I get her to lie on one side, with her top leg bent at hip and knee, and I put one pillow under that knee. She also gets a pillow for her head and another to rest her arm on or to hug against her chest. When she is quite comfortable, I am then able to massage most of her back and the top hip and buttock. This way, she gets her entire back and both hips treated. Breast massage may also be part of the session to help relieve the heavy, full feeling many of us experience with pregnancy.
Massage improves circulation of blood and lymph, and helps keep the breasts healthy.
I also encourage all my female clients to practise regular breast self-massage. In addition to regular massage throughout pregnancy, massage during labor has been known to provide relief and a lessening of the pain. More and more massage therapists and hospitals are offering massage to laboring mothers. If you have the option, seize the opportunity, or take your labor partner to a class or two on labor massage. Also, check out my list of Pregnancy sites.