Pregnancy friendly spa treatments

Mum-to-be serenity

Regardless of whether you’ve got a little someone on the way or not, everyone deserves to be pampered on a special spa day.
Here at Champneys we know that around the swelling, fatigue and the aches and pains, your body is crying out for a bit of TLC during pregnancy. That’s why we offer hand-picked and carefully considered spa treatments that are specifically designed for mums-to-be. We have a great range of Baby on Board treatments including Beautiful Bump, Lighters Legs and Champneys Radiance Renewal.

Beautiful Bump


The Beautiful Bump treatment is sure to relax any expectant mum. Your therapist will ensure you are relaxed throughout every second of your treatment and feeling completely comfortable. The treatment starts with a soothing foot soak and then moves on to a leg and scalp massage.

It isn’t finished there - you will then receive a collagen-boosting body mask. Collagen is a protein produced in the skin, which is responsible for keeping the skin looking toned, supple and youthful. As the perfect end to your treatment we use this body mask to help exfoliate, giving you a glowing complexion and plumped skin.

This is an extremely relaxing treat for expecting mothers, and after the 55 minutes spent with the therapist, your aching back and puffy ankles will have reduced in size while your skin will be beautifully soft and radiant.

Nicola Sapsed, Spa Development Manager at Champneys Health Spa, offered her insight into the benefits of this treatment:

“The Beautiful Bump is a full-body experience to help expectant mothers relax and enjoy their bump. Skin can be very itchy through pregnancy and this treatment will nourish and soothe the skin, while the massage is going to help reduce water retention as well as enhancing general wellbeing.”

Find out more about The Beautiful Bump treatment, including the locations where it is available on our Baby on Board treatment page.


Lighter Legs


Nicola Sapsed described the Lighter Legs treatment saying that it is “perfect for all pregnant ladies but in particular those that are suffering from heavy or swollen legs.” She explains, “This treatment helps to remove fluid retention in puffy, sore or swollen ankles and legs.”

Your legs, ankles and feet carry a lot of the pressure throughout pregnancy and it’s very common to notice them feeling heavy or looking swollen, especially in the later months of pregnancy.

Carrying yourself and your little one around all day, can leave your lower body feeling fatigued. Our Lighter Legs 25 minute massage treatment helps reduce swelling and is finished with a fabulous cooling foot butter.

Managing editor at BabyCentre, Sarah Redshaw, notes how often an expected mum suffers from swelling around the ankles and the discomfort this can cause:

“If you think you will be too uncomfortable lying down for a long period of time you can opt for reflexology. During pregnancy around half of women suffer from swelling around their ankles, which happens because your body is holding on to more fluid than normal. Reflexology can really help get the fluid moving again and is a great treatment if you’re on your feet all day from working or running around after children.”

Find out more about Lighter Legs, including where it is available, on our Baby on Board treatment page.


Champneys Luxury Pedicure


If you want to get the most out of lower leg treatments, then this pampering pedicure for neglected feet is perfect, as Sarah explains:

“Depending on how many weeks pregnant you are it can be difficult to even see your feet let alone paint your toenails, so why not have a pedicure? Tiredness, poor sleep and general pregnancy aches and pains can start to get you down, so a manicure or pedicure is a great quick pick-me-up. If you are having a pedicure, don’t forget to take some flip-flops to put on afterwards (especially if your feet are a bit swollen) so you don’t damage the nail polish before it completely hardens off.”

During the 55-minute pampering session, the Luxury Pedicure will soften and hydrate your weary feet and legs, as your nails are tidied with an expert file and paint.

After this beauty treatment, you’ll be ready to show off your new nails. Whip out your sandals and flaunt your freshly painted and polished nails, looking neat and beautiful.

Nicola said that “depending on the stage of pregnancy, it becomes very difficult to cut the toenails, paint them and maintain general foot care, so this treatment is a great way to have your feet treated.”

“Feet take on the additional weight when a lady is pregnant, making them ache and causing hard skin in areas that the lady may not have had before. The pedicure can help to soften this as well as soothe the aches and pains that are in the feet.”

We spoke to Hannah, mother and blogger at Hi Baby Blog, who spoke to us about the effect of a pedicure on her during her pregnancy: “I treated myself to a lovely pedicure which included a leg massage. At the time I was about 28 weeks pregnant and really feeling the strain -particularly on my lower back and legs. Afterwards, I felt like I was walking on air - the massage definitely helped with the heaviness you can get from fluid build-up and it was so lovely to have pretty toenails again.”

