There are certain things you need to avoid when you're pregnant, but a spa does not need to be one of them! IIt is important to take some time out for rest and relaxation, making a spa the perfect place to escape to. You'll need to avoid the sauna and steam rooms, but the good news is that there are plenty of spa treatments that you can enjoy. If you're looking to round off your spa experience with a beauty treatment, here's what you should be indulging in and avoiding..
This treatment is available in a number of medi-spas across the UK, however it isn't suitable for pregnant women.
No problems with electrolysis during pregnancy have ever been documented. However, it is recommended that electrolysis is not carried out on the breasts or abdomen during the last three months of pregnancy. You may find that your prenatal hair growth is very rapid, but this hair tends to fall out after your baby is born, as your hormone levels return to normal.
Maybe you're "blooming" and your skin has never looked better. Or maybe you're having breakouts, dry skin and your in serious need of some skincare TLC and a pamper.
Pregnancy hormones can wreak havoc, causing otherwise normal skin to become very sensitive. So, a good facial may be the perfect pampering during pregnancy. Ask your therapist to use products designed for use on sensitive skin (or, even better, for pregnant skin).
Make sure your therapist knows about your pregnancy because some essential oils and other skincare products used during facials aren't suitable for use during pregnancy.
There doesn't seem to be any evidence of problems caused by using fake tans during pregnancy, and spray tans are preferable to burning your delicate pregnant skin in the sun.
Some women worry about these during pregnancy because of a group of chemicals called phthalates. They have been linked to damage to a developing, unborn baby's reproductive system, and an increased risk of asthma and cancer. However, these chemicals are very unlikely to do you or your baby any harm at the levels at which they are present in nail varnish. If you would prefer to avoid these chemicals you can check the ingredients list on the nail polish, there are a few brands which do not use phthalates in their formulations too.
A pedicure may be just the ticket in the later months of pregnancy, when you can no longer see your feet yourself.
Sunbeds aren't safe at the best of times, and are not advised during pregnancy. If you are desperate to get a summer glow, try applying some fake tan. Better yet, get a spa therapist to apply it for you.
Most spas recommend that you don't use waxing in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, but hair removal is fine once you've passed this first trimester. But don't be surprised if your pain threshold and skin sensitivity are very different during pregnancy. You might want to opt for standard leg waxing rather than anything too daring. Some expectant mothers like to book in for a third trimester wax before the big day.
Summer Spy
28th April 2014
Spy Likes:
Warmth and sunshine; spas which take me away to another country; fruit infused waters; beach-worth pedicures; deep tissue massages.
Spy Dislikes:
High footfalls; treatments that over promise and under deliver; heavy lunches; loungers drapped in used towels.
