Prenatal Massage in Longmont, CO
Supportive, therapeutic massage for your changing body.
Pregnancy asks a lot of your body. As your body changes to support your growing baby, you may notice new tension through your back and hips, tired legs, sore shoulders, changes in sleep, or simply a greater need to slow down and rest.
Prenatal massage offers intentional time to care for the body carrying you through this season.
My approach combines the therapeutic work I bring to all of my massage sessions with comfortable positioning, thoughtful modifications, and a slower, grounding pace adapted specifically to pregnancy.
Whether you're coming in with an aching back or simply want an hour to rest and be cared for, we'll shape the massage around what you need that day.
What Is Prenatal Massage?
Prenatal massage is therapeutic massage adapted to the physical changes and needs of pregnancy. It isn't necessarily an entirely different style of massage.
Many of the same techniques used in a traditional therapeutic massage can still be appropriate, but positioning, pressure, areas of focus, and other aspects of the session are modified based on your stage of pregnancy, comfort, and individual health considerations.
Your massage may include a blend of Swedish massage, myofascial techniques, focused therapeutic work, and other gentle or deeper techniques where appropriate.
The goal is never to follow a predetermined "pregnancy massage routine." It's to provide a massage that feels good in your body, during this particular stage of your pregnancy.
How Can Prenatal Massage Help During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy creates significant physical changes throughout the body. As your belly grows and your center of gravity shifts, the muscles around your back, hips, pelvis, and legs adapt to different demands.
ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) notes that low-back pain is extremely common during pregnancy, while massage therapy organizations identify back and leg discomfort, muscular tension, stress, and sleep difficulties among the reasons pregnant clients seek massage.
Prenatal massage may provide support for:
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Low-back tension and discomfort
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Hip and glute tension
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Neck and shoulder tension
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Tired or achy legs
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Muscular tension associated with postural changes
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General soreness and fatigue
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Stress and difficulty slowing down
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Relaxation and rest
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The changing physical demands of pregnancy
You don't need to be uncomfortable to receive prenatal massage. Sometimes you simply want to feel cared for in a body that is doing an extraordinary amount of work.
Can I Lie Face Down During Prenatal Massage?
Depending on your stage of pregnancy, comfort, and individual circumstances, supported face-down positioning may be an option.
I use pregnancy-specific support equipment designed to comfortably accommodate a growing belly and breasts so that some clients can enjoy lying face down without placing direct pressure on the abdomen.
For someone who normally sleeps or receives massage on their stomach, being able to comfortably lie face down again can feel wonderful. But it isn't required.
Prenatal massage can also be provided comfortably in a side-lying position with supportive bolsters and pillows, and we can change positions during the session whenever needed.
Your comfort determines the positioning, not the equipment.
Comfortable Positioning Throughout Pregnancy
As your body changes throughout pregnancy, the way you're most comfortable receiving massage may change too.
I use pregnancy-specific supports that allow us to adapt the massage table around your body rather than asking your body to adapt to the table.
Depending on your stage of pregnancy and what feels most comfortable, your massage may include:
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Supported face-down positioning using pregnancy-specific cushioning designed to comfortably accommodate your belly and breasts
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Side-lying massage with pillows and bolsters supporting your belly, hips, and legs
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Semi-reclined positioning using a supportive wedge so you can receive face-up massage without lying completely flat
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A combination of positions throughout your session
As pregnancy progresses, prolonged flat-on-your-back positioning may become uncomfortable or inappropriate.
Semi-reclined positioning allows me to continue working with areas such as your neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and feet while keeping your upper body comfortably elevated.
There is no single position you need to stay in for your entire massage. We'll choose what feels best for your body and change positions whenever you need to.
Prenatal Massage for Back & Hip Pain
Back and hip discomfort are some of the most common reasons people seek massage during pregnancy.
As your center of gravity changes, different muscles begin working harder to support your body.
Your movement, posture, sleeping positions, and everyday activities may change as well.
Rather than simply applying heavy pressure wherever you're hurting, I'll look at the larger pattern.
Depending on what you're experiencing, we may work with the:
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Low and mid back
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Glutes and hips
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Legs
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Upper back and shoulders
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Neck
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Other areas carrying additional tension
The massage can still be therapeutic and focused while remaining responsive to your pregnancy.
Prenatal Massage Can Still Be Therapeutic
Pregnancy doesn't mean your massage has to become a very light spa massage.
When appropriate, we can still work intentionally with areas of muscular tension using therapeutic techniques and focused pressure.
At the same time, pregnancy brings physiological changes that deserve consideration.
Pressure, positioning, technique, and areas of focus may need to be modified throughout different stages of pregnancy.
My approach is to find the balance between doing meaningful therapeutic work and respecting what your body is asking for right now. This is the same approach I take in Custom Therapeutic Massages.
Deeper isn't automatically better. Gentler isn't automatically better either. The right massage is the one that makes sense for you.
A Place to Slow Down
Prenatal massage isn't only about sore muscles. Pregnancy can be a season of tremendous change—physically, emotionally, and practically.
There may be appointments to attend, decisions to make, things to prepare, work to finish, and an ever-growing awareness that life is about to look different.
Massage creates an opportunity to stop doing for a little while. You don't need to accomplish anything on the table. You can simply rest.
That slower, grounding quality is part of all of my bodywork, and I believe it has a particularly meaningful place during pregnancy.
What to Expect During Your Prenatal Massage
1. We'll talk about how you're feeling.
Before your massage, we'll discuss where you are in your pregnancy, how you've been feeling, any areas of tension or discomfort, relevant health considerations, and what you'd most like from the session.
