Prenatal Massage
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What is a Prenatal Massage and How Can it Help You?
Prenatal massage is a gentle massage therapy designed specifically for pregnant women. It focuses on easing the common physical discomforts that come with pregnancy, like back pain, leg cramps, neck stiffness, swollen feet, and sore joints. A certified prenatal massage therapist uses safe, light-touch techniques to target muscle tension, improve blood circulation, and ease stress without putting pressure on the belly.
This type of massage not only helps with physical aches but also great for emotional support by improving sleep and calming anxiety. It’s a safe, relaxing way for expectant mothers to feel more comfortable as their bodies change.
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Benefits of Prenatal Massage Therapy
Eases aches and pains
Prenatal massage therapy helps ease tension in the back, hips, legs, and other common sore spots during pregnancy.
Reduces swelling
Boosts circulation to reduce puffiness in feet, hands, and ankles.
Better sleep. Pre-natal massage calms down the body and mind, making it easier to rest and recharge.
Calms stress and anxiety
Lowers cortisol levels and helps create a sense of emotional balance.
Boosts circulation
Delivers more oxygen and nutrients to both mom and baby.
Better posture
Prenatal back massage eases muscle imbalances, helping reduce strain from a growing belly.
Lifts mood
Triggers the release of feel-good hormones, helping you feel more relaxed and positive.
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Prenatal Massage Techniques
Prenatal massage uses gentle, specially adapted techniques designed to support the unique needs of pregnant women. These methods focus on comfort, safety, and easing the physical stress that comes with pregnancy. The techniques avoid pressure on sensitive areas and can be adjusted as the pregnancy progresses. Below, we’ll look at some of the most common approaches used by trained prenatal massage therapists.
Main purpose of any prenatal technique is to relieve common discomforts like tension, pain, and swelling in the body during pregnancy. Unlike general massage, prenatal massage is carefully adapted to support the safety and comfort of both mother and baby, helping improve blood circulation, lower stress, and help feel better overall. It can offer more than just deep relaxation – by addressing pregnancy-specific issues, it becomes a very useful tool throughout pregnancy.
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Deep-tissue massage
Deep-tissue massage is typically not recommended during pregnancy, even though it’s used to target deep muscle tension. This technique includes firm pressure that could be too intense or risky for expectant mothers. Pregnancy massage specialists are specially trained to avoid deep-tissue work and trigger point release during this time. Instead, they focus on gentler methods that safely support comfort and relaxation without putting pressure on sensitive areas. While deep-tissue may be helpful outside of pregnancy, softer alternatives are better suited for moms-to-be. -
Swedish massage
Swedish pregnancy massage is one of the safest and most popular choices for prenatal care. Using long, gentle strokes, it helps pregnant women relax and reduce related muscle aches. This calming technique supports better blood flow to both mom and baby, eases back or leg pain, and triggers the release of feel-good hormones. It's also a great way to just unwind, improve sleep, and enjoy some peaceful “me time” during pregnancy.
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What to Expect During Prenatal Massage
When you arrive at an integrative health and wellness clinic, your prenatal chiropractor will ask about your health, how far along you are, and any discomfort you’re experiencing. You’ll be positioned with special cushions or bolsters – usually lying on your side or in a semi-reclined position – to avoid putting pressure on your belly.
The therapist will use light, calming strokes, focusing on areas like the lower back, hips, legs, shoulders, and feet. The goal is to reduce tension, improve blood circulation, and help you relax. Sessions may last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. You’ll leave feeling more relaxed, both mentally and physically, with less soreness and better overall feeling.
Still have questions about whether Prenatal Massage is right for you?
Schedule a consultation here to find out!
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Prenatal Massage Therapy at Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL
At Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL, we provide safe, deeply calming pre natal massage therapy as part of our integrative approach to pregnancy care. Our team uses only gentle, personalized techniques to ease back pain, swelling, improve sleep, and support your overall comfort. Each session is customized to meet your changing needs throughout pregnancy.
We also support your recovery after birth with access to a postpartum chiropractor, helping you restore after delivery. Whether you’re in your second trimester or need some postpartum support, we’re humbly at your service. Book your pre natal massage at Copper Wellness today and give yourself the care you truly deserve.
