Pregnancy massage: what to expect

Pregnancy is busy: physically, mentally, logistically. A pregnancy massage, also called prenatal massage, is one of the simpler ways to take an hour back: a gentle, well-supported treatment designed entirely around your comfort. Here's what to expect if you're thinking about booking one at our Innaloo studio.

How you're positioned

The biggest difference from a standard massage is the set-up. Rather than lying flat on your front, you're positioned comfortably on your side, supported with cushions and a bolster so nothing is under strain, a bit like being tucked into the world's most deliberate pillow arrangement. Your therapist adjusts the supports until it genuinely feels easy to lie there, and repositions you partway through so both sides get attention.

What the massage itself is like

Pregnancy massage is gentle and relaxation-focused by design. Your therapist works with slow, comfortable pressure through the back, shoulders, hips and legs, the areas that tend to carry the extra load, and keeps checking that the pace and pressure feel right. It has more in common with a lymphatic drainage session than a firm deep tissue treatment: the aim is comfort and calm, not intensity.

What to tell us when you book

Let us know how far along you are and anything your GP or midwife has mentioned that we should be aware of, because it helps us set the room up before you arrive. If you have any pregnancy-related health questions, it's always worth having a quick chat with your GP or midwife first; they know your situation best, and we're happy to work in with whatever they suggest.

Small things that help on the day

Wear something easy to change out of, allow a few unhurried minutes either side rather than rushing in from the car park, and drink some water afterwards. Beyond that, your only job is to lie there and let the hour be about you, a rarity worth protecting at this stage of life.

If this is your first massage of any kind, our walkthrough of what to expect at your first massage covers the practical side of the appointment.

If an hour of quiet, well-supported rest sounds appealing, you can check availability online whenever suits.