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As any expectant mother can attest, physical discomfort is one of the major side effects of pregnancy.  The compounding effects of extra weight, rapid changes in our body, difficulty sleeping, and emotional stress as we get ready for the baby, can be a cause of sore muscles, tension, and aches.  Having just crossed the half-way mark of my pregnancy, I have been starting to feel all of those effects, both physical and emotional, so there couldn’t have been a better timing for getting my first pregnancy massage!

It just so happens that my mom had booked me for a session at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa in San Francisco today.  She was getting a facial, and as a special gift to me, she offered to get me a massage at the same time.  (Since I’ve been trying to save money in anticipation of the baby’s arrival, I wouldn’t have splurged on something like this for myself, so thank you mom!)  We arrived at the Red Door at 10 am sharp for our appointments.  We were then immediately taken back to the changing room, where we put on our robes and slippers and were offered some tea and coffee (I opted for some herbal chamomile tea).  After less than a minute, my massage therapist Elvira invited me to a private massage room.

Once in the room, as I was looking at the liability waiver that I had to sign, I got a little nervous.  I asked Elvira about her experience with giving pregnancy massages, and she informed me that all of the massage therapists at the spa were certified in prenatal massage techniques, which put my mind at ease.  She then proceeded to show me the special pregnancy massage setup.  In essence, it consisted of a special padded form on top of a massage table, with openings for the breasts and the belly, as well as a round form to support the face.  As I placed myself on top of that setup, belly down, it actually felt very comfortable.  I couldn’t believe that I was lying on my stomach again - I’d already forgotten what that feels like!

With that, Elvira began to gently work on my back.  After a nice warm-up, she started working her way down one side from my shoulders to the lower back, and then back up the other side to the shoulders.  The massage was gentle, yet firm, and she was able to work on some of the stiff muscles in my shoulders, where I tend to carry a lot of my stress.  She then did my neck and the back of my head, before moving down to the legs.  She massaged the legs and feet, concentrating for a while on the calves, which felt wonderful.  With my back finished, Elvira removed the padding from the table so that I could lay flat on my back for a massage of the shoulders, arms, and the front of the legs.

Our fifty minutes were up quickly (I could have easily gone for another fifty!), but I could already feel totally different.  I no longer had any aches, tension or discomfort - my body felt as good as new, and mentally I felt relaxed.  Even if it hadn’t been a gift, this experience would have been totally worth it for me.  As mothers, we go through a lot in bringing a baby into the world, and I think that every pregnant woman deserves to do something nice for herself during this special time.  If you are pregnant, or know someone who is and want to give them a special gift, a prenatal massage is a treat that I would wholeheartedly recommend.