Pregnancy is one of the most physically demanding experiences a human body can undergo. In the space of nine months, your posture shifts, your centre of gravity moves forward, your joints loosen under the influence of relaxin, and an extraordinary range of new aches, pains, and sensations develop — often in the very week you feel least equipped to deal with them.
Pregnancy massage — a specialised form of remedial massage adapted for the anatomical and physiological changes of pregnancy — is one of the safest, most effective ways to manage the physical discomfort of pregnancy. At Advanced Health Chiropractor & Remedial Massage in Preston, our qualified therapists provide pregnancy massage from the second trimester through to delivery, using techniques and positioning specifically designed for expecting mothers.
Is Massage Safe During Pregnancy?
The short answer is yes — pregnancy massage, when performed by a qualified therapist who understands the specific precautions involved, is safe and beneficial throughout the second and third trimesters.
The first trimester is typically avoided by most clinical massage providers, not because massage is dangerous, but because:
- The risk of miscarriage is highest in the first 12 weeks (most miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities, not external factors)
- Many women experience nausea and sensitivity to touch that makes massage impractical
- Conservatively, most practitioners prefer to wait until the pregnancy is established
After 12 weeks, with no specific contraindications, pregnancy massage is very well supported by both research and clinical practice guidelines.
Specific Conditions That Warrant Medical Clearance First
Before commencing pregnancy massage, we advise consultation with your obstetrician or midwife if you have:
- Pre-eclampsia or hypertension in pregnancy
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or thromboembolism history
- Placenta praevia
- Premature labour risk factors
- Recent bleeding or spotting
The Physical Discomforts Pregnancy Massage Addresses
Lower Back and Sacroiliac Pain
The combined effect of postural change (anterior pelvic tilt, lumbar hyperlordosis) and ligament laxity from relaxin leaves the lower back and sacroiliac joints under significant stress throughout pregnancy. This is one of the most common complaints we treat in our Preston clinic.
Pregnancy massage specifically targets the lumbar paraspinals, quadratus lumborum, gluteal muscles, and piriformis — all of which become chronically overloaded as the pregnancy progresses. Soft tissue release in these regions, combined with appropriate positioning to take pressure off the lumbar spine and SI joints, often provides immediate and lasting relief.
Round Ligament Pain
Round ligament pain — sharp, groin-level pain with sudden movement — is caused by rapid stretching of the ligaments supporting the uterus. While massage cannot treat the ligaments directly, releasing the hip flexors and surrounding pelvic structures reduces the mechanical tension on these structures and can significantly reduce the frequency of episodes.
Upper Back and Shoulder Pain
As breast tissue enlarges and the postural centre of gravity shifts forward, the upper back and shoulders compensate by rounding forward. This creates the same pattern of upper cross syndrome seen in desk workers, but progressing more rapidly. Upper back and shoulder remedial massage addresses this directly and helps prevent the postural changes of pregnancy from becoming permanent.
Sciatic Pain in Pregnancy
The expanding uterus can compress the sciatic nerve directly, or the piriformis muscle can tighten sufficiently to compress the sciatic nerve as it passes through the buttock. Either mechanism causes the burning, shooting leg pain of sciatica. Gentle remedial massage of the gluteal and piriformis region — in a side-lying position — provides significant relief for many pregnant women who have tried everything else.
Leg Oedema and Calf Heaviness
Fluid retention and reduced venous return (particularly in the third trimester) causes lower leg swelling and heaviness. Gentle lymphatic and circulatory massage of the legs promotes venous and lymphatic drainage, reducing swelling and the associated discomfort.
Headaches
Many pregnant women experience increased headache frequency, driven by hormonal changes, postural shifts, and reduced sleep quality. Cervical and sub-occipital remedial massage is safe throughout pregnancy and very effective for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches.
Positioning During Pregnancy Massage
Positioning is one of the most important adaptations in pregnancy massage:
Side-lying is the primary position used from the second trimester onwards. With appropriate pillow support under the head, belly, top knee, and feet, side-lying allows complete access to the back, gluteal region, legs, and neck without any pressure on the abdomen or the vena cava (the large blood vessel compressed by the growing uterus when lying flat on the back for extended periods).
Semi-reclined (with the upper body elevated to approximately 45°) is used for abdominal and lower leg work where appropriate.
We do not use a massage table with a hole cut out for the belly. While this seems intuitive, it places unsupported pressure on the uterine ligaments and can strain the lumbar spine. Side-lying with proper pillow support is far superior.
Postpartum Remedial Massage
Recovery after childbirth is a physical challenge that deserves as much attention as pregnancy itself. In the weeks and months after delivery:
- The cervical and thoracic spine are placed under significant strain by breastfeeding posture
- The pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles need rehabilitation (Clinical Pilates is extremely valuable here)
- Sleep deprivation and carrying a growing infant create new sources of musculoskeletal stress
- Many women experience shoulder, wrist, and forearm pain from repetitive infant handling (De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is particularly common)
Our remedial massage therapists and clinical Pilates instructors work with postpartum women from six weeks after delivery onwards, with programmes tailored to the specific demands of the postpartum period.
Why Choose Advanced Health for Pregnancy Massage in Preston?
Our remedial massage therapists hold current qualifications in pregnancy and postpartum massage, and treat pregnant patients within a multidisciplinary environment alongside chiropractors and a clinical Pilates instructor. This means if your pregnancy aches have a joint component — which is very common — we can address both the soft tissue and structural factors in the same clinic visit.
We’re at 4/107 Plenty Road, Preston VIC 3072 — accessible from Thornbury, Reservoir, Northcote, Coburg, and across Melbourne’s inner north. Open seven days, with evening appointments available Monday to Friday.
Book online or call (03) 9484 9185. We’ll ask about your gestational week and any specific symptoms at the time of booking to ensure the right therapist and treatment time is allocated.
FAQs
I’m 36 weeks pregnant — is it too late to start massage? Not at all. Massage in the final weeks of pregnancy is wonderful for managing the physical demands of late pregnancy and preparing the body for labour. There’s no “too late” as long as your obstetric team is happy.
Can pregnancy massage induce labour? Relaxation massage does not induce labour. There are specific reflexology and acupressure points traditionally associated with labour stimulation, but we do not apply these as part of a standard pregnancy massage.
Do I need a referral from my obstetrician? Not for a standard pregnancy massage. We do ask that you inform your obstetrician or midwife that you’re having massage, and we request medical clearance if any of the contraindications listed above apply.
Can I bring my newborn to a postpartum appointment? Absolutely. We understand that finding childcare in the postpartum period isn’t always possible. Let us know at booking and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
