Here are a few things to keep in mind before attending a prenatal massage session.

Prenatal pregnancy can stimulate the uterus. While this sounds benign, or perhaps even beneficial, it can be harmful. Various pressure points found in the body can cause the uterus to contract, and possibly induce labor. The best way to prevent this from happening is to seek care from a licensed prenatal massage therapist, who will know to avoid these points.

Miscarriage: There is some debate about whether or not prenatal massage can cause miscarriage. To date, no studies or statistics have been released about massage directly causing a miscarriage. However, some people still maintain that toxins released during a massage can cause one. That said, early labor has been known to result from prenatal massage occasionally.

High Risk Factors: The American Pregnancy Association says that women with high risk pregnancies should ask their doctors before engaging in prenatal massage. These conditions can make the practice unsafe, depending on the woman’s symptoms. Some of these high risk pregnancies may include preeclampsia, previous pre-term labor, swelling, or high blood pressure.

Side Effects: With its many benefits, prenatal massage doesn’t sound that risky. But it can have side effects for certain women, including cramping, nausea, injury, spotting, soreness, dizziness and induced labor. Again, many of these can be avoided by using a licensed massage therapist who knows what to avoid.

To minimize all of these risks, always ask a doctor before beginning a program. During the massage, always lay in a side-lying position; do not let a therapist convince you to lay on your stomach on a special table, which can cause some of the problems listed above.

As with the rest of your pregnancy, drink plenty of water before, during, and after the massage. Wait until the second trimester to begin your session, and do not engage in deep tissue massage.