Online Course & Online Test
$129.00

The online test for this course contains  60  multiple choice questions.

Massage Therapy CEs | Prenatal/Doula/Infant Courses

Prenatal Massage Fundamentals

Why Learn Pregnancy Massage? As a pregnancy massage instructor, I’ve witnessed firsthand how learning this specialized skill can transform not only the lives of expectant mothers but also the careers of massage therapists. Pregnancy massage is not just a therapeutic service—it’s a vital practice that offers physical, emotional, and mental benefits to mothers while opening up unique opportunities for therapists to grow their practice and make a meaningful impact. Let’s explore why adding this skill to your repertoire is so rewarding and essential.
 
What Sets Pregnancy Massage Apart? Pregnancy massage focuses on addressing the unique physical and emotional challenges faced by expectant mothers. Unlike traditional massage, this practice requires careful adaptation to the mother’s changing anatomy and needs, ensuring both safety and comfort. As a massage therapist, mastering these techniques allows you to provide a service that is both nurturing and effective.
 
As awareness of holistic health grows, more expectant mothers are seeking safe and natural ways to manage pregnancy-related discomfort. This rising demand makes pregnancy massage a valuable specialization that sets you apart from other therapists in your field.
 
Benefits of Pregnancy Massage for Mothers
 
When you master pregnancy massage, you’re not just offering relaxation—you’re providing targeted care that profoundly improves a mother’s well-being. Here are some key benefits your future clients will experience:
 
Relieving Back and Joint Pain: Back pain and joint discomfort are among the most common complaints during pregnancy. Your skill as a pregnancy massage therapist will help alleviate these issues by easing muscle tension, improving flexibility, and reducing strain.
 
Reducing Swelling and Enhancing Circulation: Swelling in the feet, ankles, and hands can make everyday activities challenging for pregnant women. With the right techniques, you’ll help reduce edema and promote healthy circulation, which also benefits the baby by improving oxygen and nutrient flow.
 
Promoting Relaxation and Emotional Well-Being: Pregnancy can be an emotional journey. Through massage, you’ll help mothers lower stress hormones and boost endorphins, providing a calming experience that supports mental health and builds trust between you and your clients.
 
Why Therapists Should Specialize in Pregnancy Massage
 
A Growing Niche in the Wellness Industry: The demand for pregnancy massage continues to rise, creating opportunities for therapists to expand their client base. By specializing in this field, you’ll become a go-to professional for prenatal care, building long-term relationships with clients who may return for postpartum recovery or recommend your services to others.
 
Differentiating Your Practice: Adding pregnancy massage to your skillset helps you stand out in a crowded market. Whether you work in a spa, wellness clinic, or independently, offering this service makes your practice more versatile and appealing.
 
A Rewarding Career Path: Few things are as fulfilling as supporting mothers through one of the most transformative periods of their lives. Pregnancy massage allows you to provide tangible relief and comfort, creating a lasting positive impact on both the mother and her baby.
 
Essential Skills and Knowledge for Pregnancy Massage
 
As a pregnancy massage instructor, our courses emphasize the importance of understanding these key aspects of prenatal care:
 
Adapting Techniques for Safety and Comfort: Pregnancy massage requires modifications to traditional methods. You’ll learn to avoid certain pressure points, adjust positions for comfort, and ensure every technique is safe for both mother and baby.
 
Recognizing Pregnancy-Related Conditions and Contraindications: Not all clients will have the same needs or challenges. During training, you’ll gain knowledge about common conditions such as sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, and swelling, allowing you to tailor your approach to each individual. You will also learn how to recognize and critical contraindications that a client may develop during pregnancy.
 
Mastering Communication and Empathy: Expectant mothers need to feel heard and understood. Developing strong communication skills helps you build trust and provide a supportive, calming environment for your clients.
 
