When being preggers curtails your weekend jaunts to Zara, pushes the pause button on cocktail hour and cancels wine time, it’s time to look a little further afield for fun.
Just because you are elbow deep in the business of growing a baby, does not mean you shouldn’t seek out as many opportunities to enjoy yourself as possible.
For spa bunnies, this automatically means booking some serious pampering sessions (massage eases stress and relaxes mum -it’s practically a health necessity), but if you’ve never met a facialist or a masseuse, you could be on track to discover a whole new passion during the countdown to motherhood.
To help you on your merry way, we’ve come up with a list of the top treatments to try. Feel free to mail it to your other half and your mates too… hint hint.
1.The ESPA Maternity (€60 for 30 mins, The Heritage, Co. Laois)
A deeply nourishing body massage designed to target areas prone to stress and tension during or after pregnancy. Gentle back exfoliation, if required, is followed by a soothing body massage, focusing on alleviating muscular aches. A five-star treat.
2. Water Lily Float (€100 for 60 mins, The Monart Spa, Co. Wexford)
A long-time favourite among babymooners, The Monart is a magical place to kick back and enjoy some time as a twosome. Their cooling, soothing body wrap is performed on a dry floatation bed to create a feeling of weightlessness and blitz water retention.
3. The Priya Pre-Natal (€40 for 30 mins, Priya, French Church St. Cork)
Once you’re slathered in Pure Organic coconut balm, specific massage techniques that reduce pregnancy discomfort and enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and baby are used, tailored to your needs. Ideal for the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
4. Majestic Mum-to-Be (€100 for 70 mins South William Spa, Dublin City)
After a spot of shopping in Dublin City Centre (Pearl kids’ boutique is around the corner) enjoy a Yon-Ka express facial followed by a 30-minute aromatic back massage using pre-blended massage oils.
5. Free Your Mind (€50 for 45 mins, Elysium, Galway)
A gentle face and head massage will release cranial and jaw tension. This is followed by a deep neck and shoulder massage – heaven.
6. Elemis Light Legs Treatment (€100 for 90 mins, Hayfield Manor, Cork)
Using specially formulated pregnancy friendly products, you’ll enjoy an Essie Luxury Pedicure and Leg Massage before a Face, Neck & Shoulder Massage – just the thing to help with fluid retention, puffy ankles and fatigue.
7. Pregnancy Perfection (€150 for three hours, One Pery Square, Limerick)
Begin your relaxation with a one-hour Mellow Mama Prenatal Massage, followed by an OPS Pedicure and an OPS Manicure. As your nails dry, enjoy a nap in the Snooze Room.
8. The Yummy Tummy (€70 for 45 mins, Buff Day Spa, Dublin)
Help prevent stretch marks with a luxurious facial for your tummy. This treatment is designed to maximise skin strength, health and elasticity and includes a stress-relieving Indian Head Massage or a lower leg and foot massage to ease aching feet and help deflate swollen ankles.
9. Mother-to-Be Ritual (€155, Escape, Imperial Hotel, Cork City)
After luxuriating in the Hydrotherm Massage For Expectant Mothers, you’ll be treated to a Luxury Spa Pedicure. Each package includes a 15-minute consultation and foot ritual.
10. Mama Mio Pregnancy Massage (€90 for 75 mins, Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare)
A completely relaxing full body massage using safe but effective pre-natal techniques to relax the specific lower back muscles that carry your bump. Includes a wonderful neck and head massage and the unique Yummy Tummy elasticising mask.
Have you tried a pregnancy massage we should know about? Let us know on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.
