Massage therapy during pregnancy is a wonderful complementary choice for prenatal care. It is a healthy way to reduce stress and promote overall wellness. Massage relieves many of the normal discomforts experienced during pregnancy, such as backaches, stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches and edema (or swelling).

In addition, massage for pregnant women reduces stress on weight-bearing joints, encourages blood and lymph circulation, helps to relax nervous tension -- which aids in better sleep -- and can help relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes.

Is it okay for me to get prenatal massage?

If you are generally healthy and have been cleared by your OBGYN for light exercise than you can get prenatal massage at any point during your term.

Be sure you get clearance from your doctor before you try a massage, if:

• You're experiencing nausea, vomiting, or morning sickness

• You're at high risk of miscarriage

• You have a high-risk pregnancy such as placental abruption (where the placenta slightly detaches from the wall of the uterus) or preterm labor

Myths of Pregnancy Massage:

Myth #1: You can't get massage during the first trimester

Doctors used to worry that massage during the first trimester could lead to miscarriages based on a false assumption of how intense massage work can be on the body. This has since been debunked by several studies but the idea still makes the rounds with older doctors who haven't kept up to date. The medical profession used to use the same assumption about getting massage during cancer treatments. After studying the effects of massage on the body, it has been determined that even a deep tissue session is roughly equivalent to a medium workout at the gym. Massage, even deep tissue massage, is safe for both mother and baby throughout the entire pregnancy term, as long as there are no abnormal health issues. If you are healthy enough to go to the gym, you are healthy enough to get a massage!

Myth #2: You can't get deep tissue massage during pregnancy

Based on the same bad assumption as above, doctors also used to advise only light massage during pregnancy. This has also been debunked by the above studies. Expectant mother's in pain rejoice...you don't have to suffer through a light rubdown that simply feels like an expensive application of massage oil just because you are pregnant anymore. In fact, due to all the relaxin hormones running through a pregnant woman's system, many pregnant women prefer more pressure during a massage, not less.

Myth #3: You need a table with a large hole cut out

Well, okay, you can choose to get a massage that way, and for most women that is fine. For some women, towards the end of the term, those pregnancy tables with the large cut outs aren't big enough and can be uncomfortable to both you and the baby. I do all of my prenatal massage sessions on a regular table in a side lying position with extra pillows. It's safe, it's very comfortable, and it works at any point during the pregnancy.