pregnancy massage faq's

If you are having a healthy pregnancy and are generally in good health then yes, massage is safe during pregnancy and can be a wonderful addition to your prenatal care.

There are some instances when massage may not be appropriate, particularly if you are experiencing a high risk pregnancy or have underlying health problems. More information can be found on this by clicking here.

As every woman experiences pregnancy in her own way and responds differently to the major physical and emotional changes of pregnancy, you (alongside your midwife or doctor) are in the best position to decide whether you feel comfortable having a massage.

We realise that you may have a lot of questions about pregnancy massage safety and so you can find plenty more information by following this link.

Pregnancy massage can be of enormous benefit, not only to you, but also to your baby. Massage during pregnancy can support you emotionally and physiologically at a time when your body is undergoing many changes and can help prepare your body for birth. As well as giving you some peaceful, relaxing time to yourself, pregnancy massage can:

• Stimulate your circulation, helping to distribute nutrients and fluid around your body and to your placenta. Stimulating your circulation can also help prevent varicose veins from forming.
• Aid lymphatic drainage, which helps treat puffy ankles and painful swelling caused by water retention, as well as eliminating toxins from your body.
• Help stimulate a sluggish digestive system.
• Release muscular tension in the shoulders, lower back, hips and upper back which can help ease discomfort caused by hormonal and postural changes. Massaging the muscles around the upper chest and rib cage can also benefit the respiratory system and aid restricted breathing.
• Help release nerve compression caused by water retention or muscular tension.
• Enhance your relationship with your body by keeping you connected and in touch with your changing shape.
• Be very effective in inducing deep relaxation and sleep and creating a sense of well-being.

We are also trained in regular massage and so can provide both you and your partner with a massage treatment at the same session. This can be a wonderful way of involving your partner in the experience and supporting their role too. More information on the other treatments we offer can be found here.

Massage can start any time after your twelve week scan if you are generally well and not having any significant problems with your pregnancy (more information on this can be found here).

It isn’t advisable to have a massage during the first trimester of your pregnancy, however any time after this and up to your baby’s birth is fine if you are experiencing a low risk pregnancy.

There are certain conditions related to either your general health or your pregnancy that may mean massage isn’t suitable for you. In many cases this just means that it is advisable to talk to your midwife, doctor or other healthcare professional to get their consent and approval to go ahead with bodywork prior to any treatments. For more information on contraindications to pregnancy massage and safety please follow this link.

We want you to feel comfortable and enjoy your treatment and so if you ever feel unwell or something just doesn’t feel right before your appointment, then please do let us know as soon as possible and we can rearrange your appointment if necessary.

In many ways pregnancy massage is similar to regular massage in that it aims to relax tense muscles, ease aches and pains, improve your circulation and mobility, while also helping you to feel good.

However, the treatment is also tailored to your needs as a pregnant woman. We use a wide and comfortable massage couch, fixed at a lower height than usual, so that it is easy for you to get on and off. We’ll help you lie on your side with your head resting on a pillow and will use as many pillows and cushions as necessary to support you and your bump and make you as comfortable as possible. Your therapist will then cover you with towels (or a cotton sheet if you are feeling hot) and only expose the parts of your body that are being massaged.

During your consultation we’ll discuss what you hope to get out of your massage and any particular problems you may be experiencing and we'll then work out a treatment plan to address these.

Each treatment may therefore be different from the next, but in general your therapist will start by massaging one side of your back, your arm and leg, and with some very gentle stroking of your bump if you’re happy with that. We’ll then help you sit up and turn over or lie back down at the other end of the couch and massage the other side of your body.

We've been trained to address specific pregnancy related issues and so if your ankles are puffy, we’ll ensure that your treatment incorporates lymph-drainage techniques to reduce water retention. Or, if you are particularly bothered by lower back pain, we’ll make sure we spend time working in this area too.

