As a term, ‘pregnancy massage’ applies to any hands-on massage treatment for a woman during her pregnancy. It can therefore vary enormously in terms of what it consists of.

At The Zen Den, this is not your regular pregnancy massage.

You may have had disappointing experiences with pre-natal massages in the past where you felt the therapist spent an hour gently tickling you when you really wanted the pain in your hips kneaded out, or that you paid £80 for someone to rub oil on your belly when you actually wanted your shoulders released. 


We don’t do any of that here!

At The Zen Den, a pregnancy massage is simply bodywork on a pregnant body. You absolutely can still have a remedial, tension-relieving massage that really “does something” and is simultaneously restorative and relaxing. 

I find that most of my pre-natal clients don’t care about having their bellies rubbed; they want some “proper work” on the areas giving them discomfort. Having said that, the vibe of the treatment is completely determined by you on the day. You might come into the treatment room needing some rest and nurturing, and perhaps we don’t work quite so deep that day. Similarly, you might hobble in desperate for some strong work around your hips. What we focus on and the way we work is up to you - no treatments are the same.
This is a truly holistic service! The only difference is that you’re pregnant, so we use specific positioning (side-lying) and I’m paying extra attention to potential contra-indications to keep you safe. Apart from that, it’s just a normal session… except you’re pregnant (congrats!!).

Yes! The NHS states that pregnancy massage is one of the safe complementary therapies you can use during pregnancy.
It’s essential to find a reputable therapist; always check that they’re registered with an accredited governing body. This means they’re insured! I’m registered with, and insured to provide pregnancy massage, by the Federation of Holistic Therapists.

Before your booking we’ll discuss your medical history; it’s essential for me to know whether you’re having a high-risk pregnancy, or have a history of miscarriages, so that I can determine how to proceed safely. In most cases we’re fine to proceed; in some cases we might just need to get the green light from your midwife, for example if you have Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD).

Frustratingly, we have to wait until 13 weeks to begin knowingly administering pre-natal massage. I say ‘knowingly’ because it’s not uncommon for women to receive massage in the early stage of pregnancy and be unaware that they’re pregnant, and for there to be no negative outcome whatsover.
However, most insurance providers refuse to cover therapists to treat during the first trimester. This is due to the greater NATURAL risk of miscarriage within the first 12 weeks than at any other time during pregnancy. There is actually no evidence of causality between massage therapy and miscarriage, so don’t panic. This rule is essentially to cover the therapist in the event that a natural miscarriage did occur following a massage treatment.
So, unfortunately, we must wait til you reach the 13 week mark to begin your treatment plan.

If you have a history of miscarriages, we’ll wait until 16 weeks (but we can have a chat about all of this when you book).

Omg, so many. The body undergoes fundamental transformations during pregnancy, including postural changes, an enormous influx of hormones, weight gain, enlarged breasts, increased plasma and blood volume and the shifting of organs.

A 2019 study by Duke University into the limit of human endurance found that pregnant women are endurance specialists, living at nearly the limit of what the human body can endure.

Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labour outcomes and newborn health.

BENEFITS OF PREGNANCY MASSAGE:

• Stimulation of circulation - this will distribute essential nutrients and fluid to all the vital organs of the body, especially the placenta, which will feed and aid the development of the baby;


• Lymphatic drainage - will eliminate toxins from the cells and blood and help reduce oedema, which can be a contributory factor in carpal tunnel and tarsal tunnel syndrome;


• Improves digestion, relieves constipation and haemorrhoids;


• Releases muscular tension of the upper back, shoulders, lower back and hips, easing the discomfort of sciatica, prolapsed discs and SPD, often caused by postural changes and hormone release;


• Releases compression on the nerves caused by muscle tension or oedema;


• Helps to prevent varicose veins developing;


• Aids the respiratory system and improves breathing during pregnancy and birth;


• Improves quality of sleep by inducing deep relaxation (it is reported that women who sleep well during the last month of pregnancy have shorter labours);


• Helps reduce emotional stress; 


• Aids the regulation of blood pressure;


• Stimulates the release of oxytocin, the pain-reducing hormone; 


• Enhances and nourishes your relationship with your body and your growing baby, by promoting bonding.


