Prenatal Massage in Carlton North, Melbourne

Because Growing an Entire Human Is Quite a Lot of Work

Your body is doing something extraordinary.

It may also currently be doing it with an aching lower back, tight hips, sore shoulders, swollen feet and a sleeping position that requires seventeen pillows and an engineering degree.

Pregnancy brings enormous physical change.

Your centre of gravity shifts.

Your posture adapts.

Your joints and soft tissues respond to changing loads.

Your breasts grow.

Your belly grows.

Sleep can become increasingly creative.

And sometimes you would simply like somebody to take care of you for an hour.

Prenatal Massage at The Urban Alchemist is gentle, pregnancy-aware massage designed around your changing body, comfort and stage of pregnancy.

Whether you’re sore, tired, tense or simply desperate for a very good lie-down, we’ll get you comfortable and take it from there.

Book Now!

Not sure whether Prenatal Massage is right for you? Contact our team on (03) 9347 9247.

Is Prenatal Massage Right for You?

You might book Prenatal Massage because you’re experiencing:

Lower back discomfort
Hip or glute tension
Neck and shoulder tension
General muscular aches
Tired legs
Physical fatigue
Difficulty getting comfortable
The postural changes that come with a growing belly
General tension from carrying and adapting to pregnancy

Or perhaps nothing particularly hurts.

You just want:

Relaxation
Nurturing touch
Time to yourself
A chance to slow down
A massage adapted specifically for pregnancy
An hour where nobody is asking about the baby before asking how you are

You do not need to be uncomfortable to deserve a Prenatal Massage.

Our Prenatal Massage Practitioners

Catherine Cenandez, Trauma Release and Remedial Massage Therapist

James Maddock, Remedial Massage Therapist

Prenatal Massage Fees

60 minutes – $150
90 minutes – $220

Current appointment options, practitioner availability and fees are displayed through our online booking system.

Private Health Insurance and HICAPS

Private health insurance claiming may be available depending on the practitioner providing your treatment, the service received and your individual extras cover.

We have HICAPS available at the clinic for eligible on-the-spot claims.

We recommend checking your cover directly with your health insurer before your appointment if you’re relying on a rebate.

Your Body Is Doing Enough Already

For the next hour, it can stop.

Book Now!

Not sure which Prenatal Massage appointment to choose? Contact our team on (03) 9347 9247.

Prenatal Massage Gift Vouchers

Now this is a baby shower present.

The baby already has approximately forty-seven tiny jumpsuits.

Give the pregnant person a massage.

The Urban Alchemist Gift Vouchers are available to purchase online.

Buy Gift Voucher

What Is Prenatal Massage?

Prenatal Massage, also called Pregnancy Massage, is massage adapted specifically for the physical changes and comfort needs of pregnancy.

It uses many of the same hands-on techniques as other forms of massage, but the practitioner modifies:

Positioning
Pressure
Areas treated
Bolstering and support
Treatment techniques

according to your stage of pregnancy, symptoms, health history and comfort.

The fundamental principle is fairly simple:

Your massage needs to work around your pregnant body rather than expecting your pregnant body to work around the massage.

Why Does Pregnancy Make Everything Ache?

Because biomechanics has entered the chat.

As pregnancy progresses, your body adapts to increasing weight and a changing centre of gravity.

That can influence how you:

Stand
Walk
Sleep
Sit
Move
Carry load through your pelvis
Use the muscles around your lower back and hips

At the same time, hormonal changes affect connective tissues and joints.

None of this means pregnancy has somehow “thrown your body out of alignment.”

Your body is adapting.

Sometimes those adaptations are comfortable.

Sometimes your lower back would like to lodge a formal complaint.

Prenatal Massage can provide hands-on support for some of the muscular tension and discomfort that accompanies those changes.

Prenatal Massage for Lower Back Pain

Lower back discomfort is extremely common during pregnancy.

As your belly grows, the mechanical demands on your spine, pelvis, hips and surrounding muscles change.

Your Prenatal Massage therapist may work with areas including:

Lower back
Glutes
Hips
Upper back
Legs
Other areas contributing to your overall tension

Massage may help reduce muscular tension and provide short-term relief for some pregnancy-related musculoskeletal discomfort.

Significant, sudden, severe or unusual pain deserves appropriate medical assessment rather than simply being attributed to pregnancy.

Prenatal Massage for Hips and Glutes

Pregnancy can make the muscles around your hips and pelvis feel as though they’ve unexpectedly taken on a second job.

Glutes.

Deep hip muscles.

Outer hips.

Lower back.

All working within a body whose shape and loading are changing month by month.

Massage can provide some very welcome attention to these areas.

Your therapist can adjust positioning throughout your treatment so you aren’t expected to contort yourself into a position that stopped being comfortable three months ago.

Prenatal Massage for Neck and Shoulder Tension

Pregnancy doesn’t restrict its activities to the lower half of your body.

Neck and shoulder tension can also become more noticeable.

Changing posture, breast changes, altered sleep, stress and everyday work can all contribute.

And later, once the baby arrives, your upper body is about to begin an exciting new career involving feeding, carrying, lifting and staring lovingly downward for extraordinary amounts of time.

