Let us be straightforward from the start, because this is a subject where vagueness helps nobody.
Siri Thai Spa does not have a dedicated prenatal massage on our treatment menu. What we can do is talk with you about your stage of pregnancy and what you are hoping for, and be honest about whether we are the right choice for you right now. Phone us before booking anything online — Viaduct 027-722-6564 or St Heliers 027 654 6642 — and please speak to your midwife, obstetrician or GP first. Their advice comes before ours, always.
With that said, here is the information most pregnant guests want, so you can have a well-informed conversation with whoever you end up seeing.
Why the aches happen where they do
Three things change at once during pregnancy, and they conspire against the same parts of the body.
- Your centre of gravity shifts forward, which tips the pelvis and increases the curve in the lower back. That is the classic late-pregnancy lumbar ache.
- Relaxin loosens the ligaments around the pelvis in preparation for birth. Looser joints mean the surrounding muscles work harder to stabilise — hips, glutes and the sides of the thighs take the strain.
- Fluid and blood volume increase, so legs, ankles and feet feel heavy and swollen, particularly in the third trimester and particularly in an Auckland summer.
Add broken sleep and a chest that is carrying more weight, and the upper back and neck join in too.
What safe pregnancy massage looks like
Whoever you book with, these are the things that should be true. If they are not, book elsewhere.
- Side-lying position, not face down. After the first trimester, lying on your front is out, and lying flat on your back for extended periods is generally discouraged in later pregnancy. Proper prenatal work is done on your side with pillows supporting the top leg, bump and arm.
- Lighter pressure throughout. Gentle to medium. Deep tissue work is not appropriate.
- No heat treatments. No hot stones, no herbal compress, no sauna. Raising core body temperature is avoided during pregnancy.
- Caution with essential oils. A number of oils are conventionally avoided in pregnancy. An unscented base oil removes the question entirely.
- Conservative around the abdomen, ankles and certain pressure points traditionally avoided in pregnancy.
- A therapist who asks questions first — how many weeks, any complications, what your midwife has said.
"The right answer for a pregnant guest is sometimes "not this treatment, and not with us." We would much rather say that than get it wrong."
Siri therapist team
When to wait, and when not to book at all
Please do not book, and speak to your midwife or doctor, if you have any of the following: a high-risk pregnancy, pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure, a history of preterm labour or miscarriage, placenta praevia, severe swelling, unexplained bleeding, reduced fetal movement, blood clots or a history of them, or if you are unwell in any way. Many practitioners also prefer to avoid massage entirely in the first trimester.
None of that is us being cautious for legal reasons. Pregnancy is the one situation where the sensible order is: midwife first, treatment second.
What genuinely helps at home
Whether or not you book anything:
- Sleep on your left side with a pillow between your knees. The single most effective change for lower back and hip ache.
- Elevate your feet for fifteen minutes in the evening for heavy legs and swelling.
- Warm — not hot — showers. Avoid hot baths, spa pools and saunas.
- Short, frequent walks beat long ones. Tamaki Drive is flat, which is not a small consideration at 34 weeks.
- Ask your midwife about a pregnancy physiotherapist if the pain is significant. For pelvic girdle pain in particular, that is the right specialist, not a spa.
After the baby arrives
Postnatal is different, and it is where we can genuinely help. Once you have been cleared by your midwife or doctor — usually around six weeks, later after a caesarean — the neck, upper back and shoulder tension from feeding and carrying responds very well to a straightforward back and shoulder massage, and heavy legs respond to reflexology. An hour of quiet is not the least of it either.
A gift voucher is also a genuinely good baby-shower present for exactly this reason — it waits until she is ready, rather than expiring while she is in the newborn fog. Our guide to choosing a spa voucher covers how to pick one.
The short version
Massage during pregnancy can be a real relief when it is done side-lying, gently, without heat, and with medical sign-off. We do not offer a dedicated prenatal treatment — so phone us, tell us where you are up to, and we will give you an honest answer about whether we can help you or whether you would be better served by a specialist prenatal therapist.
Common questions
We do not have a dedicated prenatal massage on our menu. Please phone us before booking — Viaduct 027-722-6564 or St Heliers 027 654 6642 — and speak to your midwife or doctor first, so we can tell you honestly whether we are the right choice for you.
Many pregnant people have massage safely, but it needs side-lying positioning, lighter pressure, no heat treatments and care with essential oils — and it should always follow advice from your midwife, obstetrician or GP.
No. Heat treatments — hot stone, herbal compress and the infrared sauna — are avoided during pregnancy because they raise core body temperature.
Once your midwife or doctor has cleared you, usually around six weeks and later after a caesarean. Back and shoulder work and reflexology are the two treatments new parents get the most from.