About results
Reviews About Prenatal Massage
I have been going to Copper Wellness for nearly 4 years and cannot say enough good things about the clinic and all of their providers. Dr. Madden is a truly exceptional acupuncturist. I worked with her almost weekly during my first pregnancy and postpartum, and now for my second pregnancy, and she has been such a blessing with hormone health, stress and anxiety management, digestion, and sleep. She has the most amazing presence and all of her guidance has always been spot on. I also saw Dr Mohr during my first pregnancy to help with pregnancy aches and pains and pelvic positioning - he is also wonderful, so knowledgeable and kind and helped relieve a lot of my physical symptoms during that time. I’ve gone to Benicia for massage too and she is one of the best! (and I’ve seen a lot of massage therapists in my life)
I am moving from Chicago soon and truly going to miss this amazing clinic.
I am moving from Chicago soon and truly going to miss this amazing clinic.
Response from the owner 11:44 03 Jun 25
Dear Marianna,Thank you so much for your kind words and for being with us all these years. We're honored to have supported you through both pregnancies. Dr. Madden, Dr. Mohr, and Benicia will be touched by your feedback. Wishing you all the best in your move — you'll always be part of the Copper Wellness family! 
Dr. Mohr helped me tremendously with lower back pain and SI joint pain years ago and I still use the exercises he provided me to sustain feeling better. He used multiple techniques and movement based therapies to improve my ability to bend and lie down without pain.
Response from the owner 07:57 26 May 25
Thank you so much, Jack! We're truly glad to hear you're still feeling better — your kind words mean a lot to us! 
I have received services and initially had good intentions for a relationship with this clinic, but the billing issues and poor customer service significantly affected my experience and I feel compelled to share.
From the beginning, I was clear that billing transparency was important to me. Despite that, I ran into repeated issues with billing. The clinic charged me estimated amounts that didn’t ultimately match my Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from UnitedHealthcare, and when I brought up the discrepancies—with actual documentation to back it up—I was met with defensiveness rather than a willingness to resolve things collaboratively.
One particularly strange policy I encountered was that this clinic might charge a “clinic fee” if UnitedHealthcare doesn’t accommodate their cash rates. This seems to blur the lines between in-network and out-of-network billing.
Meanwhile, claims weren’t submitted to insurance promptly, which delayed payments and caused unnecessary confusion—none of which was my fault as the patient.
Bottom line: I paid what I was invoiced on time, asked reasonable questions when things didn’t add up, and was made to feel like I was the problem for doing so. I’ve since paused services until this can be sorted out—and I feel compelled to share my experience here.
From the beginning, I was clear that billing transparency was important to me. Despite that, I ran into repeated issues with billing. The clinic charged me estimated amounts that didn’t ultimately match my Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from UnitedHealthcare, and when I brought up the discrepancies—with actual documentation to back it up—I was met with defensiveness rather than a willingness to resolve things collaboratively.
One particularly strange policy I encountered was that this clinic might charge a “clinic fee” if UnitedHealthcare doesn’t accommodate their cash rates. This seems to blur the lines between in-network and out-of-network billing.
Meanwhile, claims weren’t submitted to insurance promptly, which delayed payments and caused unnecessary confusion—none of which was my fault as the patient.
Bottom line: I paid what I was invoiced on time, asked reasonable questions when things didn’t add up, and was made to feel like I was the problem for doing so. I’ve since paused services until this can be sorted out—and I feel compelled to share my experience here.
Response from the owner 18:14 28 May 25
Hi Tina, I am sorry that your experience was not as you had hoped at Copper Wellness. Before starting treatment all patients using insurance are given a breakdown of what their benefits cover at the clinic. Because of your shared concern about billing transparency, we also provided a breakdown of all potential charges for every type of appointment covered by insurance after your first treatment and before continuing care. We are happy to do this with any patient. Insurance billing is not an automated process, we submit the claims based on our insurance contracts with these companies and are paid as such. If there is a discrepancy in an overpayment it is issued back to the patient.We understand insurance can be frustrating and confusing which is why we contract a certified outside billing team to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of our billing practices. After reviewing all the communication I thought it was best to refer you to another practice which is local to you and within your network. As the owner and a practitioner I believe it is best that your healthcare environment be in a place that makes you feel relaxed and supported. I am sorry that cannot be us however we all wish you the best of luck with your journey. 
