Quick answer
A trained pregnancy therapist works around a small number of acupressure points, mainly above the inner ankle and in the webbing of the hand, that are traditionally avoided before full term. In a properly adapted massage this is routine, automatic, and nothing for you to think about.
There are a few acupressure points, mainly just above the inner ankle and in the webbing between thumb and finger, that a trained pregnancy therapist deliberately works around before full term. They are traditionally associated with stimulating the uterus, so the standard, cautious approach is simply to leave them alone.
The reassuring part is that this is the therapist's job, not yours. If you book with someone trained in pregnancy massage, working around these points is automatic.
Which points are traditionally avoided
Two are mentioned most often. Spleen 6 (SP6) sits about four finger-widths above the inner ankle bone, behind the shin. Large Intestine 4 (LI4) sits in the fleshy webbing between the thumb and first finger. In acupressure tradition both are linked to stimulating the uterus, which is why they are avoided during pregnancy and reserved, if used at all, for full term.
A few therapists also go gently around firm work on the lower back and inner legs in the same spirit of caution. The evidence that ordinary pressure there does any harm is limited, but the sensible and widely taught approach is to err on the side of care.
Why a trained therapist already handles this
This is exactly what "pregnancy-trained" means in practice. Through accredited pregnancy massage training, avoiding these points becomes second nature, part of how the whole treatment is shaped around a pregnant body. You do not have to point them out, ask about them, or keep track.
It is also why a pregnancy massage is best booked with someone qualified for it, rather than having your usual treatment while expecting. A general massage is not unsafe near these areas, but a trained therapist adapts without you having to think about a thing.
Working around these points is the therapist's job, done automatically. It should never be something you have to manage on the massage bed.
Does this mean massage is risky in pregnancy?
No. A properly adapted pregnancy massage does not bring on labour, and from 12 weeks it is safe and welcome for a healthy pregnancy. More on why pregnancy massage is safe. The caution around these points is about being careful, not about any real danger in a normal treatment.
The same points are sometimes used deliberately, and only at or after full term with full consent, as part of the acupressure some women try to encourage labour. That is a separate, intentional practice, and the opposite of what happens in a routine pregnancy massage where they are left alone.
Always tell your therapist
Before any pregnancy massage, share three things:
- How many weeks you are
- Any complications, or whether your pregnancy is high-risk
- Anything your midwife has flagged
That lets the whole treatment be adapted safely, not just these points. More on when massage should wait.
What this looks like from 12 weeks
From 12 weeks you are supported on your side or semi-reclined, never flat on your back or front. I work the areas that carry the strain of pregnancy, so the lower back, hips, shoulders, legs and feet, at a calm pace and naturally keeping clear of the points above.
You will not notice it happening, and that is rather the point. A good pregnancy massage just feels like being well looked after, with all of the safety built quietly into how it is done.