Can I get a massage when pregnant? What to ask first

Whether you can get a massage when pregnant is a question for your doctor, and the honest answer from a beauty service is that it depends on you, your pregnancy and who is doing the work. Hamd Beauty does not offer a pregnancy massage: our menu has a relaxing massage and a deep tissue massage, and neither is a prenatal massage. This article explains what that means and what to ask before you book a massage anywhere while pregnant.

Everything here is general information, not medical advice.

What Hamd Beauty does and does not offer

Our massage page lists two services. The relaxing massage is 60 minutes, full body, at light to medium pressure. The deep tissue massage is 90 minutes of firm pressure on the back, neck and shoulders. There is no prenatal massage, no pregnancy pillow system, and no service adapted for a bump.

We say this plainly because "pregnancy massage at home Dubai" is something women search for, and we would rather you found a clear no than a vague yes. A prenatal massage is a different service, given by a therapist trained for it, with the client positioned differently and some areas and pressures left out. It is not a relaxing massage with the pressure turned down.

If you are pregnant and still want to book one of our massages after speaking to your doctor, write it in the booking notes and tell the therapist before she starts. She will talk it through with you and may advise you not to go ahead, exactly as she would with any health condition you tell her about.

Can I get a massage when pregnant?

Many women do, and many find it eases an aching back, tired legs and poor sleep. But "many women do" is not the same as "you should". The two conversations to have first are with your doctor and with the provider.

What to ask your doctor

• Is massage appropriate for me at this stage of my pregnancy?
• Is there anything about my pregnancy that means I should avoid it, or avoid certain areas or pressures?
• Should I stop and call you if anything happens during or after a massage?

Tell your doctor exactly what is proposed: how long, what pressure, and how you will be lying. A midwife can answer the same questions.

What to ask any provider

• Is the therapist trained in prenatal massage, and how often does she do it?
• How will I be positioned? The answer you want involves your side and supportive pillows, not lying face down on an ordinary table, and not lying flat on your back for a long stretch. The NHS advises pregnant women not to lie flat on the back for long periods, particularly after 16 weeks, because the weight of the bump presses on the main blood vessel returning blood to the heart and can make you feel faint.
• Which areas does she avoid, and why?
• What pressure will she use, and will she change it the moment I ask?
• What is in the oil? Ask about strong essential oils in particular, and tell her about any allergy.
• What happens if I feel unwell part way through?

A provider who answers these questions quickly and specifically is one who has thought about it. One who says "it is fine, everyone does it" has not.

Can I get a massage when pregnant in the first trimester?

Many therapists and spas choose not to massage clients in the first trimester as a precaution, and some will not work on a pregnant client at all without a note from her doctor. That is a policy decision by the business, not a medical ruling, and it varies from place to place. Whether a massage is right for you in the first twelve weeks, or at any point, is a question for your doctor.

What we can say is what we do: because we do not offer a prenatal massage, we do not encourage booking either of our massages during pregnancy at any stage, and we ask you to tell us if you are pregnant so the therapist knows before she sets up.

Why the deep tissue massage is the wrong choice in pregnancy

Our deep tissue massage is firm pressure on the back, neck and shoulders, and it is given on a standard table, face down for much of the session. Neither the pressure nor the position is what a trained prenatal therapist would choose. If you are pregnant and your doctor has agreed to massage, a prenatal massage from a provider who offers one is the right service, not a firm massage adapted on the spot.

Signs to stop any massage

Stop and tell the therapist at once if you feel faint, dizzy, short of breath, or nauseous, if you have any pain in the abdomen, or if anything simply feels wrong. Get up slowly, sit for a moment, and drink water. If symptoms continue, call your doctor. This applies to any massage, pregnant or not.

After the baby

Once your doctor has said you can return to normal activity, both of our massages are open to you again. Many new mothers book the relaxing massage first: an hour on a table in your own home, with the baby in the next room with someone you trust, is a reasonable way back. If your neck and shoulders have taken the strain of feeding and carrying, the deep tissue massage is there for later.

What you can book

If you are not pregnant, both massages are on the massage page: the relaxing massage, 60 minutes at light to medium pressure, and the deep tissue massage, 90 minutes of firm work. Swedish vs deep tissue massage explains the difference, and what to do before a massage at home covers the room, the timing and what to tell the therapist. If you are pregnant, please speak to your doctor first, and if you go ahead, tell us in the booking notes.