Pregnancy Massage in Holborn, Central London

How a Session Works

How You Are Positioned

From the second trimester onwards you are treated on your side, usually the left, with a pillow under the head, one supporting the bump and one between the knees. Lying face down is not used, and neither is lying flat on the back for any length of time, since that can be uncomfortable and reduce blood flow later in pregnancy.

Side lying is not a compromise. It gives the practitioner good access to the low back, glutes, hips, shoulders and legs, which is where nearly all the discomfort of late pregnancy sits, and it is a position most people can settle into for the full hour.

Trimester by Trimester

• First trimester: most practitioners prefer to wait until 12 weeks. This is caution and convention rather than evidence of harm, and it is what we follow here.
• Second trimester: usually the most comfortable time to come. Work focuses on the low back, hips and shoulders as posture starts to change.
• Third trimester: the busiest period for us. Sessions concentrate on hips, pelvis, legs and rest, with more time spent settling you comfortably.
• After the birth: postnatal massage is available once you feel ready, with particular attention to the neck, shoulders and upper back that feeding and carrying take their toll on.

Safety, and What We Avoid

Deep pressure over the abdomen is not used, and pressure is kept comfortable throughout. Practitioners avoid deep work on the lower legs where there is any concern about clotting, and certain points traditionally avoided in pregnancy are left alone.

Tell us before booking if you have bleeding, raised blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, a history of blood clots, reduced foetal movement, a high risk pregnancy or any complication your midwife has raised. In those situations we will ask you to check with your midwife or doctor first, and we may postpone. Pregnancy massage is comfort care, not medical treatment.

What People Come With

Low back and hip ache is the usual reason, closely followed by pelvic discomfort, tight shoulders from changed posture, swollen and heavy legs, and difficulty getting comfortable at night. Many people also book simply for an hour of rest, which becomes harder to find as pregnancy goes on, particularly with a toddler already at home.

Where pain is sharp, one-sided, or makes walking and turning in bed difficult, that may be pelvic girdle pain, which is better assessed by a physiotherapist first. We will say so rather than treat around it, and treatment can still follow once you know what you are dealing with.

Your First Appointment

• Bring your maternity notes if you have them, or know how many weeks you are and anything your midwife has flagged.
• Allow a few minutes at the start for health questions before treatment begins.
• Wear comfortable clothing and expect plenty of pillows and bolsters for side-lying support.
• Say straight away if a position becomes uncomfortable, as it can be changed at any point.
• Get up slowly at the end, and have a drink of water before leaving.

Pregnancy Massage, Physiotherapy or Acupuncture?

• Choose pregnancy massage if you want general comfort, relief from muscular ache and an hour of proper rest.
• Choose physiotherapy if there is a specific pain problem to assess, such as pelvic girdle pain, where you need exercises and a diagnosis rather than a treatment hour.
• Choose acupuncture if you would rather work with a traditional medicine approach, and discuss suitability with the practitioner beforehand.
• Choose craniosacral therapy if you prefer very light contact and a slower, quieter session.

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