How Often Should You Get a Prenatal Massage?

How often should you get a prenatal massage?

A common rhythm for prenatal massage is every three to four weeks in the second trimester, every two weeks through the early third trimester, and weekly from about 36 weeks if you'd like. There's no required minimum. Start from week 13, check with your provider, and let comfort and budget set the pace.

That's the short version. The longer version depends on how your body is carrying the pregnancy, what your week looks like, and what your doctor or midwife thinks. Below is how we'd think it through.

Why there's no single right answer

There's little research on the ideal number of pregnancy massages, so treat any precise figure as a rule of thumb. What we can say is that the aches of pregnancy tend to build as the weeks go on. The low back takes more load, the hips shift, the ribs run out of room, and sleep gets harder. So it makes sense that many people book more often as they get further along.

Frequency also follows the reason you're booking. If you mostly want an hour of real rest once a month, that's a perfectly good plan. If you're sleeping badly and your hips ache every night, closer sessions may help you feel better between them. Both are reasonable, and you can change course at any point.

Second trimester (weeks 13 to 27): every three to four weeks

This is usually the easiest stretch to receive massage. Lying on your side for an hour is still comfortable, energy often comes back after the first trimester, and the postural changes behind most pregnancy aches are just starting.

Every three to four weeks works well here for many people. It's often enough to keep the low back and hips from stacking up tension, and it leaves room in the budget for the months when you may want sessions closer together. Our guide to prenatal massage by trimester covers what the work focuses on in this window.

Early third trimester (weeks 28 to 35): every two weeks

From week 28, the body changes faster. Hip and sacrum ache, heavy legs, and a tight mid-back are common, and finding a comfortable sleeping position can become a nightly project. Many people move to every two weeks during this stretch.

Sessions also change shape. Your therapist switches sides more often, adds more pillow support, and usually works more slowly and lightly than a few months earlier. We go deeper on this in massage in the third trimester.

The final weeks (36 to 40): weekly, if it helps

Some people want a session every week in the last month, mainly for comfort and sleep. Others find one or two sessions in these weeks is plenty, especially as it gets harder to stay in any position for long. There's nothing wrong with either choice.

If you do book weekly, a 60-minute session can feel better than 90 at this point. We also suggest keeping your calendar loose. If your provider asks you to come in, or you simply don't feel up to it, move the appointment without guilt. If you go past your due date, check with your provider before each session.

When to start prenatal massage

We schedule prenatal massage from week 13, the start of the second trimester. That's a conservative policy many prenatal-trained therapists share, and many providers suggest waiting until the second trimester to start massage.

The simplest way to be ready is to mention massage to your doctor or midwife at a routine visit before then. If your pregnancy is high-risk, or you have high blood pressure or preeclampsia, placenta previa or any bleeding, gestational diabetes, severe swelling, a history of blood clots, or a history of preterm labor, get their explicit okay first and pass along any guidance they give you.

Building a schedule toward your due date

A schedule is easier to keep when it's set up ahead of time. A few things that help:

• Book the next one before this one ends. Picking the date while you're still relaxed on the table is easier than finding time later.
• Use the same day and time. An evening slot on a quiet weeknight becomes something to look forward to. We book from 7am to 10pm daily, so late sessions right before bed are an option.
• Plan backward from the due date. A sample plan might look like weeks 16, 20, and 24, then 28, 30, 32, and 34, then weekly from 36. A lighter plan might be one session each at about 20, 30, and 37 weeks.
• Budget honestly. Prenatal sessions cost the same as any other session: $129 for 60 minutes, $179 for 90, and $229 for 120, with travel based on where you live. Full details are on our pricing page.

Because the session happens at home, there's no drive to plan around at 37 weeks. That can make a schedule easier to keep late in pregnancy.

When to call your provider instead

Massage is a wellness service, not medical care. Some symptoms need your doctor or midwife that same day, whatever your massage schedule says: vaginal bleeding, fluid leaking, regular contractions before 37 weeks, a big drop in the baby's movement, sudden swelling in your face or hands, a bad headache or changes in vision, or one leg that's swollen, warm, or painful. Call them first, and rebook once you've been checked.

Ready to book?

Pick a length, a time that works, and add how far along you are in the booking notes. You can read more about how our in-home prenatal massage works, or go straight to the calendar.

Book your prenatal massage online →