WHAT TRIMESTERS CAN YOU SAFELY GET A PREGNANCY MASSAGE?

Pregnancy massage can be a helpful way to do this. As your body changes it can lead to some aches and pains which can stop you doing the things you enjoy and that are best for you and your baby. It is also a time where you may have less energy or be feeling overwhelmed with the changes happening in your life. Having a pregnancy massage is a great way to take time out for yourself to prioritise your own mental and physical wellbeing.

Pregnancy massage is safe to do throughout each trimester and can have benefits along the whole journey.

First Trimester

During different trimesters you may have different focuses, early on in your first trimester this may be more preventative to stay ahead of any niggles that you may experience as your body starts to change.

Second Trimester

During the second trimester is when your baby starts to grow and is normally when women's stomachs grow or ‘pop’. This can be a time where a lot of physical changes occur in a short time frame which can lead to conditions such as pelvic girdle pain, pubic symphysis pain, sacroiliac joint pain or low back pain. These can all be assessed by our Women’s Health Coaches, Kirsten and Erica. An adjunct to physio treatment can be pregnancy massage.

Third Trimester

The third trimester is the home stretch. This can sometimes bring with it upper back, low back or hip pain that can be alleviated by pregnancy massage in conjunction with safe exercises and movement. This is also a time before your baby arrives so it is the perfect time to prioritise some self care by having a pregnancy massage. As your stomach grows you can safely have a pregnancy massage on your side or on your stomach by using a special pregnancy massage pillow that allows you to safely lay on your stomach.

Your Women’s Health Coach can also teach you safe exercises and self management strategies. This can include:

Mobility exercises to help overcome the feeling of ‘tightness’
Strengthening exercises to build your body's capacity to carry your baby and for birth
Pelvic floor exercises to help with pelvic function as well as preparation for birth
Using foam rollers or trigger balls for short term pain relief