Is a Pregnancy Massage Safe?

It's a question every expectant mother asks. Pregnancy massage is one of the most thoroughly researched complementary therapies — here's what you need to know about safety.

For any expecting mother, things you used to treat yourself to — like wines, beers and ciders — all get thrown out of the window (hopefully not literally). However, when it comes to pregnancy massage, you might worry that the pressure on your abdomen might harm your baby. We've talked elsewhere about how massage therapy can reduce stress, strengthen the immune system and boost wellness, but when it comes to your or your partner's baby, it's good to be extra careful.

General Advice

Pregnancy massage (also known as prenatal massage therapy) is generally considered safe after the first twelve weeks of your pregnancy (the first trimester). In addition to this advice on timing, there are some other things to get ticked off before you visit us just to make double sure.

Ask your GP. This can be done as a telephone call. Follow their advice, but generally — unless you have or have had gynaecological issues and need to be extra careful — you should expect a green light from them.
Ask us. You can call us or pop us an email. We've worked with expectant mothers before and can offer advice about whether you could benefit from a massage, as well as advice on what style of treatment might work best for you — for example, a relaxation massage or a Swedish massage.
Talk with your therapist about your pregnancy on arrival. Help us get to know you, know about any concerns you have and any medical conditions you have, as well as issues related to your pregnancy such as morning sickness, low mood or emotional instability.

So, is it safe?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, we would recommend that all pregnant women incorporate prenatal massage into their self-care routine for both themselves and, of course, the star of the show — the baby.

Pregnancy Massage Benefits

Massage therapy while pregnant can introduce a plethora of benefits to your wellbeing, hormone levels and, of course, mitigating some of the side-effects of growing a lovely new human life. Here are just a few:

Mental health. Anxiety, stress and depression — both generalised and prenatal — are significantly reduced with regular massage throughout the course of your pregnancy.
Muscle aches and joint pain. Carrying a baby is tough on your body — and while your body is very tough indeed (in fact, designed to be tough enough to carry a baby in the first place), regular massage can greatly relieve the stress on your muscles and joints. Be sure to tell your therapist if you've been having consistent pain in any particular muscle group (such as in your lower back) so they can use their expertise to tailor your treatment accordingly.
Hormone regulation. This directly leads on from mental health and wellbeing. Multiple studies conducted over the last decade have shown that pregnant women receiving treatments every other week can expect a significant reduction in norepinephrine and cortisol (stress hormones) as well as an increase in dopamine and serotonin (hormones important to mood and wellbeing).

Are you or your partner pregnant? See how we can help you mitigate the pains of pregnancy — contact us today.