Prenatal massage and lymphatic drainage in Mauritius

Pregnancy is an extraordinary adventure but it is also a period of intense anatomical, hormonal and physiological change. In the space of a few months, the mother-to-be's body has to adapt constantly to make room for life. Faced with such upheaval, being supported through touch is far less about pampering than it is about therapy.

To accompany motherhood gently, the combination of prenatal massage and manual lymphatic drainage stands out as the perfect duo to relieve physical aches and soothe the mind.

Manual lymphatic drainage against water retention and heavy legs

From the second trimester onwards and even more markedly as the due date approaches, most pregnant women experience the phenomenon of "heavy legs".

Why does the body store so much water?

Under the effect of pregnancy hormones (progesterone in particular), the walls of the blood vessels relax, which slows down venous return. Month after month, the uterus grows and becomes heavier. It then exerts direct mechanical pressure on the inferior vena cava and on the lymphatic vessels located around the pelvis. This natural "dam" blocks the fluids from moving back up: lymph stagnates, causing swelling that is sometimes spectacular in the ankles, the calves and even the hands.

How prenatal drainage works

Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle technique, extremely fluid and rhythmic, carried out without essential oils. Through soft wave-like pressure and precise pumping on the lymph nodes (carefully avoiding the belly area), the therapist gets the circulation going again.

• Immediate results: The tissues de-congest, the ankles regain their shape and the painful feeling of heaviness gives way to an impression of lightness.
• The health bonus: By flushing out excess water and accumulated toxins, drainage also relieves the blood pressure that is often put under strain during pregnancy.

Prenatal massage: relieving muscular and structural tension

While drainage takes care of the fluids, prenatal massage (often called a Relax massage) deals with the muscles and joints that take the strain of the baby's weight.

Easing the postural metamorphosis

To compensate for the weight of the belly pulling forward, a pregnant woman's centre of gravity shifts. To avoid falling, the mother-to-be arches her lower back (hyperlordosis), which creates tension in the lumbar region and the sacrum and can trigger the well-known sciatica of pregnancy. The shoulders often roll forward to compensate, creating painful knots between the shoulder blades and in the neck.

Prenatal massage offers a tailor-made answer to these areas of tension:

• Releasing the postural muscles: The therapist works with enveloping, secure pressure to release the lumbar, gluteal and back muscles.
• Loosening the pelvis: Gentle movements around the hips release joint tension and give the pelvis back its mobility, preparing the body for childbirth.

This work on postural tension is exactly what Morgane carries out during a therapeutic massage at the studio, with the pressure and the set-up adapted to a pregnant body.

A specific set-up for the safety of mother and baby

There is no question of massaging a pregnant woman like any athlete. Beyond the first trimester (a period when massage is generally avoided as a precaution), everything comes down to the set-up.

The mother-to-be lies on her side (the lateral decubitus position), comfortably propped up with cushions if needed under the head, under the belly and between the knees. This position protects the baby, avoids compressing the vena cava (which could cause dizziness for the mother) and lets the practitioner reach the whole back, the glutes and the legs in the best possible way. Prenatal massage can also be offered seated on a chair, arms resting on the massage table, if the mother-to-be feels more at ease that way.

Drainage, on the other hand, is done strictly lying on the back. The backrest can of course be raised slightly and the mother-to-be can bend the leg that is not being drained for more comfort. It is in this position that Morgane practises lymphatic drainage at the studio.

The crucial role of the mother-baby connection: less cortisol, more oxytocin

The benefits of massage go well beyond the physical. Pregnancy sometimes comes with anxiety, spikes of stress or sleep troubles linked to hormones or to the apprehension of giving birth.

Massage stimulates the production of oxytocin (the hormone of happiness and bonding) and endorphins (the body's natural painkillers), while bringing down the level of cortisol (the stress hormone). These hormones cross the placental barrier. When the mother relaxes deeply on the table, the baby benefits too. Babies very often settle down or move gently during the session, lulled by the rhythm of the strokes.

Prenatal support at Pilates Tamarin studio

At Pilates Tamarin studio, Morgane works on a global approach to caring for pregnant women. Combining the gentleness of lymphatic drainage and prenatal massage with prenatal Pilates sessions is the finest gift you can give your body. Morgane is specifically trained in the contraindications, the neutral oils that are allowed (without essential oils) and the safety positions that are essential during pregnancy.

Prenatal massage and drainage remain, above all, health tools. By relieving mechanical pain and freeing the legs from the weight of water, they allow the mother-to-be to reclaim a body in full transformation and to approach childbirth in better shape, both physically and mentally.