Pregnancy is supposed to be magical—and in many ways, it is—but watching my sister go through it made me realise how physically and emotionally demanding it can be. From the outside, you see the baby bump, the glow, and the excitement. What you don’t always see are the swollen ankles, the aching back, the sleepless nights, and the silent stress.

During her second trimester, my sister started experiencing serious lower back pain and fatigue. She was struggling to sleep, and simple things like getting out of bed or walking for long periods became uncomfortable. She’s never been the type to complain, but I could tell it was wearing her down.

That’s when I suggested she try pregnancy massage.

She was hesitant at first. She thought massage was more of a luxury—something for spa days, not a practical solution to what she was going through. But after her first session, her entire mindset shifted.

A Visible Difference After One Session

I still remember her walking out of the clinic after her first massage—lighter on her feet, visibly more relaxed, and smiling for the first time in days. She said, “I feel like I can breathe again. I didn’t realise how tense I was until I felt it ease.”

The therapist had focused on relieving the tension in her lower back, hips, and shoulders. They used supportive cushions to keep her comfortable while working gently around her growing bump. It was a calm, nurturing space that let her fully relax—something she hadn’t done in weeks.

Relief Beyond the Physical

Over the next few weeks, she started going regularly. It wasn’t just the physical changes I noticed—it was her mood, her energy, even her confidence. She was sleeping better, her swelling had gone down, and she wasn’t complaining about her back as much. But more importantly, she seemed more connected to herself and the experience of being pregnant.

She told me that the massages gave her time to check in with her body, to slow down and feel present. It was the only hour in her week that wasn’t about preparing for the baby or managing discomfort—it was just for her. That space, she said, became essential to her emotional wellbeing.

A Gift That Kept Giving

By the time she reached the final weeks of her pregnancy, massage had become a regular part of her routine. She credits it with helping her stay active, sleep better, and avoid some of the common aches that many women just accept as “normal.” Even her midwife noticed how well she was managing the physical demands of pregnancy.

Now, whenever I hear a friend or colleague is expecting, I tell them about my sister. About how something as simple as a gentle, supportive massage made a huge difference—not just to her comfort, but to her whole experience of pregnancy.

Sometimes, the best care isn’t complicated. It’s just someone creating a space for you to breathe, let go, and feel supported. And for my sister, pregnancy massage was exactly that.