Find relief during every trimester
Experience gentle, safe prenatal massage designed to ease back, hip, and pelvic discomfort. Our professional therapists support your comfort and well-being through every stage of pregnancy in Vancouver.
Experience gentle, safe prenatal massage designed to ease back, hip, and pelvic discomfort. Our professional therapists support your comfort and well-being through every stage of pregnancy in Vancouver.
Find expert tips for easing pregnancy discomfort, understanding body changes, and accessing safe, professional prenatal massage in Vancouver.
Vancouver’s trusted prenatal care
My prenatal massage was gentle, supportive, and eased my aches. I felt truly cared for and left feeling lighter and more relaxed.
![[background image] image of a healthcare environment](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69add71f8cd49bf2d2fb1763/6a8b6b3ba1641af0c33b1f37_pcv-bump-3.jpeg)
Back pain kept me up at night until my first session. The side-lying support and gentle touch helped me finally sleep comfortably.
I was nervous about prenatal massage, but the team explained everything and helped ease my hip pain. I felt safe and supported.
Swelling and stress faded away after my massage. The calm space and knowledgeable staff helped me feel like myself again.
Where you’ll book
The guidance on this site is provided by Oceana Massage — a registered massage therapy clinic in the heart of downtown Vancouver, with RMTs experienced in prenatal care. When you’re ready, booking takes you straight to their secure online scheduler.
Oceana Massage · 119 W Pender St, Suite 114, Vancouver · oceanamassage.com
Your body changes fast during pregnancy, and good prenatal massage changes with it. Here is what treatment typically looks like at each stage, and where it tends to help most.
Massage is not off-limits in early pregnancy for most healthy people, though many choose to start after week 12. Sessions are gentle and often shorter, with a focus on easing tension headaches, neck and shoulder tightness, and the deep fatigue that comes with the first trimester. You can usually still lie face-up or on your side, whichever feels best.
As your belly grows, side-lying positioning with supportive pillows becomes the standard. This is often the most comfortable stage for treatment, and a good time to work on lower back pain, hip tightness, and the round-ligament aches that show up as everything stretches and shifts.
Fully supported side-lying keeps you comfortable while your therapist works on the late-pregnancy priorities: sciatica-type leg pain, pelvic pressure and hip pain, swelling, and sleep. Pressure over the lower legs stays light, and shorter, more frequent sessions often work better than long ones.
For most healthy pregnancies, massage with a therapist trained in prenatal care is considered safe, and in British Columbia registered massage therapists (RMTs) are regulated health professionals who screen every client before treatment. A prenatal-trained therapist adapts the whole session to pregnancy: you are positioned on your side with pillows and bolsters rather than flat on your stomach or back, pressure is adjusted to what feels right, and work over the lower legs stays intentionally light.
There are situations where it is worth checking with your doctor or midwife before booking:
If any of these apply, your provider can tell you whether massage is appropriate right now. Your RMT will also review your health history at your first visit and adjust or refer as needed — you never have to figure that out on your own.
In a healthy pregnancy, any trimester. Many people start in the second trimester once early-pregnancy fatigue and nausea settle, but there is no rule that says you must wait. If your pregnancy is high-risk or you are unsure, check with your doctor or midwife first.
No. Prenatal sessions use side-lying positioning with pillows and bolsters supporting your belly, back, and knees, so you stay comfortable and well-supported the entire time. Your therapist adjusts the setup until it feels right.
It depends on how you are feeling. A common pattern is monthly sessions earlier in pregnancy, every two to three weeks through the second and third trimesters, and weekly near your due date if you are managing pain or sleep problems. Your RMT will suggest a schedule based on what you are working on.
In BC, massage therapy performed by an RMT is covered by most extended health plans, and many clinics — including the clinic this site partners with — can bill your insurer directly so you only pay any remaining balance. Check your plan for your annual massage coverage amount.
There is no reliable evidence that a standard prenatal massage induces labour. Prenatal-trained therapists still avoid prolonged, intense stimulation of a few specific acupressure points late in pregnancy as a precaution, which is one more reason to see someone trained in prenatal care.
You will fill out a health history, talk through what is bothering you and what you want from the session, and get set up comfortably with pillows before treatment starts. You can ask for more or less pressure at any point — the session is adjusted around you.
Still have questions, or ready to feel more comfortable? Book a prenatal massage with a registered massage therapist.