Are you busy going to childbirth preparation classes, shopping for all that baby paraphernalia, rearranging your house and fixing up the nursery? Or are you sleep-deprived and stressed out from caring for your new bundle of joy? Perhaps it’s time to reward yourself with a trip to your favorite spa.
HEALTHY, EXPECTING & SPA-READY
“Anyone with a healthy pregnancy can come to a spa,” shares Janice Ng, Business Development Manager of The Spa @ Anew. If your medical history shows no complications, and chances are your obstetrician-gynecologist has already given you the thumbs-up, then go ahead and treat yourself to some pampering at the spa.
What about women with history of allergies? Janice says, “If they are keen to try, we do a patch test first. We have not seen any adverse reactions to our products. They are very safe to use.”
WHY GO TO A SPA NOW?
Most pregnant women who go to spas are looking for stretch-mark treatment, facials or massages for their body aches. Some post-pregnancy clients also look into slimming treatments.
At The Spa @ Anew, new clients are first taken through an analysis of the body type, called morphology. From this study, personalised treatments are created. Janice illustrates, “For clients who have been with us before pregnancy, we can already advise preventative stretch-mark treatment if we know that they are prone.”
Other body types are more susceptible to skin discoloration or acne. Janice says, “The most popular treatments among our pregnant or post-pregnancy clients are the stretch-mark treatments and facials.”
GOODBYE STRETCH-MARKS!
Perhaps one of the less pleasant, physical, and usually lifelong, after-effects of pregnancy is the appearance of stretch-marks. Debates go on about how inevitable or permanent these marks really are. Guessing from the stretch-marks on my mother and sister, I figured I wouldn’t be fortunate enough to escape the same fate. And after pregnancy number two, and still no treatments whatsoever, perhaps I am resigned to the permanency of my stretch-marks, too.
Stretch-marks are caused by the tearing of the elastic supportive tissue that lies underneath the skin and helps the skin stretch. They commonly occur on the abdomen during the second and third trimester of pregnancy, when your belly is expanding to make room for your growing baby. Sometimes, stretch-marks also appear on the breasts, hips or thighs.
Stretch-mark treatment is the restructuring of the tissues to enhance skin elasticity. At The Spa @ Anew, preventative stretch-mark treatment works through skin exfoliation and the application of creams. Conveniently, this is a do-it-yourself-at-home process. A combination of products from the spa’s signature Methode Physiodermie Swiss range, applied daily from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards, is recommended for optimal results.
Exfoliation of the skin, through the application of Bio-Gommage Soft Face Biopeeling, is the first step. For those who may be too lazy or impatient to spend several minutes a day gently massaging their bellies, Bio-Gommage Corps Velvety Satin is a good alternative. It is used like a shower gel while it exfoliates your skin.
After exfoliation, Vergetyl Restructuring Skin cream is applied to promote your natural skin elasticity. If your skin is extremely dry, you can also use Regenerating Oil to help make your skin suppler.
For post-pregnancy clients, The Spa @ Anew offers the Methode Physiodermie Stretchmark Treatment. During this treatment, the skin on your abdomen is first cleansed and exfoliated. To balance out your skin’s pH level, a compress is applied. A blend of Physiodermie’s regenerative products is then spread over as a medium for the spa’s trademark Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage. Finally, a fifteen-minute tonifying mask is used to strengthen loose, slackened tissue. For best results, this treatment should be taken within the first two months after birth, and should be combined with the at-home regimen described earlier.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is an advance therapy using specialised and gentle rhythmic pumping techniques to move the skin in the direction of the lymph flow. This stimulates the lymphatic vessels, which carry substances vital to the defense of the body, and removes waste products.
This treatment takes about 45 minutes to an hour per session. The number of sessions recommended depends on the extent of the problem, but generally eight to ten sessions would suffice.
FACIALS: BRING BACK YOUR GLOW
Blessed with generally clear skin, I was shocked to see acne all around my forehead and temples during the last trimester of my first pregnancy. Anxious about using anything with harmful chemicals and substances, I tried my best not to be so bothered and waited till after giving birth to get treatment.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can sometimes bring on acne or make it worse. Thankfully, there are facial treatments available that are safe for expecting women.
At The Spa @ Anew, the Manual Lymphatic Drainage facial is safe for all spa-goers. The only difference for pregnant clients is the significant decrease or total removal of the use of essential oils. This facial treatment aims to eliminate wastes and promote the revival of the tissues and regeneration of the epidermis.
This treatment usually lasts for an hour and fifteen minutes per session. Similar to the stretch-mark treatment, the number of sessions recommended for facial treatment depends on how serious the skin problem is.
