Time for Some Pampering, Mums!

Is your pregnancy physically and emotionally draining you out?

Are you in dire need of some pampering? Well, how about spending a couple of days at a spa to de-stress. There are a number of spas around that offer special treatment for expectant mothers ranging from massages, manicures, pedicures and facials.

However, there are speculations on how unsafe a spa treatment is for pregnant women. Spas will not entirely cost damage to you or your baby but there are certain treats at the spa that is best to avoid for a safe pregnancy. We will get into that a little later but for now, let’s discuss a few pointers on how you can have a good time at the spa.

When am I allowed to go for a spa?

The most appropriate time to go to a spa would be during your second trimester because this is when you do not get anymore morning sickness which means your energy levels are a lot higher than they used to be in your first trimester. Besides that, there is a lower risk of having a miscarriage or early labour in your second trimester.

You might come across certain spas that encourage you to join exercise classes only if you are more than 12 weeks pregnant and spas that restrict women who are more than 32 weeks pregnant so make sure to be completely honest with your pregnancy duration while booking your spa session.

Activities that can be done!

Massage

If the pains you are feeling in your body are killing you, now would be the perfect time to get a massage at the spa. A massage would help relieve and loosen your stiff shoulders, aching back and sore hips. This will automatically put you in a good mood as well because it will activate the flow of the pain-relieving endorphins in your body, which would leave you relaxed and completely refreshed.

For the best massage during your second trimester, you might want to check how much experience your masseuse has with pregnant women before you make your decision. A good option would be to go to a spa that offers pre-natal massage specifically for pregnant women because this would mean that the masseuse there has had pregnancy massage training and is very experienced.

When you go for your massage, be sure to inform your masseuse ahead of time if you have any sensitive areas that you would not like her to touch or if you are uncomfortable with anything. A spa that caters to pregnant women would have extra pillows, wedges and extra padding to make you feel completely comfortable. Some spas have a hole cut out in their massage couches designed for your baby bump, however most women find that these kinds of couches hurt their lower backs.

If you feel the need to switch positions halfway through the massage, feel free to ask for her help, as she would be more than willing to help you. The key to any good massage would be being completely honest because the masseuse is just doing her job, she would not have any idea about what is going through your mind.

Facial

Apart from a massage, a facial could be very relaxing and will keep your skin smooth ad healthy. However, be sure to keep in mind that your skin tends to be extremely sensitive when you are pregnant, and certain products might irritate your skin even if you have used them prior to your pregnancy. You can always request for your beautician to use gentler products specially made for sensitive skin just to avoid the chances of any skin damage or inflammation. Make it a point to check that your beautician is not using products containing retinoid. Retinoid is a type of Vitamin A that can be very beneficial to you as it helps speed up cell division, but you might want to avoid it during pregnancy because too much of it can avoid the development of your baby.

Manicure & Pedicure

Some women feel overweight and insecure while they are pregnant, hence the need to beautify themselves for a sense of security. Manicures and pedicures of course work as a way of beautifying yourself because beautiful hands and feet make you feel good about yourself.

It is completely fine to get a manicure and pedicure during your pregnancy however; you should know that nail polish and nail polish remover contain chemicals called formaldehyde and toluene that can hurt and irritate your eyes, nose and lungs if you are exposed to it too much. An optional form of manicure and pedicure would be to just get your nails and toes clipped and cleaned up instead of having them coloured with nail polish.

What should I stay away from?

• Hot tub
• Sauna
• Steam room
• Tanning bed

The thought of hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and tanning beds are very common when you think of a spa. Unfortunately, you have to avoid all these things during your pregnancy. Spending time in any of these places can raise your body temperature to approximately 38.9°C, which eventually causes a condition called hyperthermia.

Based on researches done previously, they have proven that hyperthermia increases the risks of miscarriage and neural tube defects, otherwise known as abnormalities in the brain or spinal cord of the baby. In spite of all that, if you still find it hard to resist the temptation of getting into a hot tub or sauna, there are a few ways to go about it to reduce your risks: –

• Avoid spending more than ten minutes of your time in there
• Avoid sitting near the source of new heated air/water
• Try not to do it more than once a week
• Get out immediately if you feel any sort of discomfort and be sure to consult your Gynecologist
• Keep away from these places if you are down with a fever or have any other medical illness

Spice It Up At Home!

Now, do not worry if you cannot afford to splurge on a spa session or do not have the time, you can still get all the pampering you deserve. You can do all the same things in the comforts of your own home.

Pick a date where you can have the house all to yourself; Set the mood by playing some soothing music, light up some scented candles, put on a face mask, have a nice warm bath and once you are done, rest in bed all day long. There you have it, your perfect spa session free or charge.