Pregnancy changes where weight sits, how your pelvis loads, and how much your low back and hips have to work. Prenatal massage is not just “a regular massage” — it’s a different setup, a different plan, and a caring conversation with your therapist.
How the session is set up
At Melrose, we use side-lying positioning with supportive cushions so there is no pressure on the abdomen and no long stretch of lying flat on your back. You will typically spend time on each side, propped so your top leg, belly, and head are all comfortably supported and your spine stays neutral.
The work itself concentrates where pregnancy can take its toll: low back and sacrum, hips and glutes, the upper back and neck, and often the legs and feet, where swelling and heaviness are common. Pressure is moderate and specific rather than maximal.
When to book
Treatment is safe from day one. Reducing the mother’s stress both physically and emotionally is critical for the baby’s development. Massage can even ease nausea and other discomfort, but we never recommend pushing it just to get to your treatment. Many come in more frequently in the last weeks, when the load is highest and is beneficial even post partum to assist your body in getting back to normal.
We ask that you Check with your midwife, OB, or physician before booking if you have high blood pressure or preeclampsia, a history of preterm labor, blood clots or a clotting disorder, placenta issues, severe swelling, or any pregnancy your provider has described as high risk. If you are unsure, ask them. Your therapist is also trained to spot any contraindications and will not continue treatment if anything unsafe becomes apparent.
What to tell your therapist
How far along you are, and anything your provider has flagged.
Where it hurts — one-sided low back and sacral pain is extremely common and very responsive.
Whether you have been diagnosed with pelvic girdle or SI joint pain, which changes how we position and stabilize you.
Swelling, cramping, or anything new since your last visit.
What positions you can no longer tolerate at home. That tells us a lot about the pattern.
Afterward, and after delivery
Take the rest of the day at a reasonable pace, drink water, and stand up slowly — side-lying to upright can make anyone briefly lightheaded, more so in pregnancy. If anything feels off afterward, call your provider; we would always rather you check.
Postpartum is its own chapter. Carrying, feeding positions, and car-seat lifting reliably produce upper back and neck tension, and most clients can transition back to regular therapeutic or deep tissue work once cleared by their provider. If you are a member, nothing needs to change — membership credits carry over and are a practical way to keep visits going through a demanding year.
Congratulations on your new chapter! Motherhood is so important, exciting, challenging, and valuable and we would be honored to be a part of your care at Melrose.
Book prenatal massage online or call (509) 460-2187 with questions first — we are happy to talk through positioning before you commit to an appointment. Our studio is at 769 Riverside Drive in Wenatchee, open seven days a week with morning and evening appointments.