Anyone know where to get a good prenatal massage?

[Anonymous]

Sue at Nusta...seriously, I almost didn't post this (and I held off on posting!) because she's already so popular and hard to get appointments with...and i'm counting on her to see me through this second pregnancy! But...i've had a lot of prenatal massages and I think she works miracles...no cut out table but you don't need it.

[Anonymous]

Not that anybody is racing to Red Door after the prior posts, but I wondered if they also still have that inane policy of making you get a note from your doc before they will agree to give you the massage? I ended up having to go somewhere else when I was pregnant because my doc said if they knew what they were doing they wouldn't need a note, and they said no note=no massage. Sorry if this was covered on the other thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not that anybody is racing to Red Door after the prior posts, but I wondered if they also still have that inane policy of making you get a note from your doc before they will agree to give you the massage? I ended up having to go somewhere else when I was pregnant because my doc said if they knew what they were doing they wouldn't need a note, and they said no note=no massage. Sorry if this was covered on the other thread.

Are the bad experiences people are having at the Kentlands Red Door or the DC Red Door?

[Anonymous]

I recently had a wonderful prenatal massage with Fanny at the Still Point in Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

No prenatal massage experience but the one and only time I've been to the DC Red Door it was a complete waste of money. Facility isn't very snazzy, massage was mediocre, staff was indifferent to rude.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to be the odd person out, but I recently had a wonderful experience at Red Door in Chevy Chase at 35 weeks. The massage therapist was amazing (she didn't try to chat) and worked out all of the kinks in my back. I actually did a whole prenatal package with a facial, lunch, mani pedi and thought the staff was all very warm and thoughtful. Wish I could afford another one

[Anonymous]

One of the PPs who didn't care for Red Door here... It was in Fairfax. Beautiful spa, great pedicure but awful massage. I was there for a spa day for my BF's bday. I think the one in Chevy Chase is pretty mediocre too.

[Anonymous]

I had a WONDERFUL massage on my due date with a therapist two blocks from the Eastern Market metro. I wish I could remember her name. She was outstanding, knew her stuff, and I felt very safe. I will try and find her name. She specializes in pre and post natal. (Oh, and I really hate Red Door for massages. I echo what everyone else has said.)

[Anonymous]

fountains day spa in alexandria. leah was amazing! i give out gift certificates for her for baby shower gifts.

[Anonymous]

As a former massage therapist, I'll second the PP who said massage in the first trimester is perfectly safe so long as the therapist has been specifically trained in prenatal massage. I think some concern about massage early in pregnancy arises more over appearances and liability than actual safety. If a woman in her first tri received a massage and then suffered a miscarriage for completely unrelated reasons, it would be a bad outcome for the mother to think that she had somehow invited the miscarriage by having a massage or to blame (and possibly sue) the therapist. Again, therapists who are trained in prenatal techniques generally have no qualms about massage early in pregnancy, but some individuals or businesses tend to be more conservative and risk-averse (just like in the rest of life).

As for the belly cut-out tables, I've never used one. I always put my prenatal clients in a side-lying position with lots & lots of pillows for propping & support. Once we got the pillow arrangement just right, they always reported being very comfortable and not wanting to get up at the end of the session I was recently reading Massage Therapy Journal and learned that at least one of the most prominent US teachers of prenatal massage teaches her students never to use the cut-out tables. The reasoning is that suspending a heavy belly below the mother's body and then putting more pressure on her back during the massage could cause a sprain of the uterine ligaments, whose job it is to hold the uterus in place.

Hope this helps explain a few things. Have a wonderful pregnancy & I hope you find a terrific massage therapist!

[Anonymous]

I have read that the belly tables are very uncomfortable and not all that safe. That said - I had a back and side massage by Leah at the Fountains day spa in Old Town and loved it. They do not have a belly table but if you want to be on your stomach they arrange pillows to accomodate it.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to add my recommendation for Spa on the Hill. I had a wonderful prenantal massage there with Missy yesterday, and am hoping to get a few more in before my baby arrives!

She used something similar to this: http://bodysupport.com/Pregnancy.html

[Anonymous]

I can't say enough good things about the massage I got at McLean Face and Body. Seriously, I walked out of there feeling better than I have since I began fertility treatments!
I don't know the name of the man who gave me a massage, but he and his wife run the place and he is the only one who does massages.

And if you get on their mailing list and they send out monthly specials.

[Anonymous]

most first time moms happen to miscarry during their very first pregnancy, but over half of those moms don't even know that they are pregnant and assume they are having a period. it's kind of your body's way of practicing for pregancy.

Can you point us to some more information on this? I have never heard this but would love to read about it.

I recommend Lucille at the Teal Center/VHC.

[Anonymous]

No recommendation here but I have heard that the cut out table is really bad - it places too much pressure in the wrong places.