Pregnancy Massage: Face down or on your side...What is the difference?

If you’re pregnant and you are looking for a prenatal massage therapy treatment, one of the choices you might be pressed to make is to decide between a place that performs the massage face down on a “special table” or does it in a “side-lying” position on a normal table.  If you do a little online research, you will also see that the face down option, which is done by means of a large hole cut into the table for belly and or breasts, is highly advertised for its enjoyment factor of lying face down during a time period where you otherwise could not. When you go to a site that utilizes side lying, they will often say that the reason that they do it that way is because it is safer, thus implying the face down method is unsafe.

So how do you as a make a decision with two such conflicting view points from the professionals?  If you are pregnant or buying a gift for someone who is, clearly you want the best.

1-First of all, if you are pregnant before you get any kind of treatment you should check with your doctor and get the all clear before starting the program

2-Second, both being treated while face down or side lying are safe.  You can bet that if there were a risk the tables would have been pulled from the market already.

So what is the difference?

I have used both methods.  The face down method is relaxing for some because they miss their mobility; this is especially true if before you became pregnant you were a belly sleeper.  In most cases however, pregnancy causes an increased lumbar curve, and when you lie face down on the table, even though you are supported, the weight of the belly pulling down causes the low back to curve even more that it already was. Your back is then doubly compressed.

When you lie on your side, and are pillowed correctly into position, your back assumes a more neutral position. The benefit of this is that even though you are on your side, and it is not as special as laying face down, when the therapist tries to relax your muscles, they will have the room to lengthen, causing you have a better result from your treatment, especially if you went in for low back pain.

Both methods will, of course, feel good, but in the end it really depends on why you are receiving the massage to begin with.  Many women seek prenatal massage when they have pain, and in that case I would always choose the side-lying option, however if a simple spa day in a perfect pregnancy is what you are after, both options are totally okay.

Body Mechanics Orthopedic Massage uses the side-lying method.

If you are interested in more information on prenatal massage, please contact us, and stay tuned for the third installment of pregnancy series and for more info on prenatal massage in NYC check out our website