Should You Get a Prenatal Massage Nearing Your EDD?

As a therapy, prenatal massage is not uncommon for many mothers. You yourself have probably heard and gotten a lot of information regarding massage during the pregnancy and how it can benefit you. However, we know you may still have some questions unanswered, and that’s what we are here for today.

When should you get a prenatal massage? Is it safe to get a prenatal massage close to your EDD? What is the recommended time frame that you can have a prenatal massage? How frequent you can get the prenatal massage?

In this article, we will go over these questions one by one to address the concerns of many to-be moms out there!

When can I start prenatal massage?

Firstly, you must be wondering when can or should you start the prenatal massage. Usually, we will advise moms to start massage after week 16 (i.e. the second trimester). This is because pregnancy, after week 16, is more stable compared to the first trimester. During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, there is a higher risk of miscarriage due to different reasons, so it is best to not stimulate your body in any situation it is not familiar with.

Plus, in the second trimester, you will start to notice more physical changes on your body due to pregnancy, especially your expanding belly. Your baby is growing quickly in second trimester. While that is great news, the increasing belly size may result in back pain or pelvic pain. Getting a prenatal massage will help to reduce the back soreness and other body aches.

How often should I get prenatal massage?

Apart from relaxation, prenatal massage has so many other benefits that you will equally love. Hence, we understand why you may be asking yourself how often can or should you get it. So, can you get the massage every day? Unfortunately, the answer is NO. Getting a prenatal massage too frequently might overstimulate your body as well as the baby you carry. We would advise mommies to get a prenatal massage once a week the most, depending on your body condition. If you are not sure about your body condition, you can always check with your doctor and get their approval to get the massage.

Getting a prenatal massage will help to relieve stress and relax your body. It helps to reduce anxiety, keep depression at bay, and release hormones which can help you sleep better at night. A lot of moms also notice that prenatal massage helps to reduce water retention pregnancy due to the improved circulation.

Should I get a prenatal massage nearing my EDD?

Prenatal massage during the third trimester is highly recommended because your body is most likely to be uncomfortable in this stage. However, we would advise moms to get the prenatal massage only up to two weeks before the EDD. During this period, you might be giving birth at any time. At 38 weeks, the biggest change in your body would be an increase in pressure in your lower abdomen, which indicates that you should be preparing for giving birth by then.

Some therapists still perform massage after 38 weeks of pregnancy, but that is most likely not exactly a ‘prenatal massage’. Instead, it would be called the ‘labour massage’ where they help moms to induce labour naturally. The purposes and results of prenatal massage and labour massage differ greatly. While the former is meant to relieve your prenatal body aches, the latter is normally done to help promote the birth process. We generally don’t encourage moms to get a prenatal massage too close to the EDD, so do check with your doctor first.

Throughout the pregnancy process, you will notice your body changing in many ways and some moms may experience mood swings. It is not an easy process during the transition period, especially when you need to deal with the stress and anxiety of role changes. Both prenatal and postnatal massage help you to escape from all these stress and anxiety and boost your energy at the same time. Whenever you are ready to get yourself pampered, PNSG is just a call away!