What should a pregnant woman consider before having a massage?

Pregnant women should consider the credentials of the massage therapist and ensure she has prenatal massage experience, advises WebMD. Pregnant women should also consider their current stage of pregnancy, as it is not recommended for a woman in her first trimester to get a massage.

Massage can be beneficial for pregnant women if certain precautions are taken. Therapists should not use deep-tissue massage on the lower legs due to the heightened risk of blood clots. Additionally, therapists should only very lightly massage the belly, if at all. Since there is very little research on massage and first-trimester pregnancy, it is best to avoid massage until the second trimester, according to WebMD.