The Deeper Pamper:
Between exhaustion, chronic constipation, hormonal spots and your throbbing swollen feet, there’s never a time you’ll need a spa day more than when you’re expecting. Spas come in all shapes and sizes and now cater to more than hair, skin and nails. They are wellness centres where you can retreat to recharge your mind and body.
For some, the idea of recharging and rejuvenating comes in the form of movement. At Oslo Health on Mespil Road in Dublin, there are a number of small and intimate classes for expectant mums and mums-to-be including Mummy and Me Yoga and Pilates Fusion. New mums are invited to bring their little ones to a class that focuses on pelvic floor and spine stabilisation and core conditioning while being mindful of post-pregnancy hormones and your changing body. They also cater for mums-to-be with pregnancy yoga, pilates and barre classes. For a full range of price options check out oslohealth.ie
At the fabulous Simplicité Wellbeing and Beauty Clinic in Straffan, Co Kildare, the emphasis is on feeling, looking and living well. It carries the Made for Life Organics range, which is an award-winning, 100pc certified organic skin and body care range made by hand in Cornwall. The Made for Life Pregnancy Indulgence is a relaxing treatment for mums-to-be who are more than 12 weeks pregnant. Soothing massage techniques are used to calm and alleviate aches and pains and the oils can help prevent stretchmarks. See simplicite.ie
Nestled on 1,000 acres of undulating Irish countryside, it’s obvious why Castle Leslie is so popular with young families — the countless nature walks around the estate
(pictured above), the regal interiors that could have come straight from a novel and the on-site falconry training to name but a few. While it may have an endless list of outdoor adventures, it also boasts a tranquil spa in the form of The Victoria Treatment Rooms. With seven treatment rooms, a relaxation area and an outdoor hot tub, it’s an ideal place for some much needed ‘me time’. If you are expecting, the spa has a number of mother-to-be treatments including the Head-to-Toe for Mum-to-Be treatment, €125 — a total body treatment that treats all areas of concern that you may have. castleleslie.com
When you step into the Spa at the Shelbourne, it’s hard to believe that you are in Dublin city. It’s incredibly peaceful and I always leave blissfully relaxed. Admittedly, it was the interiors that first drew me in. It’s incredibly cosy and inviting and you instantly feel at home. There’s also something comforting about being able to switch off from the real world when you’re right in the heart of the city (pictured right). For mums-to-be, I’d recommend the Cocoon Mother-to-Be Massage, €160. The massage has been adapted to each stage of pregnancy and it helps relieve tension in the back as well as reducing swelling in the hands and feet. The techniques used by the therapists here make this treatment stand out from all the rest. You’re left feeling connected and recharged. shelbournespa.ie
As one of Ireland’s premier seawater spa destinations, Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa (pictured left) offers a different way to relax and recharge with Ireland’s first ever seawater spa. Along with the traditional spa offerings, it has a great range of treatments for mums-tobe including an Island Spa Foot Ritual, €70, which begins with a milk and honey foot bath and exfoliation for dead skin removal followed by a hot stone massage for your feet and legs, finishing off with a cooling leg gel to help improve circulation. If you have been plagued with swollen ankles during your pregnancy, this is heaven. inchydoneyisland.com