This blog post was written for Doulas of Utah by our friends at Maternal Massage and Skin.
Pregnancy and postpartum recovery are profound journeys that bring incredible changes to the body, from shifting hormones and growing joints to the demands of labor and postpartum healing. Maternal massage is not just a luxury; it can be a powerful tool for physical comfort, emotional wellbeing, and long-term wellness. In this post, we’ll explore what types of massage help, when they’re most effective, how the body changes (especially hips, ribs, and pelvic floor), and why massage matters from the first trimester through postpartum.
1. What Is Maternal Massage?
Maternal massage refers to hands-on bodywork tailored to the needs of pregnant and postpartum individuals. While it often includes Swedish massage, known for its relaxing effleurage strokes, it also incorporates therapeutic sports massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and gentle structural work to assist with deeper musculoskeletal needs.
Massage during pregnancy is typically adapted for safety and comfort (e.g., side-lying positions with supportive bolsters instead of supine) and performed by therapists trained in prenatal care.
2. How the Body Changes During Pregnancy
Pregnancy triggers huge physiological shifts, many of which impact comfort and mobility:
• Hormone-Driven Tissue Changes
Relaxin and progesterone increase joint and ligament laxity to prepare for birth, especially in the hips and pelvis.
This can lead to pelvic girdle pain, low back strain, and hip discomfort as joints stabilize in new ways.
• Rib Cage & Breathing
The rib cage expands to accommodate the growing uterus and diaphragm changes, sometimes causing tightness or tension in the intercostal muscles and ribs.
• Pelvic Floor Adaptation
Pregnancy places mechanical pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, potentially leading to weakness, discomfort, or urinary symptoms both before and after birth.
These changes make targeted massage incredibly valuable for comfort, muscular balance, and overall function.
3. Maternal Massage Benefits Through Each Stage
✔️ First Trimester
- Safety and comfort are the focus. Many therapists begin gentle work once pregnancy is confirmed, focusing on relaxation, stress reduction, and supportive Swedish techniques.
- Early massage can reduce anxiety and stress hormones, and promote calm.
- Some therapists wait until after the first trimester out of caution, although serious evidence about risk is limited.
✔️ Second Trimester
- Often the “sweet spot” for maternal massage:
- Reduced back, hip, and pelvic pain due to soft tissue work.
- Improved circulation that may help with swelling (edema).
- Hormone regulation that supports better sleep and mood.
✔️ Third Trimester
The baby’s growth and body’s adaptations can cause more discomfort. Massage now shifts toward therapeutic support:
- Gentle myofascial release can alleviate tight fascia in the lower back, hips, and rib cage.
- Trigger point therapy helps reduce persistent muscle knots, especially around the shoulders and upper back.
- Known prenatal benefits of massage include lower overall stress and improved maternal wellbeing.
4. The Science Behind the Benefits of Maternal Massage
According to research indexed in PubMed and NIH:
• Reduced Stress & Anxiety
Regular massage decreases cortisol (stress hormone) and increases serotonin and dopamine, supporting emotional health.
• Pain Relief & Mobility
Relaxation and therapeutic massage during pregnancy have been repeatedly shown to reduce back and leg pain, tension, and discomfort.
• Potential Effects on Birth Outcomes
Some studies demonstrate massage’s association with reduced prematurity and lower rates of low birthweight, alongside improved psychological comfort.
•Perineal & Pelvic Floor Benefits
While this area is absolutely important, you will need to seek a pelvic floor specialist to treat your Perineal region. Physical Therapists can be specialized to provide this. Please seek your doctor or birth specialist for a local practitioner.
5. Postpartum: Healing and Beyond
After birth, whether vaginal or cesarean, the body continues its transformation.
• Postpartum Massage Benefits
Postpartum massage can help:
- Reduce swelling and fluid retention
- Regulate hormones
- Improve breastfeeding comfort
- Promote relaxation and better sleep
- Relieve residual muscular tension and pain All of these support physical and emotional recovery in the “fourth trimester.”
• Healing Abdominal Separation (DRA)
Some emerging research suggests manual massage therapy may help with early postpartum diastasis recti and back pain post-delivery, although more studies are needed.
• Pelvic Floor & Long-Term Wellness
Perineal or pelvic floor-focused massage, alongside physical therapy, can aid in pelvic floor rehabilitation and reduce long-term discomfort after childbirth.
6. What Massage Types Are Helpful and Why
Here’s how different techniques can support maternal health:
- Swedish Massage: Relaxation, stress reduction, improved circulation
- Therapeutic Sports Massage: Addresses deeper muscle imbalance and tension.
- Myofascial Release: Relieves fascial restrictions that can pull on hips and ribs
- Trigger Point Therapy: Releases stubborn knots often linked with back and upper body tension.
- Lymphatic Drainage: Helps with swelling and fluid balance postpartum
Most of these can be integrated into a prenatal session with appropriate adaptations to pressure and positioning.
Safety and Precautions
- Always communicate with your healthcare provider and massage therapist.
- Adjust positions for comfort (side-lying with bolsters is common after early pregnancy).
- Avoid lying flat on your back or belly later in pregnancy.
- Avoid excessive deep tissue work unless cleared by your provider.
- Most clinical trials on massage during pregnancy involve moderate pressure that’s comfortable and pleasant, and serious side effects are rare in healthy pregnancies.
A Journey of Support and Healing at
Maternal Massage & Skin is more than a relaxation strategy, it’s a complementary therapeutic tool that supports physical comfort, emotional balance, and recovery across pregnancy and postpartum. Our Licensed Massage Therapists create therapeutic personalized care plans. This thoughtful and intentional bodywork can help you move with more ease, reduce discomfort, and foster long-term wellbeing.
Did you know?
WE NOW HAVE SKIN CARE!
Our Master Estheticians can create and taylor a skin routine snd provide knowledgeable, pregnancy safe facials, with Top of the Line products, such as SikinScriptRx.
Whether this is your first pregnancy or your fifth, consider how Maternal Massage & Skin can help support your care plan, not just as a moment of calm, but as a meaningful investment in your body’s health and your journey through motherhood.
Additionally, don’t forget to reach out to Doulas of Utah for all of your pregnancy, birth and postpartum support needs!
