There is something I wish every woman could hear during pregnancy:
You don't have to wait until you're exhausted to take care of yourself.
One of the things I loved most about being pregnant was giving myself permission to pause.
To step away, even briefly, from the rush of everyday life and create space for my body — space for care, time, touch and breath.
Because my body was doing something extraordinary.
I was growing a life inside me.
I was creating a new organ — the placenta.
And week after week, my body changed. My needs changed. My sensations changed. What felt good one month could feel completely different the next.
From the very beginning of my IVF journey, I knew I wanted to support my body as much as possible. So massage became part of my pregnancy journey. Sometimes I would have a treatment once a week.
It wasn't a luxury.
It became a ritual.
A moment when I could stop doing and simply receive.
A moment to release muscular tension, slow my breathing and give my nervous system the chance to come out of "go, go, go" mode.
And honestly? There is something incredibly powerful about therapeutic touch.
Sometimes the body doesn't need to be pushed harder.
Sometimes it simply needs to feel safe enough to let go.
Pregnancy changes everything
Pregnancy massage is not simply a regular massage with a growing belly.
A woman's body changes dramatically throughout those nine months.
As the baby grows, the abdomen expands and the centre of gravity shifts. The curves of the spine adapt. The rib cage and breathing mechanics change. The diaphragm has less space to move. The organs gradually make room for the growing uterus.
Hormonal changes, including the effects of relaxin, also influence the stability and mobility of the joints and ligaments.
And then there are all the little compensations we make without even noticing.
We stand differently.
We walk differently.
We sleep differently.
We sit differently.
We carry our growing belly differently.
By the third trimester, your body can feel like a completely different body.
This is why pregnancy massage should be performed by someone who understands pregnancy and knows how to adapt the treatment to each stage and each woman.
Safe pregnancy massage is about listening, adapting and respecting the changes happening in your body.
During my own pregnancy, massage became part of my preparation.
Alongside movement and exercise, it was one of the ways I could check in with my body and support it through all those changes.
And there was one particularly beautiful thing I noticed...
After some treatments, my little Anita would start moving and stretching inside my belly.
I could feel her so clearly.
It felt as though everything around her had softened.
There was space.
There was calm.
And I remember thinking that perhaps she was enjoying that moment of relaxation with me.
Then comes postpartum
And nobody really prepares you for this part.
We talk endlessly about pregnancy.
We prepare for the birth.
We buy the clothes, the pram, the car seat.
And then the baby arrives.
Suddenly, everyone's attention is on this tiny new person.
And rightly so.
But somewhere in the middle of all of that, the mother can disappear.
Your body has just been through an enormous physical experience.
And instead of resting, you start a completely new job.
You feed.
You carry.
You rock.
You settle.
You wake.
You feed again.
You sleep when you can.
Your hormones are changing rapidly, your body is recovering and your nervous system is constantly listening for your baby.
And somehow, we're expected to just keep going.
I often think about athletes after a marathon.
After an enormous physical effort, they rest. They hydrate. They recover. They may receive massage and other forms of treatment to help their bodies recover.
What do we ask women to do after birth?
Keep going.
We need to talk more about this.
Postpartum care isn't selfish.
It isn't an indulgence.
And it certainly isn't something you should feel guilty about.
It is part of recovery.
Your nervous system needs care too
After giving birth, I made a conscious decision to receive care from other professionals.
I wanted to give my body and my mind the opportunity to feel safe.
Because becoming a mother can leave you in a constant state of alertness.
Is the baby breathing?
Are they hungry?
Why are they crying?
Did they sleep enough?
Did I feed them enough?
And when you're living like that, your body can forget what relaxation feels like.
Massage gave me somewhere to put all of that.
Somewhere to breathe.
Somewhere to soften.
Somewhere where, for an hour, I didn't have to take care of anyone else.
Depending on your individual circumstances and stage of recovery, postpartum massage can be adapted to support areas of muscular tension, postural changes and the physical demands of caring for a new born.
Gentle abdominal and visceral techniques may also be incorporated when appropriate, with the aim of supporting comfortable movement, breathing mechanics and the relationship between different areas of the body.
Postpartum recovery isn't about forcing your body back to the way it was before pregnancy.
It's about helping you feel at home in your body again.
So, what massage is safe during pregnancy and postpartum?
The answer isn't simply "pregnancy massage" or "postpartum massage".
The most important thing is who is providing the treatment and whether they understand the unique needs of your body at that particular stage.
A qualified therapist should consider your pregnancy stage, your health, your birth experience, your symptoms and how your body is responding that day.
Sometimes you need relaxation.
Sometimes you need help with muscular tension.
Sometimes you need gentle remedial work.
And sometimes you simply need someone to say:
"You can stop for a moment. I've got you."
You don't have to be "fine."
As a massage therapist and a new mother, I now understand both sides of this story.
I understand the anatomy, the physiology and the incredible adaptations the body makes.
But I also understand what it feels like to be the woman living inside that changing body.
At Womb to World, we want to create a quiet space for exactly that.
A space where you can switch off the noise.
Where your body can soften.
Where your nervous system can breathe.
Where therapeutic touch is safe, informed, intentional and nurturing.
So before you continue with the rest of your day, try something.
Close your eyes.
Take one slow breath.
And notice your body.
Is your jaw clenched?
Are your shoulders up around your ears?
Is your neck tight?
What about your back?
Your pelvis?
Your legs?
Just notice.
You spend so much of your day listening to everyone else.
Maybe it's time to listen to yourself.
You don't have to keep pushing through.
You don't have to wait until you're completely exhausted.
And you don't have to believe that being a strong woman means being uncomfortable all the time.
Take the pause.
Give yourself the space.
Close your eyes.
Breathe.
Your body has done — and is still doing — something extraordinary.
It deserves more than "You'll be fine."
It deserves to be cared for.
With love, Ale Womb to World