Copper Wellness has been a pivotal part of my wellness routine since moving to Chicago - can’t the imagine the city without them!
Response from the owner 14:31 21 Feb 25
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re grateful to be part of your integrative health and wellness journey and truly appreciate your support. Looking forward to seeing you again! 
I've been seeing Dr Stephanie Madden since last year, and the experience has been truly transformative. Overall, Copper Wellness is both calming and welcoming. Stephanie is always attentive to my needs, whether they are physical, mental or emotional. I always leave feeling more balanced than when I came. It's obvious that she truly cares about the well-being of her patients. If you are considering acupuncture, this is the place to go!
Response from the owner 08:17 10 Feb 25
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that your experience at Copper Wellness has been transformative. We appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to support you on your wellness journey! 
I can't say enough great things about my experience at Copper Wellness! Dr. Madden is truly incredible. She has been instrumental in helping me manage my weight and find relief from stress, something I've struggled with for a long time. Her personalized approach, calm demeanor, and deep knowledge made me feel completely comfortable and cared for during each session!
Response from the owner 08:17 10 Feb 25
Thank you for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you’ve had a great experience at Copper Wellness. Dr. Madden is dedicated to personalized care, and we’re grateful to be part of your health journey! 
Copper Wellness has been a blessing in my life, I cant stop talking about the progress that Dr. Madden's treatment plan has made in my mental and physical health. The environment is calm, welcoming, and always filled with positive energy. I discovered Dr. Madden during a period of self reflection, I felt an imbalance in my life. When we met, she explained the practice and how it can impact the symptoms I was feeling. Acupuncture as a whole can change your life - it has mine, and Dr. Madden is the perfect provider to guide you to your ultimate wellness. Thank You Copper!
Response from the owner 18:17 27 Jan 25
You're a true testament to you get out what you put in. You've been so dedicated to your care and it's a gift to see you thriving in the happiness you've created for yourself. We love to be along for the ride and see how feeling your best helps you tackle your dreams. 
I've been seeing Dr. Mohr for a number of years now and the results have been amazing! From the first visit, I felt welcomed and listened to. My back pain has significantly improved, and I feel more energized and aligned (pun intended). Highly recommend if you're looking for top-notch care!
Response from the owner 18:18 27 Jan 25
Thanks Joe! We love the dad jokes, keep 'em coming 🙂 
Copper Wellness has been my point of care for everything related to my body and immune system consistently for 3 years now. I started my journey when my low back and glute were bothering me. Between Adam for muscle and movement work in addition to adjustments and Stephanie for my first round of acupuncture continued through to two of the hardest athletic years of my life running 7 marathons and competing in 6 IM events I owe my body to this group. They always keep my races top of mind when treating me but more importantly work on exercise and life habit changes to improve any issues I’m experiencing rather than just putting a “bandaid” on something that hurts. Also note that the massage therapy is unbelievable, Blu as a MT is life changing and all of the practitioners communicate across practices so that all care is tailored to areas I need focused on. I HIGHLY recommend this group.
Response from the owner 18:40 27 Jan 25
Whitney! Literally always keeping us on our toes keeping up with your impressive and successful yearly race schedule. It's been awesome to see you achieve your goals while enjoying the process. Can't wait to see what you have scheduled for this year. 
Absolutely love this place. I go to Dr. Madden for Acupuncture and she not only will take time to sit and listen to what is going on with my body, but she'll also curate a plan of attack that is personalized to my needs. I absolutely love coming here and appreciate everything that they do.
Response from the owner 18:38 27 Jan 25
Thank you Lauren 
I. Love. This. Place! I see both Dr. Mimosa for chiropractic and Dr. Madden for acupuncture, and they are two of the best practitioners of *any* type of medicine I've EVER worked with. They listen. They care. They genuinely want to help you feel your best. I can't recommend them and Copper Wellness enough.
Best Chiropractors in the city yall!! Dr.Mimosa is sweet and easy to talk to. Dr. Adam is very easy to talk to as well. Highly recommend!!!
Can't say enough good things about Anais. Very professional, very knowledgably, and just an amazing caring person! You are in the best of hands with her, would highly recommend!