Every pregnancy is different, and every appointment can be different too.
2. We'll get you comfortable.
We'll choose positioning based on your stage of pregnancy and what feels best in your body.
That may mean supported face-down positioning, side-lying with pillows and bolsters, or a combination of positions throughout the massage.
If something becomes uncomfortable, we'll change it.
3. Your massage will be customized.
Depending on what you need, your session may include focused therapeutic work for areas of tension alongside slower, relaxing full-body massage.
You don't need to choose between "pain relief" and "relaxation." We can make room for both.
4. We'll communicate throughout the session.
Your comfort and autonomy remain important throughout your massage.
You're always welcome to change positions, request more or less pressure, ask for additional support, change your mind about an area being worked on, or ask a question.
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Prenatal Massage
Pregnancy involves significant changes in your body, and it can sometimes change the way you experience touch, comfort, privacy, and physical vulnerability.
I approach prenatal massage with the same emphasis on communication, consent, and choice that informs all of my bodywork.
Before beginning, we'll talk about positioning, draping, areas you'd like addressed, and anything you'd prefer I avoid.
Nothing needs to happen simply because it's "part of the massage."
You remain in control of your body and your experience throughout the session.
Is Prenatal Massage Safe?
Massage is generally considered appropriate during pregnancy for many people, and ACOG describes massage as an option for relaxation during pregnancy.
Pregnancy also creates health considerations that need to be taken seriously.
Please let me know that you're pregnant when booking, including if you're early enough in pregnancy that it isn't yet visible.
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, significant pregnancy-related complications, unexplained bleeding, preterm contractions, severe or sudden swelling, high blood pressure, severe headaches, or another medical concern, please speak with your prenatal healthcare provider before receiving massage.
When something falls outside my scope as a massage therapist, I'll recommend that you speak with your obstetrician, midwife, or other appropriate healthcare provider.
Your safety and your baby's safety come before receiving a massage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prenatal massage safe during the first trimester?
Massage can be received during pregnancy, including early pregnancy, when there aren't individual medical reasons that make it inappropriate.
Some spas and massage practices choose not to provide first-trimester massage, but this is not because massage has been established as a cause of miscarriage.
Please tell me that you're pregnant regardless of how early you are so that I can appropriately adapt your session.
If you have pregnancy complications or concerns about receiving massage, talk with your prenatal healthcare provider first.
How will I be positioned during prenatal massage?
Your positioning will be adapted to your stage of pregnancy and what feels most comfortable in your body.
I have pregnancy-specific equipment that allows for supported face-down massage, side-lying massage with pillows and bolsters, and semi-reclined face-up positioning with your upper body elevated.
We can use one position or move between several throughout your massage. Your comfort always determines how we work.
Can I lie on my stomach while pregnant?
For some clients, supported face-down positioning can be a comfortable option.
I use pregnancy-specific cushioning designed to accommodate your growing belly and breasts without placing direct pressure on them.
If face-down positioning doesn't feel comfortable for you, we can use side-lying positioning instead.
You never need to lie face down to receive a complete prenatal massage.
Will I have to lie flat on my back?
No. I have a supportive wedge that allows me to elevate your upper body for semi-reclined massage rather than having you lie completely flat.
This becomes particularly useful as pregnancy progresses, when prolonged flat-on-your-back positioning may become uncomfortable or inadvisable.
Can I get deep tissue massage while pregnant?
Prenatal massage doesn't automatically need to be light-pressure massage.
Focused or deeper therapeutic work may be appropriate in certain areas depending on your pregnancy, health history, comfort, and the tissue we're working with.
I adapt pressure and technique rather than applying one rule to your entire body.
Can prenatal massage help with back pain?
Massage may help reduce muscular tension and discomfort associated with the changing physical demands of pregnancy.
Back and hip discomfort are common during pregnancy, and these are areas we can intentionally address during your session.
What should I wear for prenatal massage?
Whatever helps you feel most comfortable.
As with all of my massage sessions, you can undress to your level of comfort and will remain appropriately draped throughout the session.
We can discuss clothing, draping, and positioning before beginning.
Do I need permission from my doctor or midwife?
Not every uncomplicated pregnancy requires medical clearance before massage.
However, if your pregnancy is considered high-risk, you're experiencing complications or concerning symptoms, or you're uncertain whether massage is appropriate for you, please speak with your obstetrician, midwife, or other prenatal healthcare provider before your appointment.
How often should I receive prenatal massage?
There isn't one schedule that's right for every pregnancy.
Some clients enjoy regular massage throughout pregnancy, while others come in occasionally when their body is asking for extra support.
We'll pay attention to how massage feels for you rather than prescribing a predetermined schedule.
When should I not receive prenatal massage?
There are circumstances in which massage should be postponed or modified.
If you're experiencing new or concerning pregnancy symptoms, significant illness, complications, or anything that makes you uncertain about receiving massage, contact your prenatal healthcare provider first.
If something comes up during our intake that makes me question whether massage is appropriate, we'll pause and make safety the priority.
Care for the Body Carrying You Through Pregnancy
Pregnancy can hold excitement, anticipation, discomfort, uncertainty, and enormous change.
Through all of it, your body is doing remarkable work.
Prenatal massage offers a little space to care for that body.
We can address the back that's been aching, spend time with tired hips and shoulders, or simply create an hour where there is nowhere else you need to be.
Therapeutic when you need it. Quiet when you need that instead. And always shaped around you.
Prenatal massage is available in Longmont, Colorado, serving clients from Berthoud, Longmont, and surrounding Northern Colorado communities.