Busting Prenatal Massage Myths #9: Getting a massage late in pregnancy is dangerous

Myth: Massage on back can hurt the baby, massage on legs can cause blood clots, and massage on feet or ankles can trigger premature labor. These old wives’ tales and more can stop a mom from getting a late pregnancy massage.

Where it comes from: The last few months of a pregnancy can feel like a ticking time bomb, and there is always fear that the smallest thing can make everything go wrong. Some issues do need to be watched, but too much concern can cause even more stress. For example, blood clots in the legs may be watched for during the later end of a pregnancy because of the overall increased blood volume in the body and gravity. There are also points in the study of reflexology located in the feet and ankles that do relate to the reproductive organs,. However in the case of blood clots, massage therapists trained in pregnancy massage know how much pressure and what kind of strokes to use to provide relief from swollen and painful legs, while the reflexology points in the feet and ankles require very specific direct pressure on certain spots for a specific length of time - nothing that would "casually" be triggered during a regular relaxing massage.

Fact: While many of these ‘concerns’ come from a place of caution and care, massage in late pregnancy can actually prevent some issues and help mom through that final uncomfortable stretch. Massage can help increase the relaxing stress-busting hormones which in turn can help keep mom's blood pressure from going up and calming anxiety about the impending delivery. At the end of a pregnancy, a mom's body usually feels overall achy, tired, and generally exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. Massage can help keep mom's muscles from aching, and help improve that healthy restorative sleep she will need before the baby makes their arrival.