Pregnancy Massage and its importance

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Exercising relaxation techniques can help to reduce the stress and anxiety you feel during pregnancy.

If you are looking for ways to calm down, try prenatal massage. Prenatal massage is good for relieving mild stress. It is also helpful in relieving muscle and physical pain.

Massage is generally safe at any time during pregnancy. Some facilities refrain from performing them in the first quarter because there is a higher risk of miscarriage during this period.

It is a good idea to seek your doctor’s approval before receiving a massage, especially if you have problems with your calves or other parts of your legs.

Essential oils:

The use of essential oils during pregnancy is controversial. Some health professionals say that some oils can be safe and useful for reducing pain and relaxation during pregnancy and childbirth. However, he also cautioned against using the oil in the first quarter.

According to the National Nonprofit Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, the key point of debate is whether the oil used during pregnancy can harm a growing baby if they enter the umbilical cord.

Further research on the use of essential oils during pregnancy and childbirth is needed. If you plan to use them, seek guidance from your healthcare provider.

Why Have Massage?

You already know that massage therapy is so relaxing. However, that’s not the only underlying benefit. Others include:

Help reduce stress

Expectant women have a lot on their minds: health, finance, and daily stresses relating to pregnancy.

Relieves Sore Muscles and Joint Pains

If you find your joints and muscles are sore, massage can help ease the pain by keeping the muscles flexible.

Improves Sleep

Many expectant women find it hard to sleep at night. However, with massage therapy, you’re able to sleep better and comfortably at night.

Pregnancy tests

An ultrasound will be used to confirm and date your pregnancy.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG
Complete Blood Test
Blood Glucose Test
Urine C/E
Blood group
Anti HCV
HbsAg
HIV

Tests Associated with Pregnancy


PURPOSE	TEST NAME	WHY PERFORMED	WHEN PERFORMED	WHO PERFORMED ON/SAMPLE
Genetic tests for inherited diseases	Genetic testing for inherited diseases	Check carrier status for certain genetic diseases to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease	Preconception or first trimester	Mother and father (blood sample)
	Genetic testing for hemoglobin disorders	Check carrier status for certain abnormal hemoglobin disorders to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease	Preconception or during pregnancy	Mother and father (blood sample)
	Cystic fibrosis carrier testing	Check carrier status for CF	Preconception or first trimester	Mother and father (blood sample)
Testing to detect health conditions in the mother	Blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c	To screen women at risk of type 2 diabetes (which is different than gestational diabetes)	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Pap test and HPV testing	Screen for cervical cancer and some STDs	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (cells from her cervix)
	Immunity to rubella (German measles)	Check for immunity to the virus, which can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	HIV screening test	Check for HIV infection so steps can be taken to reduce likelihood of transmission to the baby	Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk	Mother (blood sample)
	Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis tests	Check for STD infections, which can cause miscarriage or infect the baby during delivery	Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk	Mother (cervical cells, urine or blood sample, depending on test)
	Hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening	Detect hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection	Pre-conception or first trimester; may be repeated in the third trimester if at high risk	Mother (blood sample)
	Varicella zoster virus testing	Check for immunity to chickenpox, which can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	TORCH panel	Check for infection with toxoplasmosis and other infections that can cause birth defects	Preconception or first trimester, if infections suspected	Mother (blood sample)
	Bacterial vaginosis	Detect infection, which can cause pre-term labor	Preconception or whenever symptoms experienced	Mother (vaginal secretions)
	Urine culture for bacteriuria	Detect bacterial infection in the urinary tract, which can lead to kidney infection or increased risk of pre-term delivery and low birth weight	First prenatal visit or between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy; may be repeated in third trimester	Mother (urine sample)
	Group B streptococcus	Detect infection, which can harm the baby during birth and infect the mother’s uterus, urinary tract, and any incision made during a cesarean section	Between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy	Mother (specimen from vaginal and rectal areas)
Confirmation and monitoring of pregnancy and health of mother	Pregnancy test (hCG)	Confirm pregnancy	First trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Urine screen for glucose and/or protein	Check for signs of kidney or bladder infection, undiagnosed diabetes or gestational diabetes, or pre-eclampsia	Each prenatal visit	Mother (urine sample)
	Complete blood count (CBC)	Check for anemia and/or detect low platelet count	Preconception and/or early in the first trimester; repeated in third trimester	Mother (blood sample)
	Blood typing and antibody screen	Check for potential incompatibility in blood type between mother and fetus (such as Rh factor antibodies)	First trimester; antibody screen repeated between weeks 28 and 29 of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Glucose challenge test/oral glucose tolerance test	Check for gestational diabetes	Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)	In women with known thyroid conditions, to adjust medication if necessary	Throughout pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
Detection of fetal abnormalities or assessment of risk	First trimester Down syndrome screen	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome	Usually between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample plus ultrasound)
	Second trimester maternal serum screen	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities or open neural tube defects	Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Cell-free fetal DNA	Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities; currently recommended for women at high risk of having babies with these disorders	During or after the 10^thweek of pregnancy	Mother (blood sample)
	Chorionic villus sampling	Detect chromosomal disorders in the fetus	Between weeks 10 and 12 of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother (cells from the placenta)
	Amniocentesis	Detect certain birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities	Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother (amniotic fluid)
	Cordocentesis	Detect chromosomal abnormalities, blood disorders, and certain infections	Between weeks 18 and 22 of pregnancy, if recommended	Mother/fetus (fetal blood sample obtained from vein in the umbilical cord)
Fetal maturity/readiness for birth	Amniocentesis	Check fetal lung development	After week 32 of pregnancy if risk of pre-term delivery	Mother (amniotic fluid)
Fetal maturity/readiness for birth	Fetal fibronectin (fFN)	Detect fFN; negative result is highly predictive that pre-term delivery will NOT occur in the next 7-14 days	Between week 22 and 35 of pregnancy, if having symptoms of pre-term labor	Mother (cervical or vaginal fluid sample)