Amongst the clients who lie on my massage table, many are pregnant, some more advanced in weeks than others.
Up until the second trimester (12 weeks) it is safe to lie on the belly (prone) as long as they feel comfortable. From then on it’s time to be massaged in the side-lying position with plenty of cushions and pillows for support.
Over the years massage tables have been developed which enable pregnant ladies to lie facedown throughout all the stages of their pregnancy. Would I choose to use one of these tables? In a word: no.
And here are my reasons:
- The holes are “one-size-fits-all”, the same shape and same location. Pregnant women are not a universal shape or size. The chances that the hole is going to properly fit every pregnant woman is virtually zero. How can squeezing yourself into hole which is not made to fit you be comfortable (or safe)?
- There is no pressure on the abdomen but the weight pulls it downwards into the hole. Result: increased lumbar (lower back) curvature which puts stress on the sacrum and its ligaments. This stress is increased if the massage therapist pushes downwards whilst massaging the back muscles. Pregnancy increases curvature of the spine anyway and wanting a massage to relieve this issue (tight, aching muscles) will only increase your discomfort if you are face-down. It also can cause breast discomfort and sinus issues.
So, given the reasons above I use a side-lying position for all my pregnant clients after the first trimester. It does not matter how big their belly is, I have plenty of pillows, cushions and towels to give them plenty of support which allows them to relax in a more natural position, with no strain on any part of the body. This position also gives me access to every body part that needs to be massaged.
To quote a fellow massage therapist “holes are for doughnuts, not massage tables”.