QuestionMy wife, in her 34th week, had a prenatal massage yesterday. This is her second one. The first time everything went fine. Yesteday, they had her lie face down on a special pillow with an indention for her stomach. After a few minutes, she was uncomfortable and switched positions. Now, she has a very high level of anxiety about possible damage she may have caused to the fetus. The only information I can find about not lying on your stomach during pregnancy is that it causes strain on the uterine ligaments and an increase in intrauterine pressure.
What kinds of effects can these things have on a mother and fetus?
AnswerAlthough we like a pregnant patient to lie on her left side (so as to take the weight of the uterus off the Vena Cava, and increase perfusion and blood flow to the heart), it will not cause any damage or ill effects if, at times, she lies on her stomach. I doubt that the massage caused any harm at all.
