A few weeks before I learned that I was pregnant, I received a gift voucher to visit a Thai spa. I was so looking forward to it but as I was about to book my appointment, I was told that as a rule, they don't attend to pregnant women. I could hardly believe it as I knew that pregnant women, of all, can do with a good pampering and massage to ease minor aches and pains. After a bit of discussion, it turned out that yes, prenatal massage is good, but it just so happened that this particular spa did not have trained staff to attend to pregnant women. Just my luck!

In this article on prenatal massage, Kelly Lott, a Registered Massage Therapist, says that massage therapy enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves circulation and general body tone, and relieves mental and physical fatigue.

Massage can be performed anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour, depending on how much time you have and how much discomfort you are experiencing. Once a week during the second trimester is great, and twice a week or more, during the third trimester is wonderful. In my practice and in my teaching, I have found that my pregnant clients appreciate their massage therapy appointments because they know relief is at hand. They look forward to their weekly appointments to ease recurring problems, such as sciatica, leg cramps, and back and round ligament pain.

Not yet convinced?Thai yoga practitioner Erica Lee expounds on the benefits of pregnancy massage. Well, I don#t know about you, but I'm off to find me a therapist! I need a respite from these aches and pains now, and I'm not sure my husband can follow the instructions in this book!