Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/588318
S Since stress has negative effects on pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery, one of the main goals of a prenatal massage practitioner is to control and lower maternal stress and anxiety. Common pregnancy- related physical discomforts—such as backaches, nausea, swelling—and any emotional concerns may add to maternal stress levels. Long- term exposure to heightened stress levels can lead to potentially serious health problems, such as suppressed maternal immune function, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The blood catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine play a significant part during the stress response. The placental vascular bed is hypersensitive to the constrictive effects of epinephrine, which can lead to failure of labor to progress and decreased placental circulation, thereby inhibiting fetal nutrition. In addition, these stress compounds dampen the effects of other hormones, such as oxytocin, which is essential for a normal progression of labor and mother-child bonding. It is important to understand the complex influence of a mother's emotions on her growing baby. Prenatal predisposition to stress can 52 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k n o v e m b e r / d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 5 Effects of Stress on Pregnancy • Dampened effectiveness of oxytocin. • Delayed infant neuromotor development. • Elevated maternal heart rate and blood pressure. • Higher incidences of miscarriage. • Increased stress hormones. • Increased labor pain. • Increased likelihood of (maternal) unhealthy lifestyle habits. • Low fetal birth weight and premature labor. • Maternal depression. • Obstetrical complications. • Prolonged labor or failure to progress. • Uterine vasoconstriction. Effects of Stress on Fetal Development • Behavioral problems, such as ADD. • Cleft lip and cleft palate. • Cognitive delays, such as autism and autistic spectrum disorders. • Diabetes later in life. • High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. • Hypersensitivity. • Low birth weight. • Neuromotor delays. • Obesity later in life. • Premature labor. • Slowed brain development. profoundly affect in utero development and may predispose babies to higher risk of disease. If your clients are educated about ways to control the stressors in their lives, they and their babies will fare much better. Severe stress during pregnancy has been linked with both physical and neurological disabilities. Obviously, creating an environment that reduces maternal stress and anxiety, such as through frequent massage, fosters relaxation and is essential for a healthy pregnancy and birth outcome. Massage and bodywork, when appropriately administered during pregnancy, can have a powerful influence in mitigating the effects of stress. Massage sedates and restores the nervous system. Proprioceptors of the deeper soft tissues relay messages to the central nervous system about muscle tension and blood pressure. The heat produced by massage signals both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to balance, correct, and restore these self-regulating mechanisms. Relaxation is further enhanced by the pain-reducing, or analgesic, effect it provides. Blood vessels dilate, waste products get reabsorbed and excreted, tissues become oxygenated, and pain is diminished. Beta-endorphins and serotonin (a neurotransmitter) are secreted during massage and work together to inhibit the central nervous system and produce that "feel-good" response. Prenatal massage also addresses many of the musculoskeletal discomforts expectant women experience—abdominal pressure, backaches, hemorrhoids, sinus congestion, and swelling can all be relieved or reduced by appropriate prenatal massage. In addition, the emotional and psychological effects of prenatal massage cannot be overlooked or underestimated. The nurturing and respectful touch given by a qualified practitioner helps the expectant mother achieve a sense of peace during an unsettling time. A woman who feels validated and affirmed through someone's loving