The Best Prenatal Massages in New York City - PureWow

[Rachel Bowie]

• Price: $$$
• Location: The Ritz Carlton New York, 50 Central Park South, NY, NY 10019
• Highlights: modern musical selections, Central Park location, customizable treatment
• Best for: luxury seekers

Third trimester problems: It’s tough to get comfy during a massage experience when you’re entering the home stretch. But La Prairie Spa, located on the second floor inside the Ritz Carlton and across the street from Central Park, is an expert at solving this conundrum. They not only offer a stomach lying-pillow, but when that didn’t initially work for me, we pivoted so that I could sit upright—and I got one of the best prenatal massages yet.

Here’s why: First up, the devil’s in the details. After getting checked in, I was escorted to the changing rooms where face towels were laid out with pre-sliced cucumbers; then, in the relaxation room, there were healthy snacks galore—from juice shots to fresh fruit and nuts, all serve-yourself. Before my treatment began, my therapist checked in with me, delivering a menu of music choices that ranged from traditional to modern (I opted for a Norah Jones mix, but you could choose anything from piano accompaniment to Jon Bon Jovi, which felt very special).

As for the massage itself? What made it such a stand-out was my therapist’s prenatal knowledge: She immediately noted the tightness in my shoulders (ugh, yet again, to side sleeping) and identified the pressure on my thoracic nerve, then targeted it. My legs and neck were also quite tight—symptoms of carrying an extra 20+ pounds in the shape of a bowling ball in my belly—and was able to really get in there, despite my repositioning of her original setup. I left feeling rejuvenated and like I’d made serious progress with many pregnancy pain points.