OUR SERVICES

Pregnancy Massage in Oakville

Prenatal and postnatal massage by Registered Massage Therapists, side-lying and fully supported, coordinated with our pelvic health physiotherapist and prenatal chiropractor. Female RMTs available, direct billing.

Home > Our Services > Pregnancy Massage in Oakville

Pregnancy massage in Oakville at Wellmax Physiotherapy is registered massage therapy adapted for the body you have right now: side-lying on a supported table, pressure and positioning adjusted for your trimester, and a therapist who understands pelvic girdle pain, sciatica, swollen legs and the aching upper back that comes with a growing belly. Our registered massage therapists work alongside the clinic’s pelvic health physiotherapist and prenatal chiropractor, so if your pain needs more than massage, the right person is down the hall. You can request a female RMT when you book, and most extended health plans cover it. If you have questions first, book a free 15 minute consult.

This page explains what pregnancy massage involves, which pregnancy aches it helps with, how we keep it safe in each trimester, what postnatal massage adds after the birth, and what it costs. It also explains when massage is the right choice and when a pelvic health assessment should come first, because the same pain can have several different causes, and each needs different care.

What is pregnancy massage?

Pregnancy (prenatal) massage is Swedish and therapeutic massage delivered by a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) with the positioning, pressure and techniques changed for pregnancy. In Ontario, RMTs are regulated by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, and prenatal care is part of their training. The main differences from a standard treatment are:

• Positioning. From the second trimester you are treated lying on your side, supported by a body pillow between the knees and under the belly, or semi-reclined on your back with the upper body raised. You are never flat on your back for long periods later in pregnancy, and we do not use tables with a hole cut out for the belly, which can strain the uterine ligaments and low back.
• Pressure. Deep pressure is avoided over the abdomen, and firm work on the legs is modified because of the higher risk of blood clots in pregnancy. The back, hips, shoulders and neck can still be worked with real, effective pressure.
• Technique. Long, flowing strokes to ease swelling, slow work into the gluteal and hip muscles that tighten around a widening pelvis, and gentle stretching of the muscles along the spine that carry the extra load in front.
• Pace. The session is unhurried, with time to reposition and to get on and off the table safely.

What pregnancy massage helps with

Pregnancy loads the body in a way it has never been loaded before, and by the third trimester most women have at least one of the following. Massage is one of the safest and most effective ways to manage them, and for some it is the only treatment that does not involve medication.

• Low back and hip pain. The most common reason patients book. The growing belly tilts the pelvis forward and the muscles of the low back, hips and buttocks work overtime to hold you upright. Massage eases the muscle tension; if the pain is coming from the sacroiliac joint itself, we will say so and bring in pregnancy pelvic pain physiotherapy or the prenatal chiropractor alongside it.
• Sciatica and leg pain. Tight gluteal and piriformis muscles pressing on the sciatic nerve are a common pregnancy pattern, and slow work into those muscles often gives quick relief. Pain that travels below the knee with numbness still needs an assessment to rule out other causes; see sciatica treatment.
• Upper back, neck and shoulder tension from heavier breasts, changed posture and, later, from feeding and carrying.
• Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Gentle, upward strokes help move fluid, and side-lying takes the weight of the uterus off the veins that return blood from the legs.
• Leg cramps and restless legs, particularly at night in the third trimester.
• Headaches that come from neck and shoulder tension rather than from blood pressure changes. New or severe headaches in pregnancy should be checked by your doctor or midwife first.
• Carpal tunnel symptoms, since fluid retention often compresses the nerve at the wrist in late pregnancy. See carpal tunnel treatment if it is severe.
• Sleep, stress and anxiety. Massage lowers muscle tension and calms the nervous system, and many patients book it as much for an hour of rest as for the pain.

If your pain is sharp, one-sided at the front of the pelvis, worse with walking or standing on one leg, or has stopped you from rolling over in bed, it may be pelvic girdle pain from the joints rather than the muscles. Massage will help the muscles around it, but the joint itself needs a physiotherapy or chiropractic assessment, and we will tell you if that is what we find rather than simply booking you in again.

Is pregnancy massage safe? Trimester by trimester

Yes, when it is delivered by a trained RMT who adapts the treatment to your stage. This is how we handle each trimester at Wellmax:

• First trimester (weeks 1 to 13). We book pregnancy massage from the second trimester onward as standard. Massage in the first trimester is not known to be harmful, but many women prefer to wait, and any nausea or fatigue makes the session less useful. If you are in your first trimester and want treatment for a specific problem, talk to us first and we will plan it with you.
• Second trimester (weeks 14 to 27). The ideal time to start. Side-lying positioning begins here, and regular sessions every two to three weeks help keep the back and hips comfortable as the belly grows.
• Third trimester (weeks 28 to birth). The most common time to book, because this is when the back, hips, legs and sleep suffer most. Side-lying throughout, extra pillow support, and shorter repositioning breaks. Sessions can continue right up to your due date.
• High-risk pregnancies. If you have pre-eclampsia, a history of blood clots, placenta previa, gestational diabetes with complications, or you have been put on bed rest, we ask for clearance from your obstetrician or midwife before treating, and some techniques are left out. Tell us at booking so the appointment is set up correctly.

