Where Not to Massage a Pregnant Woman's Feet

Many women find that their tired ankles and feet are put to the test during pregnancy, after all they are responsible for carrying around the extra weight. Throbbing feet may be aching for a massage be it professionally or from your partner but it’s important to recognize where not to massage a pregnant woman’s feet.

Key Highlight

Spleen 6 (SP6), Urinary Bladder 60, and Urinary Bladder 67 are the specific areas of a pregnant woman’s feet that need to be avoided from massaging.

Massage During Pregnancy – Where Not to Massage a Pregnant Woman’s Feet

Getting a foot massage can be a great way to relax but with this relaxation technique comes questions, where not to massage on your feet when pregnant? There are several reasons to be cautious whilst pregnant. Being pregnant means your blood volume has increased and getting a massage can increase the risk of blood clots. Also avoiding certain acupuncture points can help prevent preterm labor.

Pregnancy and Foot Massage

When you are pregnant there is nothing in the world that can be more relaxing than putting those tired aching feet up. Or is there? Having a back rub or foot massage can be exactly what the doctor ordered when it comes to the strains pregnancy has on your body. But with everything in pregnancy this can spark the question ‘can it hinder my pregnancy?’ During this article, you will find out exactly what part of the foot not to massage when pregnant.

Benefits of Foot Massage in Pregnancy

After a hard day there is not a single thing I love more than relaxing and putting my feet up. As a mom this is a rare occurrence indeed but during my pregnancies, there was nothing I desired more than a quick foot rub.

A study, namely, Pregnancy and labor massage, states that ‘massage therapies during pregnancy can be found to decrease depression and anxiety along with easing leg and muscle strain.’ This implies that any form of massage can be beneficial to an expecting mom.

Think about how a massage makes you feel. The release of the tension from muscles struggling to bear your new and expanding shape not only sounds amazing but nursing research has found that it can reduce labor pain when D-day arrives!

There are many different massage styles that you can choose whilst pregnant.

Types of Foot Massages

Take note of the following massage styles: you may be intrigued by what you can have safely without concern.

1. Pedicure Foot Massage

A pedicure may feel like your best option. With your belly in the way getting those toes looking their part for labor could be on your mind but let me be the first one to tell you! No one notices your toes!

To be honest I was a mom that wanted to be pruned and polished ready for my stay on the elite labor ward so I totally understand your want to opt for this type of massage. Two birds one stone right?

Well unfortunately opting for this massage is better left until after you give birth. Nail technicians are amazing humans that give us the little pick-me-ups we so desperately deserve, however they are not always trained in massage which makes those unique pressure points quite a target especially if they don’t understand how to avoid them.

Of course, there is no harm in getting your toes polished but it’s best to decline the option for a leg and foot massage at the same time.

2. Home Massage

I am my husband’s worst nightmare when it comes to massage! Whilst I was pregnant the best feeling in the world was getting him to gently soothe my aching muscles.

If you opt for a massage by your partner, be sure to find a comfortable position and allow his/her hands to do the hard work for a change!

Later in this article, I will point out the areas to avoid when getting your partner to rub your feet but know that generally they won’t apply enough pressure to cause risks to you or your baby.

3. Trained Massage Therapist

Clearly this is the best option for you! You can kick back and relax fully knowing you’re in the capable hands of a trained therapist. Not only will they understand exactly where to apply pressure but their knowledge of prenatal massage can give you the physical boost you need without being anxious about inducing labor.

I cannot stress enough that if you are feeling the strains of your pregnancy a prenatal massage is a must! I had one around 20 weeks on my second pregnancy and it was as if my therapist was psychic. She not only knew where to apply pressure but my muscles felt like butter in her hands, take care getting up though! My dazed state meant it took a while for my muscles to wake up a bit afterward but definitely the best feeling in the world.

So after looking at the many studies out there regarding massage during pregnancy and which treatment is best, why is there still a pang of any slight risk?

When to be Cautious about Foot Message on Pregnancy

You can ask your doctor whether a massage treatment is a good idea. Your doctor has all your medical notes and profile so he/she will be able to explain if you should avoid foot or body massages during your pregnancy. If you are at risk of blood clots or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) then unfortunately massage is not the best action to take as massage therapy can increase the likelihood of dislodging any undiagnosed clots.

Alongside the risk of clotting, you need to take note of the areas you should avoid during a massage. Pressure points in your feet and back are believed to induce labor and stimulate your uterus to begin your contractions. However, there is not enough evidence or research out there to make this a valid response to massage.

