What it helps with
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Lower back, hip, and round-ligament ache
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Tight upper back, shoulders, and neck (from changing posture and from carrying a baby once they're here)
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Swollen feet, ankles, and tired heavy legs
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Sciatic pain in pregnancy
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Restless legs and broken sleep
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Tension headaches
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Postnatal hip and pelvis realignment work (from 6 weeks postpartum vaginal / 12 weeks Caesarean, with GP clearance)
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Emotional support during pregnancy after loss, IVF pregnancies, anxious pregnancies, or simply when the weight of it all is a lot
What a Pregnancy & Postnatal Massage session involves
A first session begins with a longer conversation than a standard massage. What trimester (We accommodate sessions starting with the 2nd trimester, after 12 weeks). How you're feeling. Any complications or concerns. Any history we should know about. Whether your back, your hips, your feet, or your nervous system needs the most attention that day. Pregnancy bodies change week to week, we adapt the work to where you actually are, not where the textbook says you should be.
Positioning: side-lying and up-right laying. Never face-down. Pressure stays gentle to medium, deeper than a stroking spa massage, lighter than a deep tissue massage.
Most clients leave feeling lighter in their body and softer in their nervous system. Many sleep deeply that night.
What clients say
"Simona and her team at Abuelita's are some of the best there is!! The treatments I've had have been amazing. It's great to know that not only are you investing in yourself at Abuelita's, but you are helping to support the wider community with their initiatives."
Alison
"I went to Abuelita’s Wellbeing after a stressful time and I had the most amazing massage. I went in feeling stressed, tense and with my head all over the place and walked away joyful, relaxed and myself again. The place, smell and design and kindness I have experienced was amazing"
Beatrice
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Often combined with
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Craniosacral Therapy: For nervous-system support during a big life transition. Safe throughout pregnancy
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Manual Lymphatic Drainage: Once cleared (post-pregnancy, from 6 weeks postpartum) for swelling and inflammation
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Reformer Pilates: For postnatal recovery from 6+ weeks postpartum with GP clearance. Particularly useful for pelvic-floor and abdominal repair
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Integrative Care Packages: if you'd like coordinated long-term support across pregnancy and postnatal months
Wellbeing that gives back
When you book with us, you’re giving back. Every booking directly funds therapy for people facing economic barriers, including refugee women and those living with chronic pain or PTSD.
Frequently Asked Questions
After 12 weeks- once the early pregnancy stage has settled
Yes. Lying face-down isn't safe for the baby once your bump is visible, and lying flat on your back for extended periods can compress the major blood vessels that supply the uterus. Side-lying with bolster support is the standard for a reason, it lets us work on your back, hips, and shoulders comfortably while keeping you and your baby safe.
Yes, and this is often when Pregnancy Massage is most useful. Simona has experience holding space for pregnancies that come with complicated emotional ground. We go slowly, check in often, and let your body lead the pace. Please tell us your history when you book, not because anything's wrong with it, but because we adapt to it.
From 6 weeks postpartum if you had a vaginal birth, and 12 weeks if you had a Caesarean, with GP clearance in both cases. If you had complications or a difficult birth, we may suggest waiting longer or starting with Craniosacral first (which can come earlier).
Yes, once cleared. The scar tissue and abdominal wall need careful, slow work, not deep work, especially in the first few months. We focus on the back, shoulders, and hips that have been compensating, and add gentle abdominal work later as your scar matures.
Not during pregnancy beyond very gentle holding and light touch if you want it. Postnatally and once cleared, gentle abdominal work can support the diastasis recti repair and overall core healing, but only when you're ready, and never forced.
Yes, if that helps you feel safe. Some clients prefer the session as private time; others bring a partner to sit in. Tell us when you book and we'll set up the room accordingly.
Book a Pregnancy & Postnatal Massage
Unsure if a Pregnancy and Postnatal Massage is right for you?
We’re always happy to help.
Email us at hello@abuelitas.co.uk or get in touch.
Important, please read before booking
Massage in pregnancy is gentle and very safe for most people. There are some situations where we'd need to adapt the session, postpone, or ask you to get GP/midwife clearance first. Please tell us when you book if any of the following apply:
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High-risk pregnancy or pregnancy complications
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Pre-eclampsia or unstable blood pressure
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Placenta praevia or unexplained bleeding
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DVT history or current concerns
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Gestational diabetes with complications
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Less than 6 weeks postpartum (vaginal birth) or 12 weeks (Caesarean), unless cleared by your GP or consultant
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Severe ongoing nausea, dizziness, or fainting
If any of these apply, please email us before booking, we'll guide you to the right approach, which sometimes means adapting the session, sometimes Craniosacral instead, sometimes waiting a few weeks.
Explore other massage therapies
Pregnancy & Postnatal Massage in short
Pregnancy and Postnatal Massage at Abuelita's is a gentle, trimester-adapted treatment delivered side-lying or semi-reclined , never face-down. It eases the physical load of growing and carrying a baby (back, hips, shoulders, swollen legs and feet) and supports the emotional ground beneath all of it. 60-minute sessions; 90-minute option with extended relaxation work. With Simona at our Hackney and Islington studios.
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