Induction massage? No such thing?!?!

Munchie2.0 · December 2013

Okay, serious question:

I go to get prenatal massages every week, and have been since the 10/11 week (1st tri) Every time I go, my therapist is laughing and telling me how women are consistently pleading with her to "make them go into labor" (39 week mark) and every time she has to explain to them that there isn't any magic button that will make them go into labor...

There has been a lot of talk about induction massages, and places that actually schedule these "massages"... So again, I asked my therapist about them. She told me, again, that there isn't such a thing. She went on to tell me that with all the prenatal certifications they have to take, there has never been any class/ technique on "induction"... They are told what NOT to do on a pregnant women because it isn't safe for mom/baby... Anything deep tissue, certain oils, etc...

So back to my question:

Who has actually been to a place that does induction massages? Are they licensed therapist? What kind of massage is it? Do you have to get a doctors note? Because if I am still pregnant at 40 weeks, you better believe I am going to be doing everything to induce labor (that is safe) lol

This whole thing has me confused!

Firefly9 · December 2013

My guess is that if massages caused someone to go into labor, massage therapists would be required to put a disclaimer on their prenatal massage advertising.

Do you WANT to try to start labor before you go into labor naturally?

MrsGraham06 · December 2013

The only thing I've heard is pressure points in the ankles. I went in for a pedicure and the girl (seriously, like 18, it was a beauty school) was almost terrified to rub my ankles.

I did not go into labor, but I did tell her to do anything she could with my ankles. She barely touched them.

Munchie2.0 · December 2013

Firefly9, yea.... that's basically what my therapist said... I get full body massages every week, and they even rub my feet/ankles... My hope is that I go into labor naturally ( but I will be trying walking and sex thing)

MrsGraham06, I think they stay away from those areas because they aren't trained in prenatal massages

Firefly9 · December 2013

BabyKezar said:

Firefly9, yea.... that's basically what my therapist said... I get full body massages every week, and they even rub my feet/ankles... My hope is that I go into labor naturally ( but I will be trying walking and sex thing)

MrsGraham06, I think they stay away from those areas because they aren't trained in prenatal massages

I get them every week right now, too, and she hasn't mentioned that to me, so I think you are good!

Munchie2.0 · December 2013

Firefly9 said:
I get them every week right now, too, and she hasn't mentioned that to me, so I think you are good!

BEST investment ever! I had to miss one week because of Turkey day and I thought my body was going to fall apart... lol I am a massage whore

MrsGraham06 · December 2013

I'm a weensy bit jealous of all of you who have the money for weekly massages...maybe next year I'll get to enjoy that!

Hkula · December 2013

I side eye all of the claims and YouTube videos of the pressure points inducing labor. They usually preface with saying the person was 40-41 weeks pregnant, I honestly just think baby was ready to come out (massage/pressure points or not).

MamaP19 · December 2013

I think with any method of induction outside of a hospital it's really a matter of whether or not baby and your body are ready. I went to a place near me that offers acupressure that is supposed help prepare your body for labor and has often started contractions in women. I went as a last resort two days before my nearly 42 week appt where I figured I would be induced anyway. They did a lengthy massage and spent a lot of time working on my feet/ankles.

This is the description from the website of the place I went to: "Personalized care, consultation and bodywork to nurture conception or ease into labor

Includes integrative botanical remedies, essences and aromatherapy,as well as, individualized bodywork. Includes sessions with two therapists."

*Just wanted to add that this is totally separate from the prenatal massage services that they offer.

Firefly9 · December 2013

MrsGraham06 said:

I'm a weensy bit jealous of all of you who have the money for weekly massages...maybe next year I'll get to enjoy that!

No money to do that every week--I found out insurance covers them if I've met my deductible! They cover 12/year up to $70 each. I found out at the beginning of November and have been squeezing in as many as possible until the end of the year

Munchie2.0 · December 2013

Firefly9 said:

MrsGraham06 said:

I'm a weensy bit jealous of all of you who have the money for weekly massages...maybe next year I'll get to enjoy that!

No money to do that every week--I found out insurance covers them if I've met my deductible! They cover 12/year up to $70 each. I found out at the beginning of November and have been squeezing in as many as possible until the end of the year

My insurance covers it as well, but I am not using it... I have a membership and had a million massages backed up (I was too busy to go for a long time... If you cancel your membership, you lose all your massages on file)

amt0312 · December 2013

My massage therapist told me about the ankles thing too. I'll be having DH rub my ankles starting at week 39 if I haven't already gone into labor :-)

Dishylo · December 2013

Jumping in.....my RMT specializes in pregnancy massage and she does do induction massages.

There are pressure points in the ankle but the other thing that she does is massage the hips, butt, SI joint area and pelvis to basically loosen the areas so that they open quicker.

Her success rate is 100% within 24-48 hours. A very good friend of mine (who actually referred me to her) had an induction massage with her first and went into labour within 24 hours.

Munchie2.0 · December 2013

Dishylo said:

Jumping in.....my RMT specializes in pregnancy massage and she does do induction massages.

There are pressure points in the ankle but the other thing that she does is massage the hips, butt, SI joint area and pelvis to basically loosen the areas so that they open quicker.

Her success rate is 100% within 24-48 hours. A very good friend of mine (who actually referred me to her) had an induction massage with her first and went into labour within 24 hours.

is it spending more time in those areas? -My therapist already works on my hips and all that due to sciatica...sometimes for most of the session, if it's really acting up.

As far as the ankles, she also works on them to keep the swelling down (granted she isn't using all pressure points the whole time)

Do you get massages regularly? or will this be your 1st one?

Dishylo · December 2013

My RMT works on those areas too but gently and I believe it's a different kind of massage. She said that an induction massage can feel slightly uncomfortable.

I plan on getting one on 29.12.13 if this little one isn't here by then.

Munchie2.0 · December 2013

Dishylo be sure to let me know how it goes, if you do it! I am really curious about it

Dishylo · December 2013

@BabyKezar - I've got another appointment with my massage therapist at 5:15 tonight. I'll get more details on it and let you know if I remember to. If I don't, please page me or message me - my memory is shit these days and I quite often need reminding

mj0413 · December 2013

I've heard of ankle and inner thigh massage causing labor, but I don't know that I buy it. It seems like the majority of pregnancy warnings are based on zero science or actual research. Plus, it seems to me that if you're getting a massage and you're already at 40+ weeks, how do they possibly know you weren't going to go into labor anyway? It may just be that getting your body relaxed helps speed things up and it's not about a particular type of massage or something. Who knows.

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