Looking after those muscles before then is not a terrible idea.

Prenatal Massage for Relaxation

Pregnancy can be beautiful.

It can also be physically demanding, emotionally enormous and occasionally quite weird.

You may be excited.

Anxious.

Exhausted.

Delighted.

Uncomfortable.

Terrified.

Completely in love with the experience.

Utterly over being pregnant.

Or several of those things before breakfast.

A Prenatal Massage gives you time where you don’t need to prepare for birth, research prams, answer questions or accomplish anything.

You get to be the person receiving care.

Can Prenatal Massage Help With Stress and Anxiety?

Massage may help some people feel more relaxed and less stressed during pregnancy.

There is research suggesting massage during pregnancy may have beneficial effects on anxiety and psychological wellbeing, although studies vary in quality and we wouldn’t promise a particular mental health outcome.

What Happens During a Prenatal Massage?

Before your massage begins, your practitioner will usually ask about:

How many weeks pregnant you are
How the pregnancy is progressing
Areas of discomfort
Your health history
Any pregnancy complications
What you’d like from the treatment
Your preferred pressure
Your comfort with different positions

Then we get you comfortable.

Which becomes increasingly important as pregnancy progresses.

Your therapist may use pillows, bolsters or pregnancy supports and change your position throughout the session.

You should never feel that you need to tolerate an uncomfortable position because you’re inconveniencing the therapist.

You’re pregnant.

We’ll move the pillows.

How Will I Lie During Prenatal Massage?

Positioning depends on your stage of pregnancy, your body and what feels comfortable.

Side-lying is commonly used during pregnancy and allows your therapist to work effectively while keeping you well supported.

Other supported positions may also be used where appropriate.

We have pregnancy cushions and bolsters available to help support your:

Belly
Hips
Legs
Back
Upper body

If something doesn’t feel right, tell us.

Pregnancy is not the time to demonstrate your ability to tolerate discomfort politely.

Can I Lie on My Stomach?

Depending on your stage of pregnancy and the equipment available, some people may be comfortable in specially supported positions.

Others much prefer side-lying.

There is no medal for getting onto your stomach.

Your therapist will work with whatever position is safest and most comfortable for you.

Can I Lie on My Back?

Later in pregnancy, prolonged flat supine positioning can sometimes cause symptoms because the weight of the uterus can compress major blood vessels.

Your practitioner can use positioning and support to keep you comfortable.

If you feel:

Dizzy
Nauseated
Light-headed
Breathless
Generally unwell

tell your practitioner immediately so your position can be changed.

Again, no heroic endurance required.

Is Prenatal Massage Safe?

For most people with uncomplicated pregnancies, appropriately adapted massage is generally considered a low-risk complementary therapy.

But pregnancy is individual.

Tell your practitioner about:

Pregnancy complications
High blood pressure
Bleeding
Significant swelling
Blood clot history or risk
Severe headaches
Placental concerns
Pre-eclampsia
Premature labour concerns
Significant medical conditions
Anything your maternity care team has asked you to monitor

If we’re unsure whether massage is appropriate, we may ask you to check with your GP, obstetrician or midwife before treatment.

When Should I Not Have Prenatal Massage?

Do not come for a massage when what you actually need is medical assessment.

Seek appropriate maternity or emergency care for symptoms such as:

Vaginal bleeding
Severe abdominal pain
Chest pain
Significant shortness of breath
Sudden or severe headache
Visual changes
Sudden or significant swelling
Fever or acute illness
Symptoms suggestive of a blood clot
Reduced fetal movement when you would normally expect movement
Signs of premature labour
Leaking fluid
Any symptom your maternity team has told you requires urgent assessment

Massage can wait.

Can I Have Massage in the First Trimester?

For many people with uncomplicated pregnancies, massage can be adapted during the first trimester.

There is a persistent myth that massage causes miscarriage.

Most early miscarriages occur because of factors unrelated to massage, and ordinary gentle massage has not been shown to cause miscarriage.

However, early pregnancy can involve significant nausea, fatigue, dizziness and other symptoms, so treatment should always be adapted to how you’re feeling.

If your pregnancy is high-risk or you have concerns, speak with your maternity care provider before booking.

What Pressure Is Used During Prenatal Massage?

Whatever is appropriate for you.

Pregnancy Massage does not have to mean somebody vaguely waving their hands over your shoulders for sixty minutes because you’re apparently made of glass now.

Some people prefer gentle relaxation massage.

Others want more focused work on muscular tension.

Your therapist will adapt pressure according to:

Your preferences
The area being treated
Your stage of pregnancy
Your health history
What is clinically appropriate

Communication throughout the treatment is welcome.

What About Swollen Feet and Legs?

Some swelling in the feet and ankles can occur during pregnancy.

Gentle massage may feel lovely for tired legs.

However, new, sudden, significant or one-sided swelling should not simply be massaged.

Swelling can occasionally be associated with conditions requiring medical assessment, including pre-eclampsia or blood clots.

If something about your swelling seems unusual, get it assessed first.

