A heavenly massage for expecting mums

All the expanding and stretching that takes place during pregnancy takes its toll on the skin, feet and back. At seven months, my bump is beginning to weigh me down, and aches and pains are emerging.

According to my chiropractor Michelle Zhou, pregnancy affects the woman's body in many ways: "The growing bump places extra strain on muscles, ligaments of the spine and pelvis. Pain as a result of muscle spasm is a very common complaint among pregnant women, especially during their final trimester."

But regular massage can alleviate muscle tension and pain build-up from these physical changes, she says.

Looking for some relief, I book a pregnancy massage at the Sutherland-Chan Centre in Central. Like her peers there, my therapist Marcia Reyes is a Canada-trained specialist. This means she has completed two years of training in anatomy, physiology, neurology and pathology at a college in Ontario, including 2,200 hours of massages.

Reyes asks how pregnancy has affected my back and neck - the two areas that most need attention. She points out that bumps not only make us stand and walk differently, but also sleep in unusual and unvaried positions which can strain the spine and supporting muscles.