The Pregnancy vs. Prenatal Debate: Why Correcting Me Is Missing the Point
The Pregnancy vs. Prenatal Debate: Why Correcting Me Is Missing the Point
Personal Anecdote: The Manager Who Had No Clue
Let me set the scene: I was working at a spa as an esthetician, not yet licensed in massage therapy. We had a manager who wasn’t even in the wellness industry—she was a former junior assistant manager who was suddenly promoted after the previous manager quit. She was young, inexperienced, and, frankly, on a bit of a power trip. For some reason, she didn’t seem to like me much, but I shrugged it off.
One day, I was chatting with her about my plans to go back to school for massage therapy. I mentioned that I was excited to learn about pregnancy massage. Without missing a beat, she interrupted me: “Prenatal.”
I just nodded and said, “Yeah,” but internally, I was annoyed. It was the first time I experienced someone trying to "correct" me on a term that, quite frankly, doesn’t need correcting. From that moment on, I started noticing how often people—especially other therapists or spa managers—would feel the need to chime in, as if saying “pregnancy massage” was somehow wrong.
The Terminology Debate: Pregnancy vs. Prenatal Massage
Let’s clear this up once and for all: “pregnancy massage” and “prenatal massage” are interchangeable terms. They both refer to massage therapy specifically designed for pregnant individuals during gestation.
The only difference between the two is preference:
Prenatal massage sounds more clinical and professional, aligning with industry-standard language.
Pregnancy massage is more conversational and straightforward, but it conveys the same meaning.
There’s no profound or definitive distinction between the two. Both terms describe the exact same practice: performing a massage on a pregnant person during gestation to provide comfort, relaxation, and support.
To add some perspective, when I was in aesthetics school, we had an entire lesson about using professional terminology. We were taught to say “cleansing” instead of “washing” the skin, “cleansing the scalp” instead of “washing the hair,” and “trimming nails” instead of “cutting nails.” The goal was to use language that sounded polished and professional, which I completely understand and agree with—it’s about presenting yourself as knowledgeable and skilled.
But here’s the thing: this is not the same as pregnancy vs. prenatal. At that point, it’s splitting hairs and getting uppity about semantics. Saying “pregnancy massage” isn’t unprofessional—it’s just not as clinical or medical-sounding, and that’s okay. The quality of care you provide matters far more than whether you use the word pregnancy or prenatal.
The Problem With Correcting Me
Correcting someone on something so trivial, when the meaning is clear, comes across as arrogant and dismissive. When you correct me, you’re implying I’m wrong, and that can feel disrespectful. I’ve worked hard to gain the knowledge and experience I have, and my choice of terminology shouldn’t undermine that.
A Bigger Issue: Respect and Professionalism
Looking back on that interaction with my manager, I can’t help but see it as a reflection of a larger issue. She respected other therapists but not me and her need to correct me on a non-issue felt like a power play. It wasn’t about the word; it was about diminishing me.
Unfortunately, this attitude is not uncommon in the wellness industry. There’s this tendency for people to get caught up in minor details instead of focusing on what matters—delivering excellent care to clients.
Why This Matters to Me
What frustrates me most is the implication that I’m somehow wrong or less professional for saying “pregnancy massage.” This kind of correction feels less about improving communication and more about ego. As long as the meaning is clear and the care is exceptional, the exact phrasing shouldn’t matter.
Takeaway for Fellow Professionals
Whether you prefer to say “pregnancy massage” or “prenatal massage,” let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill. Focus on the quality of care we provide, not on minor semantics. Let’s elevate the industry by supporting one another, not by nitpicking over words that mean the same thing.
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