Practical Applications of Pregnancy Massage
 
Once you’ve completed your training, you’ll be able to apply your skills in various professional settings, including prenatal clinics and wellness centers such as spas or clinics specializing in reproductive care needs. If you’re an independent therapist, offering pregnancy massage allows you to attract a steady stream of clients and build a loyal clientele. Your training will also equip you to support mothers after delivery, aiding in recovery and helping them navigate the physical and emotional adjustments of motherhood.
 
A Rewarding Investment in Your Career
 
Specializing in pregnancy massage is more than a professional milestone—it’s a chance to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. The skills you gain will not only enhance your career but also deepen your connection with your clients, allowing you to be a trusted partner in their journey to motherhood.
 
Becoming a pregnancy massage therapist is a transformative step for any massage professional. This specialization allows you to offer a highly valued service, stand out in a competitive market, and build lasting relationships with clients. More importantly, it gives you the unique privilege of supporting mothers during one of the most extraordinary times of their lives.
 
About This Course: This course is the second course of the three course series in our prenatal massage title training. This step will teach you what you need to know before you have a pregnant client on your table. (The Techniques course will teach you the techniques that you will perform during a prenatal massage.) The certification package consists the Pregnancy Myths 4 CE course, this course, and the Prenatal Massage Techniques 12 CE course. All three are available at a package discount. All three are required in order to qualify for the certification title.

 

Massage Therapy continuing education CEs earned in the Prenatal Fundamentals segment: 12. The average massage therapist should expect to devote one clock hour for every CE credit earned, based on NCBTMB calculations. These are online, home study CEs. They are not "live" hours. We do not offer live seminars at this time. 

Course classification: Cognitive (course materials consist of concepts related to massage therapy but do not teach a specific hands-on modality).

Course Format: This course is offered online, available instantly at your convenience. We are not currently offering live seminars.  In order to adhere to board standards of principles in adult education, we try to provide information to suit many learning styles. Some people want to read and reflect, some learn better with audio and visual. For this reason, you will see our written information, often followed by links or resources to this same information in a video format. Our courses consist of our written words, videos that we produced, videos from outside sources, and attached files of written word from outside sources. We hope that no matter what type of learner you are, you will find the information in a format that fits your needs.

Approved by:  Institute of Somatic Therapy is approved by the NCBTMB (Provider #280672-00) as a continuing education Approved Provider. Institute of Somatic Therapy is approved by Florida (#MCE-326), and New York (#0019). Our courses are also valid for AMTA, ABMP, and most individual states. Some states limit how many hours can be done online or by home study. Please refer to our State Guidelines section for specific information about your state. Laws can and do change, and your state will hold you responsible for knowing the laws that apply to you.    

Attention Florida Massage Therapists: This course is approved by Florida as an approved distance learning course for required hours of "relevant to massage therapy" category hours through 8/31/2025. You are still allowed to complete the 12 required "relevant to massage therapy" hours via approved online courses through at least 2025. The approval number for this course is 20-795810
 

Tuition: US $129   NOTE: Sign up on this page if you want to take ONLY the pregnancy massage fundamentals course. By choosing this option, you are missing out on the benefits of enrolling in all three courses together as a package

Additional Discounts: If you are interested in taking several courses at a discounted tuition, you can Create Your Own Customized Discount Package. Receive a discount of 8%-15% (depending on tuition value) when you enroll in any three or more of our courses at the same time.) Please note that our package specials are non-changeable/non-refundable. 

CE Broker Reporting Institute of Somatic Therapy will automatically report your hours to CE Broker in applicable states ONLY IF you have provided your license number in your online account with us when you complete the online exam.

 

Course Description: The Fundamentals of Pregnancy Massage is the first course in the prenatal massage certification and doula certification series, and is a pre-requisite to taking the prenatal or doula certification courses. It lays the groundwork by teaching you the cognitive, conceptual aspects of prenatal massage so that you can:

  • Explain how prenatal massage benefits the mother physically and emotionally
  • List and describe pregnancy related complications and their symptoms that would contraindicate massage therapy
  • Describe the physiological changes that take place in each system of a woman’s body during pregnancy, and how each of those changes dictate modifications in a standard massage routine
  • Successfully market and sell your prenatal and delivery services
  • Prepare suitable forms to use for release of liability and record-keeping

 

This course does NOT teach prenatal massage techniques. You will learn that in the techniques segment.   

