Pregnancy massages – or why there is discrimination in the world’s leading expert field.

I consider myself a bit of an expert on pregnancy massages. Not one of the world’s leading experts or anything. Although I would be more than willing to throw my hat in the ring for the role. Except if it involved being pregnant again. Which it probably would. Surely that’s discrimination or something? I should email the people in charge of giving out these World’s Leading Expert roles and point out my skill set – surely someone could run it up a flagpole for discussion? I’m very good at thinking outside the box and being strategic. ANYWAY.

The best pregnancy massages I ever had were at Body Freedom in Melbourne. Just a smallish salon but my god, do they know their fat-bellied women. Seriously good stuff. None of this hole in a table business – beautiful body length pillows and crisp white sheets on a comfy futon. I don’t know if she’s still there, but Jacqui has magic fingers and makes you feel all floppy and sleepy – the sign of a good massage for me (even though those World’s Leading Experts people don’t know a good thing when it emails them).

 Here are some comments on other venues I have had the pleasure of experiencing…

• Aurora Spa – this is a very glamorous spa at Melbourne’s Prince Hotel – it’s very much about the total experience here, with herbal teas, white robes and hushed voices. I’m not sure who is copying who, but see also The Golden Door and Space NK. Can be terrific massages, can be ok, depends on who you get. They do know what they are doing with oils etc. and have the pregnancy massage tables.
• Elwood massage therapy – old school Elwood hippy-ish venue. Can do really good massages and a good price – if you can deal with dulcet hippy tones man…
• Fertile Ground – part of a well known holistic fertility clinic, they are certainly experts in pregnant ladies. They’ll also do massages at home and even in hospital post baby – b*gger the flowers, how good would that be?!
• Melbourne Natural Wellness Clinic – this is a good one if you work in the Melbourne CBD. They also offer baby massage courses.
• Aqua Viva – in the heart of ‘spa country Victoria’, there are many places to get massages. This is a nice spa, not necessarily specialists in pregnancy but I had a decent massage. Check out this link for more spas and massages in the Daylsford area.
• Golden Door – the original Gold Coast getaway now has spas in four spots in Queensland and NSW, and offers pregnancy massages. Again, it’s all about the robes.
• Lotus Spa – OK, they’re not pregnancy specialists, but if you’re down the Barwon Heads way, they have a nice little salon, lovely staff and I had a decent pregnancy massage.
• For guides to pregnancy massages in other parts of Australia see here and here.

And in London….

• Space NK does pregnancy massages. They have the proper tables, and depending on who you get, they are pretty good. And so cheap. Not really. They are expensive. But a lovely experience.
• Cowshed – the famous ‘Shed now has spas in seven locations, and is rightly proud of its maternity services. Their pregnancy therapists know their stuff, and they have a whole range of dedicated goodies and service dedicated called Udderly Gorgeous.
• Scin – nice little local salon in Notting Hill. Does good deals on weekdays and packages.
• Return to Glory – they do them at home which is very convenient, especially when you already have a child, but you do miss out a bit on the whole spa experience if that’s what you’re into. Therapists can be a bit hit and miss.
• For the Gowri fanatics, Well Mums offers Gowri-trained therapies in Kensington, Chelsea and Wandsworth. I haven’t tried this one (I know, can you believe it?) but the massages come highly recommended by Those Who Should Know.
• For a guide to other pregnancy massages in the UK, see here.

Other random spots I can advise on pregnancy massages include Marrakech, Krakow and Thessaloniki – contact me if you want more info. Yes really – I TOLD you I was good and should be given some sort of official title – this is like my massage CV. I will admit that I have not had massages in every city in the world, so if anyone has any to add, please do. I might even share my title with you.

photo credit: eman_winston

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