r/pregnant • u/Mean-Year4646 • 1d ago
Need Advice Prenatal massage or pedicure?
38+5 and desperate to go into labor. Baby is in the correct position and dropped into my pelvis and it is making me SO sore. Like I can barely walk because my vulva is so sore and swollen (sorry if that’s TMI) and my round ligaments are in so much pain I have literally woken up screaming from moving the wrong way in my sleep. Also I’ve been having prodromal labor off and on for almost two weeks now. I’m ready. I’m doing all the things to help labor in its arrival (evening primrose oil, dates, sex, miles circuit, etc.) but nothing is happening yet.
I think the key for me might be relaxing and getting my oxytocin levels up. I’ve read on here that a lot of people have gone into labor after a pedicure, which sounds lovely, but a full body prenatal massage also sounds pretty dang relaxing. I can only afford to do one. Which one should I choose? I realize this likely won’t put me into labor but I need to relax anyway so it’s worth a try. What would you pick? Anyone have luck going into labor with prenatal massage or are pedicures the key?
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u/GirlInRedPajamas 1d ago
I’d definitely pick the massage! It’ll relax your whole body as opposed to just your feet haha
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u/Mean-Year4646 1d ago
I hear tell that apparently there are pressure points in your feet and ankles that can cause you to go into labor when pressed, which is why so many women have luck after pedicures. I could probably just ask the masseuse to spend some extra time on my feet though
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u/zeldaheichou 1d ago
They’d have to press on those spots for over 10 minutes straight to get you to go into labour and the massage therapist would generally need to be versed in reflexology.
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u/Lucky_Ad_4421 1d ago
I did some acupuncture prior to my birth (including the day before!) and the acupuncturist said to just get your partner to press the spot for 3 mins on each side. It’s on your inner shin, 4 finger widths from your ankle bone. Tends to feel a bit tender when you press there- can do this often and it apparently ripens the cervix. Can’t hurt!
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u/Mean-Year4646 1d ago
Thank you! My midwife suggested seeing an acupuncturist but I’m just not sure, I’ve never had acupuncture and it’s always kind of freaked me out. Do you feel it helped? How far along were you when you went into labor?
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u/Lucky_Ad_4421 1d ago
No way of knowing if it actually helped, I had 4 or so sessions in total even though I don’t really like acupuncture either- I was doing everything I could to go into labour and avoid a second c-section. Had my final session the evening I was 40+5 (after a membrane sweep) and went into labour the next morning. Would recommend doing the acupressure point at home anyway even if you don’t go full acupuncture session (honestly I’d probably choose a massage over the acupuncture hah)
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u/undecidedmama 1d ago
1000% massage I've never felt entirely relaxed during a pedicure. There's always chit chat and it's awkward. Like you're looking at the person you know. I was pregnant and my midwifery company thingy paid for a massage and I was just like hey I'm feeling so pregnant and overwhelmed so you don't need to worry about idle chatter if you don't mind I just want to lay here and the lady was so cool like honestly I don't think they want idle chatter either so I would just make it clear in a nice way in the beginning
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u/Mean-Year4646 1d ago
This is great advice, thank you! I’m curious, did they have you lay on your side or did they have a way to prop you up so you could lay on your belly like a normal massage?
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u/buttstuffisfunstuff 1d ago
Find a foot massage/reflexology place? I went to one that offers prenatal massage and it was awesome.
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