Prenatal Massage and Pelvic Pain

Pelvic girdle pain can occur during pregnancy and may involve discomfort around the:

Pubic region
Sacroiliac joints
Hips
Glutes
Lower back

Massage may help with surrounding muscular tension, but pelvic girdle pain can require broader assessment and management.

Depending on your symptoms, you may benefit from input from your maternity team or a physiotherapist with pregnancy expertise.

Prenatal Massage and Sciatica

Pregnancy can sometimes bring pain into the buttock or leg that people describe as sciatica.

Not all radiating leg pain is actually caused by the sciatic nerve, so persistent neurological symptoms deserve proper assessment.

Tell your therapist if you experience:

Numbness
Tingling
Weakness
Significant radiating pain

Massage may help with associated muscular tension but isn’t a substitute for assessment where neurological symptoms are present.

Prenatal Massage and Craniosacral Therapy

Some practitioners may incorporate Craniosacral Therapy into pregnancy treatments or offer it as a separate appointment.

Craniosacral Therapy uses very gentle touch and may appeal to people looking for a quieter, lighter-touch treatment.

Availability depends on the practitioner.

Ask reception on (03) 9347 9247 if you’re interested in combining these approaches.

Does Prenatal Massage Improve Labour Outcomes?

You may come across claims that Prenatal Massage leads to easier labour, shorter labour or healthier babies.

There has been research exploring these possibilities, but the evidence isn’t strong or consistent enough for us to promise those outcomes.

We think Prenatal Massage has enough going for it without turning it into an obstetric intervention.

If it helps you feel:

More comfortable.

Less tense.

More rested.

More cared for.

That is already a perfectly worthwhile reason to book.

Prenatal Massage Is Also for People Who Love Being Pregnant

You do not need to be suffering.

This is worth saying.

Pregnancy care is often organised around problems.

Pain.

Nausea.

Swelling.

Pelvic discomfort.

Fatigue.

But you may actually feel pretty bloody good.

Excellent.

You can still have a massage.

You don’t need to earn nurturing by becoming uncomfortable first.

Prenatal Massage as a Baby Shower Gift

Please.

For the love of pregnant women everywhere.

There are only so many muslin wraps one household needs.

A Prenatal Massage gift voucher gives the mum-to-be something that is entirely for her.

Not the baby.

Not the nursery.

Not feeding.

Not a gadget.

Not another tiny outfit that will fit for approximately eleven minutes.

Her.

Purchase an Urban Alchemist Gift Voucher

Frequently Asked Questions About Prenatal Massage

How far into pregnancy can I have a Prenatal Massage?

Massage can generally be adapted throughout an uncomplicated pregnancy, including later pregnancy.

Tell us how many weeks pregnant you are when booking.

Can I have Prenatal Massage in my first trimester?

Generally, gentle massage can be adapted for an uncomplicated first trimester.

If you have pregnancy complications or concerns, speak with your maternity care provider first.

Do I need permission from my doctor or midwife?

Not routinely for every uncomplicated pregnancy.

If you have medical or pregnancy complications, your practitioner may recommend checking with your maternity care provider before treatment.

Will I lie on my stomach?

Not necessarily.

Side-lying and other supported positions can be used depending on your stage of pregnancy and comfort.

Do you have pregnancy pillows?

Yes.

We use cushions and supports to help make positioning comfortable.

Can you massage my lower back?

Yes, where appropriate.

Lower back tension is a common reason people book Prenatal Massage.

Can Prenatal Massage help swollen feet?

Gentle massage may feel soothing for ordinary pregnancy-related tiredness and mild swelling.

Sudden, significant or one-sided swelling needs medical assessment first.

Is Prenatal Massage gentle?

It can be gentle, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be feather-light.

Pressure is adapted to you, your pregnancy and the area being treated.

What should I wear?

Whatever is comfortable to arrive in.

Your practitioner will explain draping and treatment positioning before the massage begins.

Can I claim Prenatal Massage on private health insurance?

Possibly, depending on the practitioner providing the service, the treatment billed and your individual extras cover.

Check directly with your insurer if you’re relying on a rebate.

Can I buy Prenatal Massage as a gift?

Absolutely.

And we strongly support this decision.

Buy Gift Voucher

Prenatal Massage in Carlton North, Melbourne

Pregnancy asks an extraordinary amount of your body.

It changes how you stand.

Sleep.

Move.

Sit.

Exercise.

Work.

And eventually how you put your own shoes on.

Prenatal Massage doesn’t need to promise a perfect pregnancy or a magical birth.

It can simply give your changing body some thoughtful, skilled attention.

An hour where you’re comfortable.

Supported.

Warm.

And being cared for rather than preparing to care for somebody else.

We really love looking after pregnant people here.

Our Carlton North clinic is conveniently located for people seeking Prenatal Massage from Carlton, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Clifton Hill, Brunswick East, Northcote, Collingwood and Melbourne’s inner north.

Ready for Someone to Look After You for a Change?

Come exactly as pregnant as you are.

We’ll sort out the pillows.

Book Now!

Not sure which Prenatal Massage appointment to book? Contact us on (03) 9347 9247.