A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

I am x-posting this on TTC and Infertility, since it is relevant to both…

So DH and I went away to AC for a few nights to celebrate my new job.
We made an appointment for a couples massage at the Red Door Spa (same Red Door Spa that is in Garden City).

We get there, we use the facilities, and we go into the room for the massage.
The massage therapists come in and go over the standard questions – do you have any injuries, lesions, etc… are you pregnant?
So I say “maybe, we are trying.”
She replies “Wait, are you pregnant or not?”
I say “I don’t know it’s too early to tell.”
She says “Well I need to know if you are pregnant because massage can cause miscarriage.” ( can you believe she actually said that all “matter-of-factly”).
I say “I’ve done a lot of research on this topic and I don’t think there is any reason to be concerned.”
She says “Can you sign a waiver?”
I say yes and we sign the waiver. The waiver makes you list out the meds you are on and specifically asks if you are undergoing fertility treatments. I answer the sheet honestly. She leaves the room so we can get undressed and on the tables.

DH and I lay. A few minutes passes and we chat. Ten minutes goes by and we are both thinking the same thing but neither of us says it.

Of course five minutes later the therapists come back in and say “We cannot perform your massage since you don’t know if you are pregnant. It’s company policy.”
So we ask to speak with the manager.
She comes in and says she’s really sorry but it’s corporate company policy not to do any massage on anyone who may be in the first trimester of pregnancy. She says that she understands how disappointing this is because she herself has been dealing with infertility for 16 months and she sees an RE and “all she wants is a massage so she can relax” and she works for Red Door Spa and can’t even go get a massage…..BTW she DID NOT offer us anything for free- although she said DH could get his massage and I could do some of the other treatments….

I still don’t think there is THAT much risk involved in a massage during the 2WW, I think it’s just to protect themselves from lawsuits. I do sympathize completely with the manager woman, but how does she not offer us SOMETHING for free??

SO moral of the story is – if you want a massage during the 2WW don’t disclose that you are in the 2WW or TTC. Or don’t go to Red Door Spas.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Honestly.... in the 2WW, I lived my life as normal... had a drink if I wanted, etc......

Massages are a definate NO-NO in the first tri-mester. OBs do not recommend it and massage places/spas, WILL not massage if you are pregnant. It's a liability for them, because there are risks for miscarriage.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. But I don't think the spa did anything wrong. They need to cover their butts... KWIM?

I'm not sure I understand though why they should have offered a free service?

Message edited 2/24/2010 6:01:46 PM.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

dude thats ridiculous- and you are 100% right she should have offered you something- maybe try writing a letter to their corporate office- maybe they will do something for you!

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

I agree with Michelle. ESPECIALLY since it says it right on their website. Would you rather them not say anything? Why do they need to give you anything free after the fact? It's not their fault they have standards. Sorry you weren't able to get your massage.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Sorry that happened but I approach my 2WW as any other day....I drink like I normally do, take and regular meds, eat like I normally do so if I was asked that question I would say no not PG and offer no other information.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

This is standard practice at any reputable place where you would go for a massage. I don't think they needed to offer you anything. I am sorry that you were caught off guard and upset. I think they did the right thing b/c what if you are PG and g-d forbid something bad happens. It is the same for foot massage during a pedicure. If you search the pregnancy posts this topic perennially appears about no massages during the first trimester.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

listen a policy is a policy so whatever.

i googled a bit about massage in the 2WW prior to going and nothing substantial turned up.

i suppose if i went directly to red door spa i could have saved myself the aggravation, but i didnt.

that's why this is a PSA - so the rest of you dont end up in the same situation of sitting naked under a blanket waiting for a massage that's not going to happen...


as far as getting something for free - that's just appropriate customer service IMHO. i have worked for several major corporations and you ALWAYS offer something to keep the customer happy. regardless of whether it was my mistake or not - that's just a rule of thumb that i was surprised to not be offered anything.

Message edited 2/24/2010 6:20:21 PM.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

First of all, for not being able to get that massage!! That really stinks

I understand both sides of the story- but what I don't understand is what was the point of that waiver if she then said you couldn't get a massage even if you sign it?! It just doesn't make sense to me. Ok, a policy is a policy- but don't make people sign a waiver if it is ultimately useless, ya know?

