Massages in pregnancy

[FourOfFour]

I'm going away soon for a few days to a lovely hotel with a fab Spa

The thing is, I will be 5-6 weeks pg at the time and the spa won't do massages during the 1st trimester.

Does anybody know if there is any evidence that this could be harmful? I suspect that the real reason is that miscarriage is so common in early pregnancy that the spa is covering its back so that it won't be sued in the event of a pg woman coincidentally miscarrying after her massage.

My understanding is that as long as you are sensible, i.e. don't drink to much/smoke 20 a day, then the chances of you miscarrying as a result of something you do or do not do is very small. My GP tells me that if a miscarriage is going to happen, then it will happen pretty much regardless of my actions.

Given that I usually just have a back/neck/shoulder massage with unscented oil, what do you think? Would it be totally irresponsible of me not to let on that I am pg?

Hi, i had this too... a friend of mine works in a spa and apparently there are points in body, mainly on your feet, that if massaged can cause the body to release a toxin that could cause you to miscarry! i know it sounds silly but some places now just refuse to massage at all to stop them being blamed if something was to happen!
I would have thought a back massage would have been ok though!

When I trained as a massage therapist about 10 years ago we were taught not to massage during the first trimester exactly because of the reason you suggest - that if miscarriage is going to happen it's most likely to happen during the first few months and that if it happens the massage and the massage therapist may well get the blame. And legal action ensues. We were not presented with any evidence that massage can actively cause miscarriage. And in any case loads of people don't know they're up the duff until well into the first trimester so there must be loads of pregnant people merrily and quite unwittingly having massages.

At this stage there's certainly no issue about positions you should or shouldn't lie in. You're right to be sensible about only using an unscented carrier oil. And maybe get them to go easy on your lower back and ask them not to massage your stomach?

I didn't have massage during the first trimester of my pregnancy, but that's only cos I haven't been whisked away to lovely hotel with lovely spa . If you feel fine - no period type pains, no bleeding or spotting, etc - then I'd go for it!

As a massage therapist, I can only say that I would never take on a new client who was pg. I would massage regular clients through their pg, but would be reluctant to do so in the first trimester. Reflexology was always a no-no for the first trim as well.

Part of it is that you are releasing stored toxins/ stress chemicals from the muscles (depending on whether you've had a massage before/recently) and these enter your bloodstream and are therefore available to cross the placenta into your foetus.
Part of it is also that you don't in any way want to even consider that you might be responsible in any part for a MC, even though there is no way of proving it - as a therapist, I just couldn't take the chance, I'd feel so guilty.

So - I think you are probably being unfair to both your baby and the therapist not to let on unless you are a regular massage receiver.

Thanks for your replies

Gosh, its a difficult one! I'm inclined to just go for it, but then if I did miscarry, I would always wonder if that had caused it.

I do have massages regularly, largely because I do a lot of exercise and the massages help to relieve the lactic acid build up in my muscles. Thumbwitch Might that be the toxin that can cause miscarriage?

NB. Even if I did miscarry, I wouldn't dream of suing the spa or therapist, its more the risk to the baby that I'm concerned about.

Hmmmm...what to do...?

I wouldn't say lactic acid would cause MC - but I wouldn't want too much of it crossing the placenta either, it's not good for the foetus. There are other waste products that might be released as well, toxins that are lurking in fat tissues, for e.g.

In the end, it's up to you - there is no proof that it can cause MC; but most therapists take seriously enough the risk of harm to the foetus (even if not MC, then toxicity or whatever) that most of us won't do it in 1st trimester.

I've always had massages in early pg but have checked with the therapist first that they are happy to proceed

I have been having regular back/neck massages with my current therapist for well over a year. I told him as soon as I knew I was pregnant (am now 10 wks) and he thanked me for telling him. I asked him if there was anything he would need to do differently, and he said that he wouldn't be able to use as much pressure on the lower back, and that when I eventually got a bump, he might have to move me from the couch to a massage chair. He already uses non-aromatherapy oil anyway.

I've seen him twice since I told him... everything still seems to be going ok on the preggers front.

Only downside: last time I saw him I had to get him to stop half way through because my boobs were killing me! Fortunately he had another pillow for me to use!

Given that you won't be able to use the steam or sauna, what other joy will there be at the spa eh?! I guess you could have a facial.

What will be will be eh? I think I unwittingly ate some unpasteurised soft cheese the other day.. but if I mc I shan't seek out the chef for not telling me the exact ingredients!