Pregnancy Massage

What is pregnancy massage?
Pregnancy massage can help you cope with the changes to your body that occur while you are pregnant. It can be especially useful to ease discomfort at a time when you cannot use some medicines or some other medical options.

Pregnancy or prenatal massage is used to reduce stress, reduce swelling in the arms and legs and relieve muscle and joint pain in pregnant women.

Massage in pregnancy can involve many different massage techniques. It is usually a gentle massage.

What does a pregnancy massage involve?
Pregnancy can put a lot of stress on your back, shoulders, neck and abdominal muscles. Pregnancy massage is designed to relieve some of the aches and pains that are common during pregnancy. A qualified pregnancy massage therapist will understand the areas to target, how much pressure to use and which areas to avoid.

Before the massage begins, your therapist will talk to you about your health and lifestyle. They will ask you to lie on a specially prepared massage table with extra pillows and supports to keep you comfortable and stable during the massage and will also cover you with towels to protect your privacy and to keep you warm. They will use creams or pregnancy safe essential oils to help them to massage your skin smoothly and help you relax.

It is not recommended to lie flat on your back while you are in the second half of your pregnancy since this can put pressure on the vein that runs from your legs to your heart and may make you feel light-headed.

Side lying during massage is recommended after 10 weeks with about 60% of the massage time is spent on the left side and the remainder on the right side to minimise the pressure on the vein running from the legs.

What are the health benefits of pregnancy massage?
Massage during pregnancy may reduce stress, relax and loosen the muscles, increase blood flow and improve the lymphatic system. It can also improve mood, lower anxiety and improve sleep. Aromatherapy when used correctly can also assist in reducing the symptoms of morning sickness, nausea and other digestive issues which can occur.

Pregnancy massage has also been shown to be very effective during labour to help manage pain and improve your emotional experience of labour.

Is pregnancy massage safe?
It is important to make sure your massage therapist is properly trained in pregnancy massage. They should avoid pressing certain pressure points and should only use gentle movements on your abdomen (tummy).

Heated beds or electric blankets are not recommended in pregnancy. You may also need help to get on and off the table safely.

Always talk to your doctor before you have a pregnancy massage, especially if:

  • you are in the first trimester
  • you have nausea, vomiting, or morning sickness
  • you are at high risk of miscarriage
  • you have a high-risk pregnancy (such as due to preeclampsia or high blood pressure)
  • you have a blood clot, for example deep vein thrombosis
  • you have abdominal pain or bleeding
  • you have swelling of one or both legs