Table of Contents for Prenatal Fundamentals:

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Research on Prenatal Massage

Understanding the Trimesters of Pregnancy

Physiological Changes in Pregnancy

  • Reproductive System
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Respiratory System
  • Digestive System
  • Renal System
  • Integumentary System/Skeletal System
  • Endocrine System

Emotional and Psychological Changes in Pregnancy

Contraindications for Prenatal Massage

  • Diagnosis as High Risk Pregnancy
  • Pre-term Labor
  • Miscarriage
  • Pre-Eclampsia
  • Eclampsia
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Varicose Veins
  • Acupuncture/Acupressure Points

Reflexology in Pregnancy

Aromatherapy in Pregnancy

Exercise in Pregnancy

Marketing Your Services

Closing the Sale

Recommended Reading

Resources 

 

 

Student Comments:  

 "Thank you so much. I did not expect to enjoy these courses (prenatal steps one and two) as much as I have. I just purchased the doula class and I'm sure I'll be taking the infant massage course, as well. Thank you so much for helping me grow my business and become more passionate about my craft." Whitney Brown, Bremen, Kentucky 

"Thanks for offering this course. I had prenatal training in 2007, and wanted to take this as a re-fresher. I have been providing prenatal massages and I very much appreciate your rational approach to everything, without all of the fear-based info that I received in 2007. It's a very good course." Jacki Sellers, CMT, NCTMB, CMLDT, Aliso Viejo, CA 

"I have been a holistic therapist for the last 27 years and have invested a lot of money in furthering my education. Some courses were worth it...many others weren't. I love the courses you offer not only because there is so much to choose from but also because all is actually applicable! So many times I have taken courses and half of what was being taught had absolutely no relevance. Your courses are of high quality and they are relevant - that's the most important aspect for me. I know I'll be back for more :) Cheers", Gabriela Eikeland    Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada

Courses Gabriela has taken: Manual Lymph Massage, Prenatal Fundamentals, Prenatal Techniques, Spa Fundamentals, Communicable Diseases 

"Thank you for all of your help with this course. It's an awesome course! I've taken a few other Prenatal massage courses and found yours the most comprehensive. Thanks again." Patti Nebel, Wenonah, NJ 

"Thank you for developing such a wonderful course! My massage office is located within a birth center & I have been giving pre & post natal massage for 6 years now, I LOVE it!! I have read several books and watched a few DVDs on the subject and the information in your workbook & DVD is by far the best. I have learned so much & am so exicted to share this info with my clients. Thanks you." Heather Barber LMT, Palmer, Alaska 

"Thank you for putting Prenatal Massage Certification course together. It was wonderful. I learned so much and realized afresh how much I love massaging mothers-to-be. I look forward to expanding my practice to include prenatal massage. Thank you for all the time, energy, expertise, resources, perseverance and commitment it took for you to produce this course. You have enriched my career and will share in the enrichment I am privileged to pass to my clients. I know being equipped to do prenatal massage will expand and extend my career. Blessings," Susan Valk,  Austin, TX

 

About the Instructor... 

Judith Koch Stapleton has been in the massage therapy field since 1991, after taking to heart a book that encourages seeking a career doing something that you love. In her former career, as a sales trainer and manager, she would frequently give her staff neck and shoulder rubs. Always fond of receiving massage herself, she realized this was a career she would love. Once Judith began, it was obvious that this was her niche. Her first discovery was that people like their massage therapist a whole lot better than they like their sales managers. She was hooked. 

