Prenatal Massage in McLean, VA.

Prenatal massage is therapeutic massage rebuilt around a pregnant body: a different position on the table, more support, more moderate pressure in some places, and a practitioner who keeps the pregnancy in mind for the whole hour. The aim is modest and real — comfort for a back, hips and legs carrying a changing load, and an hour of rest that is actually restful.

Position: usually on your side

Most prenatal massage is done side-lying, with pillows under the head and between the knees. An article in the Massage Therapy Journal of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) explains why: lying flat on your back is generally avoided after about 20 weeks, because the weight of the uterus can press on a major blood vessel and leave some people lightheaded, and side-lying is considered the safest position. If side-lying does not suit your body, say so — positioning is a conversation, not a rule to endure.

Pressure and focus

Pressure is set by you, area by area. The low back, hips, glutes and shoulders can usually take more; most prenatal work leaves the belly alone, and the legs get lighter, slower strokes rather than deep pressure — AMTA's journal lists deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in a deep vein, among the conditions in which massage should not be done at all. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) also names a handful of acupressure points traditionally left alone during pregnancy, and our practitioners, trained in meridian and tui na massage, work around them as a precaution.

What it isn't

Prenatal massage is not a treatment for a pregnancy complication, not a way to turn a baby or start labor, and not a substitute for prenatal care. It is not acupuncture either: if you are weighing needles for nausea or pelvic pain, our pregnancy acupuncture page covers that separately. On our menu it is one line among a short list — the same 60 minute hour, at the same $100, as every other session on the massage and bodywork menu.

Before booking prenatal massage, talk to the obstetrician or midwife who is following your pregnancy, especially if it has been labelled high-risk. For most uncomplicated pregnancies the answer is likely to be a straightforward yes, but your provider knows your history, your blood pressure and your scans, and we do not.

Conditions that need a clear answer first

AMTA's journal lists preeclampsia, deep vein thrombosis and placenta problems — previa, accreta or abruption — as situations in which massage should not be done. UT Southwestern adds uncontrolled high blood pressure, a high-risk pregnancy, and a recent injury or surgery as reasons to avoid massage or get a doctor's approval first. Practice also varies in the early weeks: the same UT Southwestern article notes that many prenatal massage therapists do not take clients until the second trimester. Rather than quote you a rule, we would rather hear what your own provider says.

What to tell us when you text

1. How far along you are — weeks are fine; a due date is better.
2. What your OB or midwife has said — including any instruction to avoid an area, a position, or massage altogether.
3. Anything flagged in your pregnancy — blood pressure, clotting, the placenta, bleeding, twins, or a history of preterm labor.
4. Where it hurts — low back, hips, shoulders or legs, and what makes it worse.
5. How you like to lie — side-lying is the usual starting point, and we can talk positioning through.

Send those to 240-715-5939 and we will talk it through before you book; if anything you describe belongs with your OB first, we will say so plainly. First time with us? The new patient guide covers arrival, paperwork and what to wear.

On the day

Eat something light an hour or two beforehand and use the bathroom just before you start; if you need a break halfway through, say so, because nobody minds. Tell us at the start if anything has changed since you texted — a new symptom, a new instruction from your OB, a scan result. An hour on your side can leave you a little stiff, so sit up slowly at the end and give yourself a minute before standing.

Some symptoms in pregnancy need your obstetrician, midwife or an emergency room the same day, and a massage appointment is the wrong place for them. If any of the following happens — before a booking, on the day, or during a session — stop, and call your OB or midwife, or 911 in an emergency.

• Vaginal bleeding, at any stage.
• Fluid leaking from the vagina, whether a gush or a steady trickle.
• A severe headache that will not go away, vision changes such as spots or flashing lights, or sudden swelling of the face or hands. MedlinePlus lists these among the signs of preeclampsia, which develops after 20 weeks and can also appear after delivery.
• Pain, swelling, warmth or redness in one calf, which can signal a blood clot. Nobody should massage that leg.
• Your baby moving noticeably less than usual.
• Regular contractions or cramping before 37 weeks.
• Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath — call 911.

If you text us describing any of these, we will tell you to call your provider instead, and we would much rather lose a booking than have you on the table.

Booking, prices and getting here

Prenatal massage is $100 for 60 minutes. Massage is self-pay here — insurance billing applies to acupuncture only — and every rate is published on our pricing page. Booking works best by text, because we want to know how far along you are before you arrive: message 240-715-5939, or book a prenatal massage online and add your weeks in the notes.

We are open 7 days, 9 AM to 9 PM, at 1481 Chain Bridge Rd, Ste 300, in McLean, with free parking at the door. Evening and weekend slots are genuinely available, which helps when weekday mornings are already full of prenatal appointments.