Two things we do not do: we do not use deep pressure on the inner legs or calves during pregnancy because of the clot risk, and we do not claim that massage can start labour. Some acupressure points are traditionally avoided in pregnancy and we avoid them, but there is no evidence that massage induces labour and we will not sell you a session on that basis.

What to expect at your first pregnancy massage in Oakville

Your first visit starts with a short health history: how far along you are, any complications, where the pain is, what your doctor or midwife has said, and anything you want us to avoid. Your RMT then explains the positioning and leaves the room while you undress to your comfort level and get settled under the sheet. You are draped throughout; only the area being worked on is uncovered.

Most patients spend the session on their side, switching sides part way through, with the belly and knees supported. Some of the upper back and shoulder work can be done semi-reclined. Pressure is checked with you as we go, and you can ask for more or less at any point. At the end you will be given time to get up slowly, and your therapist may suggest simple stretches or positions for sleep. Book 60 minutes for a full-body treatment or 45 minutes for a focused session on the back and hips.

Postnatal massage after the birth

The body that carried the pregnancy does not go back to normal on the day of delivery. Feeding, carrying, lifting a car seat and sleeping in short stretches load the neck, shoulders and low back hard, and the muscles of the hips and pelvis are still adjusting to a pelvis that widened for the birth. Postnatal massage at Wellmax addresses all of that, and it is one of the first treatments most new mothers can safely have.

• After a vaginal birth: massage can usually begin as soon as you feel ready, often within the first couple of weeks, avoiding the abdomen until any soreness has settled.
• After a C-section: the incision needs to close before any abdominal work, usually six to eight weeks. Massage of the back, neck, shoulders and legs can begin sooner. Scar mobilisation itself is done by our pelvic health physiotherapist; see C-section recovery physiotherapy.
• Breastfeeding: massage is entirely compatible with feeding. Bring the baby if you need to, and tell your RMT if your breasts are tender so positioning can be adjusted.

Massage does not retrain the pelvic floor or close a diastasis. If you have leaking, heaviness, a gap down the middle of your abdomen, or pain with sex after the birth, those need a postpartum physiotherapy assessment. Wellmax’s postpartum assessment covers the pelvic floor, core and scar in one visit, and massage fits alongside it rather than instead of it.

Meet our registered massage therapists

Wellmax has three Registered Massage Therapists, each with their own days in the booking system. Cynthia Luo and Nina Tang are women, and both provide pregnancy and postnatal massage; Nina treats on Fridays. Danny Luu rounds out the team for deep tissue and sports work. If you would prefer a female therapist for your pregnancy massage, choose Cynthia or Nina when you book online, or tell reception and it will be noted on your file. See our massage therapy page for the full range of treatments.

How much does pregnancy massage cost in Oakville?

Pregnancy massage is billed at the same rate as our other registered massage therapy, and assessment and treatment cost the same for the same length of session.

Registered massage therapy is covered under the paramedical benefits of most extended health plans in Ontario, usually with its own annual maximum separate from physiotherapy and chiropractic. Wellmax direct bills most major insurers, so you pay only the portion your plan does not cover. You do not need a doctor’s referral to book, although some plans ask for one before they reimburse, so check your policy wording. Massage fees are subject to 13% HST, added at the desk. Full details are on our insurance and direct billing page.

Why choose Wellmax for pregnancy massage?

• A clinic built for pregnancy and postpartum care. Our RMTs work in the same building as a Level 3 pelvic health physiotherapist and a prenatal chiropractor, so massage is coordinated with the rest of your care rather than delivered in isolation.
• Female therapists available and easy to choose by name when you book.
• Side-lying, fully supported positioning on a standard table, never a cut-out table.
• Honest triage. If your pain is coming from the joint rather than the muscle, we will tell you and get you to the right clinician, rather than booking massage that will not fix it.
• Direct billing, evening appointments on Thursdays and Fridays, and free parking at Winston Churchill Boulevard and the QEW, minutes from south-east Oakville, Clarkson and Erin Mills.

Book pregnancy massage in Oakville

Book online and choose your therapist and length, or call (905) 829-1100 and tell us how far along you are. If you are not sure whether massage, physiotherapy or chiropractic is the right first step for your pregnancy pain, start with a free 15 minute consult and we will point you to the right person.

Registered & Regulated

Regulated & Recognized Across Every Discipline

Wellmax is in good standing with the regulatory colleges and leading associations for physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, and naturopathic medicine in Ontario.