Should pregnant women get foot massages? In which cases should they avoid it?

Gentle foot massage techniques are a safe, effective, and quick method to help expectant mothers relieve issues such as swelling and numbness in the legs.

Pregnancy is a time when a woman’s body undergoes many changes. Besides a noticeable increase in waist size, you may also face swelling and pain in the legs and feet. However, should pregnant women get foot massages, and in what cases should these techniques be avoided? Let’s follow Fuji’s insights below to find the answers.

Should Pregnant Women Get a Foot Massage?

Foot massage for pregnant women is a popular technique to relieve pain during pregnancy. However, this method has not been verified by any health authority. Therefore, its benefits are not widely recognized. In fact, many spas and massage centers are hesitant to offer foot massages to pregnant women.

However, if done correctly, foot massage for pregnant women is safe and can provide many health benefits. If you enjoy foot massages, you should choose reputable centers with experienced professionals who understand how to massage pregnant women’s feet.

Tips for Massaging a Pregnant Woman’s Feet at Home

Foot massage during the third trimester can offer many benefits. However, to reap all the benefits, you need to know the proper techniques for massaging a pregnant woman’s feet:

Foot Massage:

• Sit on a chair that isn’t too high, so that both feet can touch the ground.
• Apply a small amount of massage oil to the feet.
• Massage the feet: Use your thumbs to gently rub the fleshy part behind each toe for about 30 seconds. Stroke steadily and continuously or gently move your fingers along the foot. Gently knead each toe joint. To massage the sole, hold the sole with both hands, press your thumbs slowly along the length of the sole from the heel to the toes. Repeat these actions and massage the foot for about 5-8 minutes.

Calf Massage:

• After massaging the feet, move to the ankle area and gently massage it.
• Then, use both hands to gently rub from the shins to the thighs. Gently massage the calves to help blood circulation and reduce swelling.
• Finally, gently stroke down from the thighs to the calves. Repeat these movements for about 10 minutes or longer, then switch to the other leg.

The Benefits of Foot Massage During Pregnancy

Health Benefits

During pregnancy, your body accumulates a lot of excess fluid. Additionally, the growing uterus puts pressure on the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cava, causing blood circulation in the legs to slow down, leading to stagnation, swelling, and pain. Regular foot massages for pregnant women can alleviate these symptoms of pain and discomfort.

Mental Benefits

Foot massages help you regain calmness and soothe your mind. This is especially necessary for first-time mothers who are often anxious and stressed about the childbirth process and post-birth baby care. For mothers showing signs of depression, foot massages can improve their mood, which in turn benefits the baby’s health, reducing the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

Good for the Baby

Massage movements not only enhance the mother’s health but also stimulate the baby’s development. When massaging the feet, the baby in the womb can feel it and may respond by moving inside the mother’s belly. Therefore, regular foot massages for pregnant women help strengthen the bond between mother and child.

Situations to Avoid Foot Massage

Despite the comfort and relief it provides, pregnant women should avoid foot massages in the following situations:

1. Pregnant Women at Risk of Preeclampsia Should Avoid Foot Massage

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organ systems, most often the kidneys. Pregnant women are at risk of this complication in the later stages of pregnancy. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, vision changes such as blurriness or loss of vision, swelling in the hands and feet, and sudden weight gain. In this case, you should only get a massage with your doctor’s approval; otherwise, avoid it.

2. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis is a condition involving blood clots forming in the deep veins, typically in the legs. This condition causes significant swelling in the pregnant woman’s legs along with severe pain. If a pregnant woman has this condition, foot massage can be life-threatening. This is because massaging exerts pressure on the veins, potentially dislodging the blood clot from the vein wall, causing it to travel to the lungs. This can block blood flow, leading to severe complications such as embolism.

From the above insights, we hope you have gained a better understanding of the benefits of foot massages for pregnant women. If you are at risk of preeclampsia or deep vein thrombosis, please avoid foot massages.