We will only use techniques that are appropriate for your stage of pregnancy and will always work within your comfort levels. We welcome your feedback during the treatment to ensure you aren’t in any discomfort.

It is entirely up to you! For the most beneficial results, we recommend fortnightly or three-weekly treatments but we do realise that it may be constraints of other commitments, your budget etc rather than desire that get in the way of this and we will never put you under any pressure to commit to a certain number of sessions. Your body usually 'tells' you when it is ready for another massage and this is a very individual thing. All we suggest is that if you like an appointment on a certain day and at a certain time (particularly if you prefer an evening appointment), then it is a good idea to book in a number of sesssions in advance so that you can be sure of getting your ideal appointment slot!

Please take a look at the individual treatments page for details of prices. We would also be delighted if you joined the Calico Mobile Pregnancy Massage Facebook group. Exclusive one-off offers and news are announced on this page and all you need to do is click on the link above and 'like' the page.

Your treatment will last 50-60 minutes. If you have a mobile appointment, please also allow an additional 20-30 minutes at each appointment for your therapist to set up, pack away and have a chat with you about your health and well-being.

We love working with pregnant women and new mums and realise that the usual rules don’t apply when giving a pre or postnatal massage and so if you need to get up to go to the loo during your treatment or if you need to care for your baby or breastfeed during your treatment then that is no problem either.

We're very comfortable giving you a treatment while your children are around and interacting with you during your massage. If you ever feel uncomfortable during your treatment, please do say and we can adjust your position to make sure you are relaxed and at ease.

We use a water soluble base oil (not nut based). It is designed specifically for massage therapists and has a lovely, light texture so it doesn't sit too heavily on your skin. As it is water soluble it also washes out of your clothes very easily and won't leave an oily residue on your clothing. 

We don't use any essential oils for the massage treatment to ensure that you are safe and don't experience any adverse reactions. 

We understand that you may feel a bit unsure about whether massage is safe while we are still experiencing the after-effects of the pandemic. Please be assured that your safety is our first priority and so all advised measures to limit cross-infection will be put in place to protect you. Full information can be found at on the Covid-19 link under the Book an Appointment link on the main menu.

It depends on what the allergy is – generally it isn’t a problem but please mention this when you book your appointment and we will discuss any impact it may have on your treatment and any alternative options.

Absolutely - we wouldn’t dream of offering this service if this wasn’t the case. Our insurance is provided through Holistic Insurance Services and Balens Insurance who are specialist insurance companies for complementary therapy practitioners. More information can be found here.

Both therapists work as independent practitioners under the umbrella of Calico massage and as such have their own professional liability insurance. For the avoidance of doubt, the reponsibility for resolving any issues, complaints or claims arising from the actions of each therapist will rest with the therapist who has treated the client.

Please be assured that we always operate within industry standard codes of ethics and practice.

Please just wear whatever you feel comfortable in! You don't need to wear particular clothing bur preferably clothes that you can get in and out of easily and will feel warm and comfortable in after your treatment. You will have some oil on your skin following the massage, however the oils we use are water soluble and so will wash out of clothing easily.

Please see the section on 'What to expect at your appointment' under the Book an Appointment section on the top menu.

Please see the section on 'What to expect at your appointment' under the Book an Appointment section on the top menu.

It can, however this must be on the advice or recommendation of your midwife, doctor or healthcare professional. If this applies to you, please just mention it when you book your appointment and we will make sure that we provide you with confirmation of your appointment to give to your employer.

Sadly not.. The treatments still need to be paid for but perhaps you can talk to your employer about including massage therapy in their employee incentive packages! We are also very happy to talk to employers about discounted treatment prices for their staff.

We do! And we're always delighted to welcome back clients that we've seen during their pregnancy once they've had their baby or to meet you for the first time in your postnatal recovery. There's lots more information to be found via the link to postnatal massage found on the top menu. 

Then please do just use get in touch via the Contact page and we'll get back to you as soon as we possibly can!