Your massage therapist should avoid putting deep pressure on your abdomen and legs. More specifically, they should also avoid the areas around your ankles and a few of your toes — namely your big, second and baby toes. “Deep pressure can cause issues if you have blood clots,” Cvitkovic warns.

While research hasn't found a correlation between prenatal massage in the first trimester and miscarriage, based on your pregnancy, your ob-gyn may not recommend getting them until you're closer to 23 or 24 weeks to ensure viability.

The answer is: Generally, yes. Massage therapy during pregnancy has been shown to provide many benefits, including a sense of wellness, improved relaxation, and better sleep. But certain techniques and trigger points in the body can cause contractions and premature labor, so seeking expertise is vital.

Prenatal massage predominantly uses the Swedish massage technique, which focuses on long, sweeping strokes with only minimal pressure applied to the body. Deep tissue pressure, which is common in other therapeutic massages, won't be used as it could potentially be harmful to mother or baby.