I agree that it would have been good business practice to throw in something free because they felt bad. Of course stuff like that shouldn't be expected, but it would have been nice and I'm sure that would have encouraged you to come back in the future when you know you're not pregnant! (hopefully that will be in 9 months from now!! ) .. Now, I'm sure you're so annoyed that you don't want to go back at all!!

Anyway I hope the rest of your trip was great!!!!!! You really deserved a nice getaway!!!!

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Posted by PennyCat

First of all, for not being able to get that massage!! That really stinks

I understand both sides of the story- but what I don't understand is what was the point of that waiver if she then said you couldn't get a massage even if you sign it?! It just doesn't make sense to me. Ok, a policy is a policy- but don't make people sign a waiver if it is ultimately useless, ya know?

I agree that it would have been good business practice to throw in something free because they felt bad. Of course stuff like that shouldn't be expected, but it would have been nice and I'm sure that would have encouraged you to come back in the future when you know you're not pregnant! (hopefully that will be in 9 months from now!! ) .. Now, I'm sure you're so annoyed that you don't want to go back at all!!

Anyway I hope the rest of your trip was great!!!!!! You really deserved a nice getaway!!!!

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

That stinks that you couldn't get the massage, but I understand why they refused to do it. Imagine you were PG after going through all of the treatments and then miscarried because of what you thought was an innocent massage. Maybe that's why they refused after you filled out the waiver - she saw everything you're going through and could relate.

Thanks for the PSA. I had NO idea about this. So does this mean no pedicure during the TWW? I was thinking of getting a reflexology massage. I guess I'll have to rethink that.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

I am sorry this happened to you and I hope you were able to enjoy your vacation anyway. I appreciate you sharing this information because I am going there next month and was planning on getting a massage.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

i hope i didnt offend anyone with this post!! it was really meant just to warn others (like me ) that arent smart enough to know any better!!

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

The annoying thing about the post is not what happened..that does suck. What's irritating to me is this whole attitude that everyone has these days of "What can I get for free?"; why would you get anything for free when you are the one who didnt do your research?

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Posted by FlowerWife

i hope i didnt offend anyone with this post!! it was really meant just to warn others (like me ) that arent smart enough to know any better!!

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Posted by MrsDeVito

Posted by bellamia

Posted by PennyCat

Posted by bellamia

The annoying thing about the post is not what happened..that does suck. What's irritating to me is this whole attitude that everyone has these days of "What can I get for free?"; why would you get anything for free when you are the one who didnt do your research?

Not to stir the pot here.. but the OP said she DID do her research and found nothing about risks for getting a massage at that stage! That's why she went ahead and tried to have it done!

OK I re-read it and point taken, but it just really rubs me the wrong way that she said not once, but TWICE...that she wasnt offered anything for free. Thats just me.

And it rubs her the wrong way that as a customer who wasn't happy she wasn't offered anything. Different strokes for different folks!

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Posted by LightUpMyLife

Posted by PennyCat
Not to stir the pot here..

You don't have to stir the pot... the AP does that just plenty. Check out their post history. ALL they have is snide/uninformed remarks.

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa

Posted by bellamia

Posted by MrsDeVito

Posted by bellamia

Posted by PennyCat

Posted by bellamia

The annoying thing about the post is not what happened..that does suck. What's irritating to me is this whole attitude that everyone has these days of "What can I get for free?"; why would you get anything for free when you are the one who didnt do your research?

Not to stir the pot here.. but the OP said she DID do her research and found nothing about risks for getting a massage at that stage! That's why she went ahead and tried to have it done!

OK I re-read it and point taken, but it just really rubs me the wrong way that she said not once, but TWICE...that she wasnt offered anything for free. Thats just me.

And it rubs her the wrong way that as a customer who wasn't happy she wasn't offered anything. Different strokes for different folks!

I understand that but its not like the service was rendered and wasnt satisfying..it was for her own personal safety. If I show up to Disneyland 9 months pregnant and they dont allow me on Space Mountain, should I get something for free?

Re: A PSA on TTC, Massages, and Red Door Spa