and b/n Thumb and Index finger

As these areas are connected with the lower abdomen, rubbing here may mimic uterine contraction. So, avoid rubbing around these areas.

The Abdomen itself

Actually, rubbing directly the abdomen itself may have a provoking effect to initiate uterine contraction. So, avoid rubbing this area.

How to give foot massage in pregnancy?

When we do foot massage in pregnancy, it starts with the correct positioning of the pregnant mum.

Positioning:

The best and safest position is to lie on her side. She should lie by her left or right hips. You can use cushions to support her body on the head and side of her abdomen.

Use Some reflexology:

Use and apply some sort of reflexology technique. This could be applied on all reflex points, except on those that can trigger premature delivery and abortion. To learn more, Click Here.

Use and apply the lymphatic drainage system:

The foot of the pregnant woman becomes swelled, especially starting from the second trimester of pregnancy. This swelling worsens when mums reach their last third trimester.

So, to clear this fluid, you should massage it upwards following the lines of the lymphatic system towards the heart.

Massage the top and bottom side of the foot:

You should rub both the plantar and top side of the foot. All The sole, the toes, the heel, the ball, the arch sides should be well encompassed by using our thumb, knuckle, and, fingers alternatively.

To learn more on how to give a foot massage, Click Here.

Benefits of foot massage in pregnancy

Above, we have already elaborated the burden of big tummy, ankle swelling, and leg swelling during pregnancy, especially, in the third trimester of pregnancy.

And, we have said that foot massage is the best way to ease these awkward feelings and burdens. So, what benefits do pregnant women get from foot massage?

We have listed below the key benefits a pregnant woman gets from foot massage. Grab them.

• Reduces the retention of fluids in your feet, ankle, and leg
• Improves blood and fluid circulation systems
• Ease the heaviness and burden you feel due to pregnancy
• Releases the strains and pains you feel following pregnancy
• Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
• Boosts mood
• Gives peaked relaxation
• Alleviates pain, soreness, and cramps

To learn more about the benefits of foot massage, Click Here.

In conclusion, foot massage in pregnancy has lots of benefits. It helps to reduce edema and increase fluid/blood circulation, ease heaviness and cramps, reduce tension, and boosts enhanced relaxation.