As mentioned above I am a stickler for a massage, at 40+3 I felt more than ready to have my baby yet she was not showing any indication of arriving any time soon. After convincing my husband the only way to relieve my tired muscles was a massage he quickly set to work, I very nearly fell asleep I was so relaxed! It was the perfect ending to a busy day yet as I got up there was a gush… my waters! Now this could be a total coincidence as I was overdue but something tells me that with my relaxed state and the pressure applied by my husband to my tired muscles it could have helped trigger the start of my labor.

To help indicate what part of the foot not to massage when pregnant I have listed a few of the common pressure points below and also linked more information directly from healthline to give you exact points on the body.

Acupressure point	Where is it located?	Why to avoid it?
Spleen 6 (SP6)	Inner ankle three fingers width above your ankle bone.	This point can stimulate the lower abdomen but it is not proven to induce labor.
Urinary Bladder 60	Behind your ankle bone on the outside of your leg.	Thought to stimulate labor and reduce pain whilst in delivery.
Urinary Bladder 67	This is located on the corner of your pinky toe.	This can help get your baby into position for delivery and help bring on contractions.

As previously mentioned the lack of evidence suggests that any form of acupressure or massage on these points doesn’t prove to induce labor but this doesn’t mean that there isn’t proof in the methodology. If you are not near your due date then it’s best to to consider where not to massage a pregnant woman’s feet and to avoid these points altogether.

Reflexology

Opting for Reflexology is also a great holistic therapy to help those aches and pains. Whilst this is not a form of consistent medical care you can book private consultations with a trained reflexologist.

What to Expect

During a session you will first discuss what areas you want addressed during your session. Depending on your chosen practitioner they may require you to lie back with your feet up and sometimes massage your hands and ears.

This may seem a little strange at first but registered reflexologists believe that pressure points on our bodies are connected to our internal organs and by applying pressure to these parts of your body it can release nerves giving you a relaxed and pleasurable experience.

You may not be surprised that I have tried out Reflexology. It was a truly magical experience who knew that our feet could tell someone so much about our health!

Benefits

As we now know Reflexology is a complementary therapy alongside any medical practice many women believe that after treatment they had less morning sickness, better sleeping patterns, and reduced pressure in the pelvis.

Little to no research has given clear results to support these theories therefore it is hard to determine how you will respond to Reflexology.

Risks

The main risk to acknowledge about this therapy is the side effects you can feel afterward. Feeling extreme fatigue, emotional or being light headed are a few of the side effects to note, and let’s be honest feeling more tired and emotional is probably not what you want whilst pregnant!

Doctor’s main concern is that you may prefer to turn to this therapy before consulting a medically trained professional if you are struggling through your pregnancy, something all women should avoid. If you are concerned about anything you should first and foremost seek professional advice.

Helpful and Handy Tips

After reading about the various benefits and risks having a foot massage can have you may opt to avoid it altogether but if you are aching for a little pick me up we have listed helpful and handy tips to help guide you, your partner or friend through what part of the foot should not be massaged during pregnancy.

Using a generous amount of lotion or oil lather your feet and legs. Be sure to only use oils safe during pregnancy as essential oils have a controversial reputation.

Loosen the ankle with a gentle rotation movement – allow your partner full control to help you feel the benefit.

Firmly rub the top of the foot with long strokes, ensuring you rub toward the heart to enhance circulation.

Don’t forget the toes! Giving a gentle tug on each toe can release any trapped nerves but be aware of the pinky pressure points.

Cup your hand over the back of the heel and use pressure to stimulate blood flow.

Using gentle pressure use your thumbs to walk over the bottom of the foot. During pregnancy you will carry your weight on the ball of your foot and heel so close attention to these areas is always appreciated.

The amount of pressure you require can differ as your baby develops. You may find that gentle pressure is enough to get you truly feeling relaxed then as your baby gets heavier the need for more pressure may be desired.

You don’t need to stop at using your thumbs, knuckles are a girl’s best friend for getting right in between those strained muscles in the foot, experiment throughout your pregnancy with techniques that you enjoy. It is also a way for you and your partner to feel connected giving them a sense of purpose whilst you do all the hard work.

Wrapping Up

There is no harm getting a foot rub whilst pregnant. After looking into research provided the benefits significantly outweigh the risks but it is important to discuss any therapies or treatments with your doctor first.

The ideas behind where not to massage a pregnant woman’s feet are evidenced yet there is no solid proof to justify that a foot rub can induce labor. The worst case scenario could be not being able to relax whilst another person touches your feet.

From my experience massage during pregnancy is always a win but for many I know, they found it difficult to switch off or find a comfy position.

Where Not to Massage a Pregnant Woman’s Feet – Risks & Tips