Has anyone had a Prenatal Massage?

Daisy166

I'm thinking of getting one due to this horrible pain I'm having in my left hip/butt check that's causing pain down my left leg to my shin.  I'm guessing it's sciatica or an inflammed nerve.

If you have had a massage, is it like a regular massage?  I'm assuming you lay on your side?   Did it help your aches & Pains?

I'm not really thrilled about having a "stranger" massage me at this point in my PG since I feel huge and gross but if it will help the pain I'll do it.

 

TeacherVicky

I'm going for one in one week. It will be my first.

They told me that they have a pregnancy pillow (huge pillow with a big open spot for my bump to lay on my belly). She said that if I don't find it comfortable (which apparently doesn't happen too often), that I could lay on my side and the MT would massage me like that.

I am sooo looking forward to it and looking forward to laying on my stomach.

Galaxy8227

I've had a few and they feel wonderful!!  I've had some where you lay on your side and then I've had a few where they have a hole in the table so you lay on your stomach.  Both have felt wonderful and I'm going for my last one next week. 

julireye

The practice I go to offer them for free and they are the best. The therapist only does prenatal massages so she has a especial bed with a big hole in the middle for your belly and a smaller hole a little higher for your breast. The massage is practically the same but she also gave me excercises to do at home to help me with the back pain. I generally do not like people touching me so massages are not my cup of tea. However, the pain was driving me crazy so I schedule one and totally love it. i actually have another one this coming Wednesday and it can't come fast enough

njmommaterp

I actually had two in the last month.

They had me lay on both sides and the one place had me lay on my back but I was elevated (for a short time). I just went to Massage Envy and Hand and Stone. I never relax for a massage so I took advantage of their "introductory offer." I will have to say, Massage Envy was great. They had THE most comfortable pillow (slips your shoulder into a little opening) just for the prenatal massages. I wish I had one for home. This way, you aren't really laying on your shoulder (which is uncomfortable).

Both just really concentrated on my back, legs and arms. It did help me feel more comfortable for about a week. I had both done in the evening, so I came home...slipped into pjs and had a good night's rest.

It was not like a normal massage. The pressure is lighter, they stay away from certain areas and they don't break up knots and get into places like they would if we weren't pregnant.

txhottie

I have had 2 and they are wonderful! Last time she even did some lymph drainage for me and got the swelling in my feet and legs to go down as well as caused me to have the best pee I have had since I got pregnant!! It was amazing and I felt great afterward! I had one where I was on my side and she did wonderful things for the hip pain as well as neck and shoulders (from my new huge boobs) and even worked on my bum to help with the sciatic pain!

Good luck and enjoy!

Blankswade3

I just had one a couple weeks ago for the first time! It was heaven! It made it even better that my husband went with me and we did a side-by-side where he got a swedish massage (poor guys been working his butt off getting our master bathroom remodeled all by himself before the baby comes so I didnt have to treck all the way across the house just to use the bathroom!) at the same time. They had it set up for me to lay on my stomach with a hole in the pillow, but I wasnt comfortable with it so she got me another pillow and had me lay on my side and did each side separately. It was wonderful! There aren't words to express how much good it did and how relaxed I felt. Definetly get one before your LO comes especially if your having a lot of pain! I know it helped the pains I was having.

And in reagrds to feeling strange about having a stranger massage you at this point, DON'T! You have to think about some of the other people they see and those people aren't creating the miracle of life! Trust me, I think they'd much prefer you over others. PG women are beautiful!

atc282

I've had them regularly for sciatic pain this pg. I actually get massage therapy done at my chiropractor's office--it's more isolated massage on my left hip/leg and thankfully insurance covers it!

I've had prenatal massage done once this pg and it was much lighter in terms of massage and just an overall relaxing experience. They had me lay on my left side and she just gently massaged my body (so it didn't really help with sciatic pain but it was nice to be at a spa, nonetheless).

Hope you enjoy yours!

Ceridwen21

For sciatic nerve pain, I highly recommend that you see an osteopath.  With just 1 appointment my pain was gone within days!

Yes, I do get prenatal massages regularly and I LOVE them!  Mine are always side-laying.

missyishere

I have been receiving monthly prenatal massages since week 12.  I absolutely love my LMT and wouldn't know what to do without her massage every month.  Trust me when I say you will get over having a 'stranger' massage you after you've received a massage.  I feel we deserve having regular massages from all we go through carrying our LO's.  I treat myself not only b/c I feel it's a nice treat for what I go through but also b/c the cost is less than my former habit of smoking and enjoying a cocktail or two throughout the month.  Ask around on who is a good LMT specializing in prenatal in your area too.  Not everyone is great at it, and not everyone can do prenatal.  At this point in pregnancy, you would have to lie on your side to receive a massage.  It's not terrible, but I will confess my shoulders get a bit sore if I don't position myself right on the table. 

PrincessPeach13

I just had my first prenatal massage last week and I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to get one now.  I have been having terrible pain in my hips, so that I actually have started to dread bedtime (for the first time ever).  The therapist worked on my left hip and butt area mostly (apparently I had a lot of knots there) and though I felt a bit sore after, it has definitely made an impact already.  She also gave me tips for relieving the pain while I am in bed and showed me how to support myself so that I can still sleep on my back, in the event that my hips aren't letting me get comfy on the sides.  I used the pregnancy pillow with the cutout in the middle, and while it was kinda hard to haul myself into the proper openings, it was really comfy once I was all positioned.  It was also nice for me because before being pregnant, I pretty much always slept on my tummy, so I really enjoyed being able to lie down that way for a bit.