I have been seeing Dr. Madden for acupuncture for almost a year now and I don't know where I'd be without her. She's incredible at what she does and the entire staff is awesome.
Anais is simply the best! Had a great review, consultation of problem areas and left feeling like I was on a cloud! Can't wait to go back, highly recommend the electrode therapy, it was amazing.
Dr Madden is a miracle worker. For over a year I had issues with my feet. She was the 1st to say my calf’s were right! Her acupuncture was spot on and helped right away. The stress caused issues in my neck as well that she helped not only with acupuncture but cupping as well. Her care and compassion is amazing. I will continue on maintenance because she is so amazing. ‼️
Copper Wellness has been a pivotal part of my health journey! The integrative services that are offered are tailored to my needs/situation. Specifically, when I needed to start doing massage therapy for upper and lower back pain, Cameron Sand did a great job from the start making me feel comfortable. Whenever I have a question, they answer it readily and explain how and what they are doing during our session. I’ve seen a huge improvement since working with them and couldn’t recommend them enough!
I sincerely wish that I could give Dr. Stephanie Madden 1 million stars. From the time that I met her for consultation through my entire acupuncture journey with her, she was incredibly attentive, genuine, personable, professional, precise, safe, knowledgeable, skilled, and wise with her work. I saw Dr. Madden for about 1 a little over a year to help resolve physical issues from emotional traumas and sufferings in my life. I cannot stress how different my life is from when I first saw her. She helped me get to core issues in my physical health that other doctors never came close to articulating, let alone being aware. Working those physical issues directly helped me so much with my emotional health. My quality of life now is so much better because of her contributions to my healing journey. After working with Dr. Madden, she is a practitioner that I trust and deeply respect. If anyone ever asks me to recommend an acupuncturist, I would never hesitate to recommend anyone to her. I even recommended her to one of my friends on his journey to receive a heart transplant, and she made a positive impact on his quality of life. He had nothing but positive things to say about her (and now he is thriving with a new heart!). Dr. Stephanie Madden has made a wonderful impact on my life, and I can only imagine the impact she is making on the lives of others whom encounter her. She is someone that has answered her call in life, and is absolutely brilliant at it. Brilliant!
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FAQs About Prenatal Massage
Is Prenatal Massage Safe?
Yes, prenatal massage is safe for most pregnant women when performed by a certified prenatal massage therapist. It can help reduce stress, relieve back and hip pain, improve circulation, and promote better sleep. However, it’s important to avoid certain pressure points and positions, especially in the first trimester, so always consult your doctor before starting massage therapy during pregnancy.
Can Prenatal Massage Induce Labor?
Prenatal massage is not intended to induce labor, but certain pressure points—especially around the ankles, lower back, and hands—are thought to potentially stimulate uterine activity. Trained prenatal massage therapists know how to avoid these areas. While massage can help the body relax in preparation for labor, it should only be used for induction under medical supervision.
What to Wear to a Prenatal Massage?
For a prenatal massage, wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Most clients undress to their comfort level and are properly draped with sheets during the session. Maternity massage is typically done in side-lying or semi-reclined positions, so choose clothes that are easy to change out of and allow freedom of movement.
How Does a Prenatal Massage Work?
A prenatal massage works by using gentle, specialized techniques to relieve common pregnancy discomforts such as back pain, swollen legs, and muscle tension. The massage is performed with the client in a side-lying or semi-reclined position for safety and comfort. It improves circulation, reduces stress hormones, and promotes relaxation without putting pressure on sensitive areas.
Can You Get a Prenatal Massage at 38 Weeks?
Yes, you can get a prenatal massage at 38 weeks as long as there are no medical complications and your doctor has approved it. In fact, massage at this stage can help reduce swelling, relieve lower back pain, and prepare the body for labor. Always choose a certified prenatal massage therapist experienced in third-trimester care.
When Can You Get a Prenatal Massage?
You can get a prenatal massage after the first trimester, starting around 13 weeks of pregnancy. This timing helps reduce the risk of complications and ensures a safer experience. Massage during the second and third trimesters can relieve back pain, swelling, and stress. Always consult your doctor and choose a certified prenatal massage therapist.
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