Hannah then explained why she believes taking that time for yourself during pregnancy is so important: “When you're pregnant and indeed when you become a mother it's so easy to put yourself last. I know I certainly overdid it and busied myself with preparations for the baby. Taking some time out for you; be it to read a book, catch up with a friend, have a manicure or massage or just nap is so valuable to your mental health as a new or expectant mum.”

Find out more about the Champneys Luxury Pedicure on our Baby on Board treatment page.


Champneys Radiance Renewal


Be prepared to fully indulge yourself in an illuminating and lifting experience designed to revitalise your skin.

During the Champneys’ Radiance Renewal treatment, you will experience unparalleled relaxation, as the therapist applies our Ultimate 24 Carat Gold Serum through various massages.

Depending on how far along in the pregnancy you are, you may be more inclined to a facial or pedicure as you relax in a comfortable position. The omega-rich creams help to nourish and rehydrate any dry skin that may have developed during pregnancy while helping to minimise stretch marks. This massage will fight your tired skin, which, as Beth Owen from the Life as Mum blog says, is vitally important. 

“When I was pregnant for the third time, I loved having a manicure and a facial. I found spa treatments limited because of my big bump, although some spas offer a bed with a hole in the middle for your bump. However, I found a facial and a manicure very relaxing. It's important to have some 'me time' when you're pregnant before the baby arrives.”

After the 55 minutes, your skin will become plump, bright and illuminated courtesy of our Ultimate Serum, while the freshness of your skin will leave you feeling strikingly radiant.

Nicola Sapsed described Champneys’ Collagen Gold treatment as a “really indulgent treatment perfect for times when you may feel very tired during the pregnancy. During pregnancy your skin can behave very differently to normal - it can become very dry and cause hormonal breakouts. This treatment will soothe and calm the skin as well as providing hydration. This is a deeply relaxing treatment for the client.”

Find out more about the Champneys Radiance Renewal on your Baby on Board treatment page.


Champneys 25 minute pregnancy Massage


‘Personalised’ is the operative word when it comes to all of our treatments, our therapists are fully trained and experienced to deal with any stage of your pregnancy. When you are with us, we will do everything within our power to accommodate what is most comfortable for you, so feel free to ask your therapist if you’d rather lie on your side, stand, change the pressure or anything else.

This 25-minute Swedish full body back or leg massage will treat you to an overwhelming feeling of wellbeing and relaxation right down to your hands and feet, while also helping to improve your muscle tone and skin texture.

Whether you are looking to target just your back, a particular area of choice or even your full body, our therapists will provide a treatment that is suited to your needs and will soothe your muscles.

“The perfect treatment if you are pregnant; due to weight gain and pressure where the baby lies, it can often create a backache, so the back massage will help to ease this by making the lady feel more comfortable,” said Nicola, who went on to explain:

“We would recommend having regular massages throughout the pregnancy. It’s about trying to create a sense of calm, because if the mum-to-be is calm, the baby will be, too.”

Regular massage treatments help to reduce the stress-inducing hormones that can become heightened in women who are pregnant, while also stimulating the happiness-boosting hormones like serotonin that can be low during this time. Massages have a great rejuvenating power, offering the client newfound energy as well as cutting down the likelihood of experiencing nausea and heartburn.

Sarah Redshaw claims that massages are one of the best treatments available for any mother-to-be, and also recommends what to do to ensure optimum comfort.

“A massage can be a great way to relax and help with swollen ankles, an aching back and poor circulation in pregnancy. Most spas now offer mum-to-be packages and it’s important to let them know when booking how many weeks pregnant you are. Most spas will require you to be at least 12 weeks pregnant and there are certain aromatherapy and essential oils that cannot be used during pregnancy, but an experienced therapist will be aware of this. It may take a few pillows to get yourself comfortable and depending on how many weeks pregnant you are, you may be more comfortable lying on your side.”

We also spoke to Jenny, mum, midwife and blogger at Midwife and Life, who spoke to us about her massage experience during her pregnancy: “I had a back, neck and shoulder massage during my last pregnancy and it was just what I needed. You carry so much tension around with a growing bump and it throws your whole body out of balance. The increase in progesterone during pregnancy makes you more likely to get muscle strains and aches so a massage is perfect.”

Jenny then spoke about why it’s so important to take time to yourself during pregnancy: “It's so important to relax during pregnancy. The more relaxed you can be and the more you practice relaxation techniques helps you out not just during labour but for the hardest part - living with a baby! This is your time for you, it can be difficult taking time out once you have children so make the most of it now.”

See our selection of pregnancy friendly massages on our Baby on Board treatment page.

So next time you fall back into the sofa, putting your feet up to ease your aching body, why not book a day spa package and explore the wide array of pregnancy friendly spa treatments.