Pregnancy Massage: Safety and Precautions

Massage can feel good during pregnancy, and many expectant mothers ask whether it's safe. The short answer from the source we reviewed is that it can be, with precautions and a therapist who has training in pregnancy.

Precautions

HealthLink BC, a public health information service in British Columbia, Canada, gives these precautions:

• Tell your massage therapist that you are pregnant.
• "Be sure that your massage therapist has special training in pregnancy massage."
• "Avoid massage of your belly." It adds that "firm massage of the pregnant belly could cause serious pregnancy problems."
• "After 12 weeks of pregnancy (or much earlier if you are carrying twins or more), avoid lying on your belly."
• "After your fourth month of pregnancy, avoid lying on your back."
• "As your pregnancy progresses, the best positions are sitting on a chair or stool or lying on your side," and the left side is best later in pregnancy.
• "Talk to your doctor before using aromatherapy oils," because "some essential oils may be unsafe during pregnancy."

It also says to check that the therapist is certified by a provincial or national group. In the US, ask any therapist about their license and their pregnancy-specific training.

What the general massage research says

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says that the risk of harmful effects from massage "appears to be low," with rare reports of serious side effects. Its massage page doesn't cover pregnancy. It also advises not to use massage therapy to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.

Back pain in pregnancy

The NHS (a UK source) advice on back pain in pregnancy lists other steps, including keeping your back supported when sitting, using a supportive mattress, getting enough rest and gentle exercise to strengthen the abdominal muscles. It lists signs that need urgent help, such as back pain in the second or third trimester that could be a sign of early labor, a fever, vaginal bleeding or pain when you pee. See our post on prenatal chiropractic care for the full list. In the US, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you need emergency help.

Next step

If you are pregnant and want to ask about massage, call 484.455.4664 or book online. Keep It Kinetic Chiropractic is at 3254 W Ridge Pike, Suite 202, Pottstown, PA 19464.