Advanced Health Preston offers pregnancy massage and prenatal massage for women at all stages of pregnancy. Our therapists are trained in prenatal massage technique — appropriate positioning, pressure, and areas to avoid at each stage of pregnancy — so you receive therapeutic benefit safely and comfortably. We’re at 4/107 Plenty Road, Preston, open Monday–Friday 8am–7pm and Saturday 8am–1pm, with HICAPS health fund claiming on the spot.
Pregnancy massage vs prenatal massage — are they the same thing?
Yes. “Pregnancy massage” and “prenatal massage” refer to the same thing: remedial or therapeutic massage adapted for pregnant women. The terms are used interchangeably. At Advanced Health, we also offer postnatal massage for new mothers after birth — the two services are related but distinct in technique and focus.
What pregnancy massage at Advanced Health involves
Pregnancy massage at Advanced Health is a modified remedial massage session adapted to the specific physical demands and restrictions of each trimester. Key adaptations:
- First trimester (1–12 weeks): Massage is generally safe in the first trimester but many women prefer to wait until the second trimester. If you book in the first trimester, your therapist will use lighter pressure over the lower back and abdomen and avoid deep work in these areas.
- Second trimester (13–26 weeks): The most comfortable trimester for most women to receive massage. Side-lying positioning begins — you’ll be supported with bolsters and pillows on one side, and your therapist will work through the upper back, neck, hips, and legs. Face-down positioning is generally discontinued from this point.
- Third trimester (27–40 weeks): Side-lying positioning throughout. Focus often shifts to lower back and pelvic discomfort, leg cramps, swollen ankles and feet, and rib and thoracic tightness from the growing bump. Many women find this the most relieving trimester for massage — when the weight is at its greatest, targeted soft tissue work provides significant short-term relief.
Why pregnancy massage is beneficial
Pregnancy creates specific and compounding physical stresses. The shifting centre of gravity places increasing demand on the lower back, sacroiliac joint, and hips. Postural changes — forward head, rounded shoulders, increased lumbar lordosis — load muscles that weren’t used to that demand before pregnancy. Relaxin (the hormone that loosens ligaments in preparation for birth) can create joint instability that increases muscle tension as muscles compensate. In later pregnancy, circulatory changes can cause leg swelling, cramps, and general discomfort that massage helps address.
Regular pregnancy massage across the second and third trimesters has been associated with: reduced lower back and pelvic pain, reduced leg swelling, improved sleep quality, reduced anxiety and stress hormones, and reduced labour pain in some studies. These are clinically meaningful outcomes, not just relaxation benefits.
Common presentations we treat in pregnant patients
- Lower back pain and sacroiliac joint pain — very common from the second trimester onward as the pelvis widens and shifts under relaxin influence
- Hip and glute tightness — from postural adjustment and the increasing weight of the bump
- Rib and thoracic tension — the ribcage expands to accommodate the growing uterus, creating tension in the intercostals and thoracic muscles
- Neck and upper back tension — from breast enlargement weight, postural forward head compensation, and early feeding preparation
- Leg cramps and swollen ankles — circulatory changes in pregnancy reduce venous return; massage improves fluid movement and reduces cramping frequency
- Carpal tunnel-like symptoms — fluid retention in the wrist and forearm can compress the median nerve; massage and positional work reduces symptoms
- Headaches — common in the first and third trimesters; often driven by cervical tension and fluid changes rather than vascular migraine
Combining pregnancy massage with chiropractic at Advanced Health
Many of our Preston-area pregnant patients combine pregnancy massage with chiropractic care. Andrew Cunningham uses Webster Technique — a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment for pregnant women that focuses on the sacrum, pelvis, and associated ligaments. Prenatal chiropractic helps maintain pelvic alignment as the pelvis changes under relaxin, and the combination of chiropractic (joint) + massage (soft tissue) produces better outcomes than either alone for lower back and pelvic pain in pregnancy.
Pricing
Pregnancy massage is priced as remedial massage: $75 for 45 minutes, $105 for 60 minutes. The 60-minute session is recommended for most pregnant patients, particularly in the third trimester when positioning takes a little longer to set up and there are often more areas to address. Health fund extras rebates apply via HICAPS on the spot if your policy includes remedial massage. No doctor’s referral or clearance required for uncomplicated pregnancies.
FAQs about pregnancy massage in Preston
Is pregnancy massage safe in the first trimester?
Generally yes, with appropriate technique — lighter pressure over the lower back and abdomen, and avoiding specific reflexology points considered contraindicated in early pregnancy. However, many practitioners and pregnant women prefer to wait until the second trimester (12 weeks+) as the risk of miscarriage decreases significantly and comfort generally improves. If you’re in the first trimester and want massage, please tell us — we’ll adapt technique accordingly.
Do I need a doctor’s clearance to get pregnancy massage?
For an uncomplicated pregnancy, no. If you have a high-risk pregnancy — placenta previa, preeclampsia, preterm labour risk, or your GP or midwife has advised you to avoid massage — please follow their guidance and bring any instructions to your appointment. If in doubt, check with your midwife or OB first.
How often should I have pregnancy massage?
For general wellbeing and discomfort management, most pregnant women find monthly massage in the second trimester and fortnightly massage in the third trimester comfortable and beneficial. If you’re experiencing significant lower back or pelvic pain, more frequent sessions (weekly or fortnightly) for a short course may be appropriate. Your therapist will advise.
Where is Advanced Health in Preston?
4/107 Plenty Road, Preston 3072 — with free on-site parking. Open Monday–Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–1pm.
Do you offer postnatal massage after birth?
Yes. Postnatal massage is available from 6–8 weeks after vaginal delivery and 8–12 weeks after caesarean delivery (with GP clearance). Postnatal massage addresses the postural demands of feeding and carrying a newborn, and many women also continue with our postpartum clinical Pilates programme for pelvic floor and core recovery. See our postpartum clinical Pilates page for details.
Book your pregnancy massage
Call (03) 9484 9185 or book online. We’re at 4/107 Plenty Road, Preston 3072. Open Monday–Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–1pm.
