I Got Monthly Massages in My Third Trimester — How It Went

I have a confession to make: I meant to write this five months ago. I was preparing for maternity leave at the time, and this story—about my experience with monthly prenatal massages throughout my third trimester—was on my last to-do list. I've been looking forward to writing this and it would be a nice last word before heading off to my blissful newborn bubble. I had a lot of time, I thought.

Then, at my 37 week appointment, it became clear that my daughter would have her grand arrival that day, several weeks earlier than expected, and since then life has changed in every imaginable way. In the end, I barely had enough time to set up an out-of-office message. So, I'm writing this now, on the other side of maternity leave, through the fog of diaper changing, sleep training and, indeed, so much spitting up.

Here's what I remember: my pregnancy until the third trimester was quite easy. I had I spent most of the second trimester travelingand it was catching up with me. I was lethargic and my legs suddenly grew several sizes. My husband is tired of nightly foot rubs (although he probably won't admit it) and it's time to seek professional help. That's when I looked into the NOW.

NOW it's a self-proclaimed “massage boutique” with over 80 locations nationwide. The service's menu is simple – just three types of massage and a few upgrades for an additional fee – but its goal is to make self-care more accessible and therefore more routine. In Los Angeles, where I live, for example, a 50-minute massage costs $130. Making a commitment monthly membershiphowever, I could have saved $35. . . and hopefully solve the problem of swollen feet. So, being seven months pregnant, I tried it. Here's how it went.

My experience with monthly prenatal massages

It's bright in Pasadena NOW. During the day, the sun illuminates a row of white cushions carefully arranged on a wooden bench. Meanwhile, I arrived with a rain cloud. I was physically exhausted and mentally preoccupied with the uncertain results of a recent ultrasound that revealed a cyst on our baby's ovaries. I was also in the middle of an argument with a long-time friend.

I met with my masseuse and explained my various discomforts, namely tightness in my hips and pain in my legs. She listened sympathetically and led me back. THE NOW has an open layout where each massage bed is separated by layers of canvas curtains. However, this may sound more communal than it actually is. Thanks to the magic of dim lighting and sound machines, once you settle into your own space, it will feel like you're in your own room.

Getting a massage during pregnancy is interesting because you can't lie on your back. or your stomach. So this is the side. My masseuse handed me a body pillow to lean on, as well as a regular pillow to put between my legs. Even though I usually sleep on my side, there was still a learning curve here; I had to adjust both pillows a bit to find the right position and then repeat the process again once I switched sides mid-massage.

The massage was wonderful and brought some physical relief, but my head was noisy. My thoughts were racing about the baby and everything that remained to be done before she arrived: packing a hospital bag, finishing the nursery, figuring out how this bottle washer works. And I was worried about the cyst, hoping that it would not affect the development of the child. Before I knew it, the 50 minutes were up and I was angry at myself for spending so much time in my head.

When I returned a month later, I was determined. I became more familiar with my preferred pillow position, and every time my mind started to worry about something or the other, I tried to refocus. It didn't always work, but I felt much more relaxed during the second massage and I felt more relaxed afterwards too. Meanwhile, my legs did seem less swollen, at least slightly. (In truth, the problem persisted until I gave birth.)

It's funny when you know you're stressed and tired, but can't quite relax when it finally hits. Forgive me for using a cliché, but it's like turning off the water in the desert. Why are we doing this?

Ultimately, I didn't get much of a response, but when it was time for my third and final massage, I was able to calm my mind. The hospital bag was packed, a follow-up ultrasound told us that the baby's cyst had disappeared, and although there were still plenty of tasks to tackle – not to mention the birth – I slept through most of the massage.

Final Thoughts

Did this massage solve all my prenatal problems? No, of course not, but if you have the opportunity to undergo regular procedures at any stage of pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, do it. Although it took me a while to completely relax and adjust to being on my own, I was so grateful that I took that time to prioritize self-care before my baby turned life upside down.

In fact, I learned this lesson in what is called the fourth trimester: a month after giving birth, I decided to reinstate my monthly membership. It's hard to find time for yourself as a new mom, and I won't lie, it takes some coordination every month to sneak away that hour, especially since I'm still breastfeeding, but it's been worth it. And is there an upside to being a sleep-deprived parent? Now I have no problems falling asleep during a massage.

Kelsey Garcia (she/her) is the Director of Lifestyle at PS, where she oversees coverage of Balance and Health & Fitness. Kelsey is passionate about travel, health trends, and evolving parenting styles. Before joining the PS team as an editorial assistant in 2015, she interned at Elle and Harper's Bazaar, among other publications.