Prenatal Massage in NW Portland
Therapeutic care is adapted for every trimester. 20+ years of clinical practice, gentle hands, safe positioning.
Pregnancy is a lot of work for the body
Pregnancy places significant and constantly changing demands on the body. As your center of gravity shifts, as your weight increases, as ligaments soften and joints adjust to make room for what is coming, the physical experience of being pregnant can become uncomfortable in ways that are difficult to address through rest, stretching, or sleep alone.
Prenatal massage offers targeted, adapted support for exactly those discomforts. It is not a modified spa treatment. It is genuine therapeutic care for a body doing an enormous amount of physical work, in a position that respects what is changing and tools that adapt as your pregnancy progresses.
After 22 years of clinical practice, I bring the same blend of intuitive listening and clinical depth to my prenatal sessions that I bring to every session at Alacrity Massage & Wellness. The work is tailored. Nothing is scripted. The session is built around what your body, this pregnancy, this week, is asking for.
How a Prenatal Session Works
Every prenatal session begins with a conversation. How are you feeling this week? What has shifted since last time? Where are you carrying tension? What positioning has felt good lately, and what has not. You know your body and this pregnancy better than anyone, and your input shapes the entire session.
From there, we move to the table. Positioning is one of the most important parts of prenatal work, and the right setup changes as your pregnancy progresses. In early pregnancy, side-lying with bolsters often works well. In later pregnancy, a fully supported side-lying position with pillows under the belly, between the knees, and behind the back creates a position that is both safe and genuinely comfortable. I take time to get the setup right, because the wrong position can take a perfectly good massage and make it stressful instead of restful.
During the session, your feedback continues to shape the work. If something feels off, if you need to shift, if a position is no longer comfortable, just say so. We adjust. The point is not to power through anything. The point is to give your body what it actually needs this hour.
How the Work Adapts Across Pregnancy
First Trimester
I generally recommend waiting until the second trimester before starting prenatal massage. If you are an existing client of mine and we want to continue care during the first trimester, that is a conversation worth having one-on-one, with your physician's input if you have specific concerns. The recommendation is not because massage is unsafe in the first trimester. It is because most miscarriages happen in this window, and many practitioners (myself included) prefer to wait until pregnancy is more established before beginning new bodywork relationships.
Second Trimester
Often considered the sweet spot for prenatal massage. Energy returns, the early nausea typically passes, and the body begins changing in ways that benefit from regular bodywork. Side-lying positioning becomes the default. Common focus areas in this trimester: lower back, hips, shoulders, and the upper back, as posture begins to shift to accommodate weight gain. Many clients begin coming in monthly during this window.
Third Trimester
The trimester where bodywork often makes the biggest difference. Lower back, hips, and pelvic pressure are typically at their most demanding. Sciatic discomfort, swelling in the legs and feet, and difficulty sleeping all tend to peak. Sessions often shift toward shorter time on the table with extra time spent on positioning, support, and pacing. I see clients up to and through their due dates if they are still feeling up to coming in. Many find that a session at week 38 or 39 is one of the most welcome things they do during the entire pregnancy.
What Prenatal Massage Helps With
The physical experience of pregnancy varies enormously from person to person and from week to week. The areas clients most often want addressed include:
Lower back tension and sciatic discomfort are often the most common complaints as the second and third trimesters progress
Hip tightness and pelvic pressure as the body prepares to make room
Upper back and shoulder strain from changes in posture and the extra weight
Neck tension and headaches from postural changes and sleep disruption
Swelling in the lower legs, ankles, and feet, particularly in later pregnancy
Carpal tunnel symptoms in the hands and wrists, which can flare during pregnancy
Hip and glute tightness from the body's biomechanical adjustments
Fatigue and the deeper exhaustion of carrying a pregnancy, where a session focused on nervous system support can be more useful than direct work on a sore area.
If your situation is something specific, perhaps recovery from a fall, working through pelvic discomfort, or processing significant emotional or physical stress, that is worth a conversation before booking. I am happy to talk through whether prenatal massage is the right fit for what you are dealing with, and if so, how to make the session most useful for you.
What to know before booking
Prenatal massage is generally safe and beneficial for healthy pregnancies, but there are conditions and circumstances where additional care is appropriate. Please contact me before booking if any of the following apply to you:
You are in your first trimester and want to discuss whether to begin sessions
You have a high-risk pregnancy diagnosis or have been advised to limit physical activity
You are experiencing pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or other conditions requiring medical management
You have a history of preterm labor or other pregnancy complications
You are dealing with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clotting issues, or have been advised to be cautious with circulation-affecting therapies
Your physician or midwife has specific instructions about bodywork during your pregnancy
You are unsure whether prenatal massage is appropriate for your specific situation
None of the above necessarily means we cannot work together. It just means a brief conversation before your first session is the right starting point, so we can talk through any considerations and adapt accordingly. Reach out by email or phone, and I will respond within a business day.
Pricing and Booking
60-90 mins | $110 - $160
Six steps to better results
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Find Your Fit
Find the right therapist for your body. Not every practitioner is the right fit for every client. Look for someone whose approach, training, and pace match what your body actually needs.
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Set An Intention
Set your intention before you arrive. What do you want to address? What would feel like a successful session? Even one clear goal sharpens the work.
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Communicate Your Needs
Communicate your goals and preferences. You know your body. Tell me what you are noticing, where it hurts, what has helped or not helped before. The more you bring, the better we can build the session together.
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Let Us Know
Speak up during the session if something is not working. Pressure, focus area, pace, all of it can shift in the moment. Your feedback while we work is one of the most useful things you can give me.
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After Care
Drink water and slow down afterward. The work continues for hours after you leave the table. Hydration and a lighter rest of the day let your body integrate.
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Take Care Of Yourself
Build self-care between sessions. Stretching, walking, breathwork, and sleep. The session is a part of your care, not all of it. What you do between visits is what makes the changes last.