Less than two years after entering the massage field, three of her regular clients all got pregnant at once. Knowing that they must certainly need massage now more than ever, but having been taught that pregnancy was a contraindication for massage, she decided to fly half way across the country to attend an advanced prenatal, labor and infant massage certification course. She couldn’t believe it -- she found a niche within her niche, and was hooked again, this time getting to watch little miracles happen as icing on the cake. She continued her massage education and achieved national certification status in 1993. Her business continued to grow. An article appeared in the newspaper. The local television news included her in one of their health segments. Massage and Bodywork Quarterly, a national massage association journal, did a story on her. Parenting Magazine did year later. As the years progressed, she has given countless prenatal massages, and attended nearly 100 births. Her mothers maintained an unbelievable average of about four hours of labor, most completely drug free.  

 Early in her prenatal massage career, Judith started hearing about women called doulas (from the Greek word for “servant”), who helped women during labor. Judith had been relying almost exclusively on massage to assist her clients, and she wanted to see what these non-massage therapists were doing to ease labor. She attended the doula training nearest her, and two months later again flew half-way across the country, this time to take advanced doula training from Penny Simkin, a physical therapist who was instrumental in beginning the doula movement within the United States. There, Judith discovered a range of methods to make the laboring and pushing processes easier. Her certification with Doulas of North America was actually delayed several months because her mothers were having their babies too fast to meet DONA’s minimum five hour labor requirement.   Based on her extensive training and experience, she has developed training for massage during all stages of pregnancy and delivery, as well as basic infant massage and movement. Isn’t it time you learn how to start watching miracles happen for a living? 

If you are interested in this massage therapy CEU course, other courses that might be of interest to you are: Prenatal Massage Techniques (Step Two), Massage Doula Certification (Step Three), Infant Massage, and Fertility Massage. 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:  

Do I have to be a licensed massage therapist to take this course?

No, but be advised that our courses are designed as continuing education for licensed and/or certified massage therapists. A non-licensed person may take them for their personal use, but they may not legally charge for these services without a massage license if their jurisdiction requires one, as most jurisdictions do. In most jurisdictions, doulas or other prenatal healthcare providers can use the techniques within the scope of their training and authority, such as a doula using some of the prenatal massage techniques during labor and delivery. You cannot, however, hold yourself out to be a certified prenatal massage therapist without having a massage therapy certification or license.

I am currently enrolled in massage therapy school. Is it possible for me to take the prenatal massage package with doula massage while I am in school still?

Yes, you are welcome to begin taking the courses now. Many people do just that. The advantages to an early start are that the minute you do have your license, you’ll be certified and ready to “hit the ground running” in your chosen specialty. Just be aware that you cannot legally practice if you do not yet have any massage license that the jurisdiction where you live requires.

Do you offer this seminar in a live classroom setting, or only online?

This course is currently only offered online.

How long will it take me to complete this course?

The number of massage continuing education hours awarded was determined by the NCBTMB, although not everyone reads and studies at the same rate. Some massage therapists report that they are faster or slower than the number of CEs awarded. The theory is that it should take the average person one clock hour for every CE earned, so a 12 hour course should take you 12 actual hours to complete. Therefore, if you work on it 6 hours a day, you'll complete it in two days. If you work on it one hour a month, it will take you a year to complete. You can work on it at your convenience and set your own schedule. Just be sure to complete the course within one year of enrollment, or it will expire.

I have had some prenatal massage elsewhere. Can I skip the Pregnancy Myths and Prenatal Massage Fundamentals, and go directly to Prenatal Massage Techniques?

We do allow people to do this, but you will not qualify to earn your prenatal massage certification through us without taking our complete certification package. The reason is that we have no idea what your initial training taught and how it may or may not substitute for our training.  We have seen pregnancy massage courses that were little more than how to give a regular massage in a sidelying position, without giving any information at all on the physiological changes of pregnancy, complications that could contraindicate massage, etc. We feel it is better that you take a chance of some redundancies than take a chance that you don't learn something important.

Do you report our course completions to the NCBTMB, ABMP, AMTA, or any other agencies?

None of these agencies have a method for us to report to them on your behalf. They prefer that you provide the evidence of CEs that their renewal process details. CEBroker is the only agency to whom we report, for the limited number of states that use their reporting system.

 

To contact the Institute of Somatic Therapy about this or any other massage therapy CEU course, please go to the "contact" link above. Thank you.