Prenatal Massage in Practice: Intake, Positioning, and Treatment Planning

Safe prenatal massage requires careful preparation at every stage: a thorough intake that identifies contraindications, a positioning setup that supports the client and eliminates supine risk, a treatment plan calibrated to the current trimester, and session notes that communicate clearly with other members of the client's care team. This workbook-style course develops those preparation and execution skills with practical tools you can apply directly in a supervised clinical or practice setting. By the end of this course you will be able to complete a prenatal intake assessment, set up a side-lying positioning arrangement safely, plan a session appropriate to each trimester, document a prenatal massage session with appropriate clinical detail, and manage common discomforts — such as lower back pain, hip tightness, and leg swelling — within safe scope. What you will learn: - Prenatal intake form: health history fields specific to pregnancy, contraindication screening, and medical clearance documentation - Trimester-specific session planning: appropriate goals, techniques, and areas of focus for first, second, and third trimester - Side-lying positioning setup: pillow placement guide, client stabilization, and comfort adjustments - Addressing common pregnancy discomforts: low back and sacral pain, hip tension, calf tightness, and thoracic tightness - Technique modification guide: pressure, speed, and stroke direction adaptations for pregnant tissue - Acupressure point avoidance reference: a checklist of points commonly cited in prenatal practice literature - Session documentation template: SOAP-format notes adapted for prenatal context - Communication with care providers: what to include in a referral or progress note to an obstetric care team Each module is structured around a worked scenario at a specific gestational stage, from early second trimester through late third trimester. A completed example shows intake, positioning rationale, and session plan; blank templates follow for your own use. Self-assessment questions help you verify the appropriateness of your decisions. This course is written for massage therapists and advanced students preparing to work with pregnant clients under supervision. Basic massage training and some anatomy knowledge are assumed. This course is educational; prenatal massage certification, supervised clinical training, and jurisdiction-specific licensing requirements must be fulfilled independently.