I take the conversation around induction massage seriously. If you’re near your due date and looking into it, I want you to know what an appointment with me involves before you book. I recommend it at 39 weeks, with the focus on your comfort. I don’t claim that massage starts labor.
What an induction massage session is
I don’t run these sessions from a script. We talk first about how you’re doing physically and emotionally, and about what your situation is at home. Then I decide with you whether a session makes sense. If it does, I work on points on the feet, ankles and sacrum, and I support your breathing along the way.
When I recommend it: 39 weeks
I recommend 39 weeks for this appointment. That’s my practice recommendation, not a medical assessment of when your baby should be born.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) distinguishes early term from full term, which begins at 39 weeks. Its FAQ on induction of labor at 39 weeks discusses medical induction. Neither source recommends massage as a way to start labor.
Your OB/GYN or midwife makes the medical decisions about your pregnancy and birth plan. A massage appointment shouldn’t change that plan.
What I don’t promise
There isn’t a reliable basis for me to tell you massage will bring on labor. A 2017 Cochrane review of acupuncture and acupressure for induction of labour found no evidence of benefit from acupressure for the outcomes it examined. It also called for better research. That review doesn’t establish that the massage I offer induces labor.
What I can offer is time focused on your comfort, with room to adjust the positioning, pressure and pace. I’d never want you to cancel a medical plan or skip a call to your care team because of a massage.
Talk to your provider first
Please check with your doctor or midwife before booking. If your pregnancy is high risk, I require clearance from your OB/GYN.
ACOG’s guidance on obstetric triage identifies bleeding and decreased fetal movement among reasons people need assessment during pregnancy. If either happens, or you think labor has begun, contact your maternity care team promptly and follow their instructions. Don’t wait for a massage appointment.
Booking an induction massage
Text or call me with how many weeks you are and what your provider has told you. I’ll tell you honestly whether a session fits. If you want to know more about how I work with pregnant clients, see prenatal massage at OC Massage Therapy and my post on hip pain in pregnancy.