Babe, bring your favourite slippers. Seriously. It’s a shoes-off affair round here, so have them ready to slip on when you come in. You’ll immediately feel comfortable, and which is exactly what you want. (Also, my bathroom floor is extremely cold. You’ve been warned.)

Wear a really comfy pair of knickers with good elastic. I always tuck one of the towels into the knicker-line, so wear a pair that can easily be rolled down low on the hip.

We’re going to work the glutes and hips, and it’s going to feel incredible. It’s helpful if you wear pants with a bit more coverage so that I can tuck the towel in comfortably for you but honestly, it’s totally up to you.

Ideally I need access to your entire back, so if you prefer to keep your bra on during a treatment please wear one that hooks at the back, so that I can easily unfasten it at the beginning and fasten it for you easily at the end of the back + shoulder treatment.

The bb-hugme pregnancy pillow is here to support you while you lie on your side, and we can adjust the support/firmness to suite you as your bump grows.

Halfway through the treatment we’ll get you to switch sides, and then administer the treatment to the other side. This is also the ideal moment for a loo break!

The electric table warmer is always here as an option, and the temperature is adjustable.

The towels are huge, and very fluffy. Only the area we’re working on is uncovered, so you’ll always feel cosy and safe.

Don’t worry, if you’re running hot you can opt to have the towels off. I’m not offended by bodies! (Can you imagine? What a weird career choice that would be…)

WEEKLY
25 treatments

60 mins: £1,450
That’s £58 per treatment, saving £7 per treatment and £175 total.

75 mins: £1,650
That’s £66 per treatment, saving £9 per treatment and £225 total.

90 mins (full body): £1,825
That’s £73 per treatment, saving £12 per treatment and £300 total!

FORTNIGHTLY
13 treatments

60 mins: £780
Thats £60 per treatment, saving £5 per treatment and a total saving of £65.

75 mins: £884
That’s £68 per treatment, saving £7 per treatment and a total saving of £91.

90 mins: £988
That’s £76 per treatment, saving £9 per treatment and a total saving of £117.

Unused sessions (e.g in the event that you go into labour ) will be rolled over to post-natal treatments and valid for a further 2 months from the original expiry date.

Late to the party? You can still take advantage of a special rate for weekly or fortnightly treatments, even if you don’t start them until later in your pregnancy.

Packages of 3, 5 and 10 treatments are available to purchase here.

INDIVIDUAL TREATMENTS

You can book one-off treatments rather than commit to a package. The prices are exactly the same as regular treatments. Head to the pricing page!

Package purchases are non-refundable.

In the event that you’re unable to redeem your treatments due to medical developments or other extenuating circumstances, packages may be transferred to another person or possibly extended at the therapist’s discretion, depending on the number of sessions left to redeem, etc. This will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

For example, if baby comes early and you’re unable to use your last few treatments, we can roll these over to be redeemed on post-natal treatments, where appropriate. I’ll do my best to find a resolution that works for both of us, but please do be aware that because pregnancy packages are purchased many months in advance, there is a limit on how far into the future I will extend their validity.

Skipping Weeks, Holidays, etc

There will be some weeks where one or both of us is unavailable due to holidays, travel, and other prior commitments. That’s okay! We’ll book our sessions together in advance around these dates. Missing one or two weekly sessions is fine but in general we’ll commit to maintaining our weekly/fortnightly sessions together.

Please note that if multiple sessions are rescheduled by the client without due cause, those session credits may be forfeited.

Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

Pregnancy treatments are subject to the same booking & cancellation policy as all other treatments at The Zen Den:

24 hour cancellation policy. Cancelling or rescheduling your treatment during this window will result in your session credit being forfeited. This will be handled at the therapist’s discretion.
This is because I may not be able to fill your session at short notice, and still have to cover my costs, time and loss of income.

You can easily reschedule your appointment online up to 24 hours before your appointment time. The system will show you the next available appointments.