Prenatal Massage and Relaxation Therapy

Prenatal massage is deliberately gentle. The mother lies on her side, supported by pillows under the bump, between the knees and behind the back, and the therapist works with light to moderate pressure across the upper back, shoulders, neck, hips, arms and legs — the places that carry the changing weight of pregnancy.

It suits women in the second and third trimesters dealing with lower back and hip ache, tight shoulders, tension headaches, restless legs, mild swelling in the feet or simply poor sleep. It is offered only with the obstetrician's agreement, and we avoid deep abdominal work, strong pressure near the ankles and inner legs, prolonged lying flat on the back, and any session during bleeding, reduced foetal movement, pre-eclampsia, preterm labour risk or a high-risk pregnancy without explicit clearance.

A session runs about fifty minutes at a pace set by the mother, with position changes whenever she is uncomfortable, and finishes with water and a slow return to sitting rather than standing straight up.

Trayi's therapists are briefed on pregnancy contraindications before the first visit, ask about the latest scan and blood pressure each time, and stop and refer rather than continue through any symptom that should be seen by a doctor.