Spa hen do at 6 months pregnant?

[mummyagainin2016]

I've been invited to a friend's hen do at which point I'll be 6 months pregnant. It's a 3 hr drive away and involves an overnight, albeit at a nice looking spa, and lunch, dinner and a massage etc and use of all the spa pools and gym. It'll cost over £200 without travel and extras. I'd like to go but am not sure if it'll feel too much by then, and I'm also unsure about using the spa pools, saunas etc (which I usually live) when pregnant. It seems they're advised against. So I feel I wouldn't really be able to make the most of it. What would you do? Need to sort this and them decide about the wedding itself, which is 4 hours away and a month before my due date!

[Pippa12]

It might be nice to go and have a relaxing time with your friends. The spa should be able to advise you on appropriate treatments, you can still have facials using clean oils and some massages are specific for pregnancy. You obviously won't be able to use sauna/jacuzzi/steam room. I'd go if I was you and use it to chill out before bambino arrives. I don't think I'd travel for four hours at 36 weeks tho, all I wanted then was my pj's and couch!

[Junosmum]

No, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, hot springs, hydro pool etc for you! And they'll be funny about any treatments- massage, facial etc unless they do specific 'mum to be' ones.

I have to say that at 6 months (I'm now 7.5) I wouldn't have gone - you can't use most the things and if you choose too you get over heated really quickly, and in pregnancy it's harder to regulate your temperature (and little beans temperature)- if you are hot imagine how hot baby is!

It's a shame, as I usually love such things, and stupidly hot baths, but they are a thing of the past at the mo - it's just too darn uncomfortable.

If you are happy just swimming and maybe if they do a mum to be massage or something then go, but £200 seems a lot when you won't be able to do half the things.

[mummyagainin2016]

Thanks. I'd like to go to either the hen or the wedding, if both isn't an option. But will be sort of guttd to miss out on lots at the spa, especially for that money!

[skankingpiglet]

I'd give them a ring and find out how they can accommodate you e.g. if you get a massage in with the package can they swap it to a pregnancy massage or facial. No reason why you couldn't swim or have a pedicure to fill the time either. As others have said the steam rooms etc are out, but I was advised whilst pregnant with DD that I could get in the Jacuzzi for 10mins depending on the water temperature.
I went on my friend's hen weekend at 38wks which was a 3hr drive away (with plans in place in case I went into labour early, which was very unlikely in my case). We went yurt glamping and they had a wood-fired hot tub, which wasn't that hot (can't remember all the temperatures now!). Climbing into that for a little while was BLISS.
If you want to go, then do it. I knew I would miss the wedding as I was going to be having an elcs due to breech so nothing was going to stop me going to the hen. Once the baby's here you get so little time to yourself, so grab what you can now.

[ChicaMomma]

I went to a spa for the day yesterday!
Got an amazing pre natal massage and reflexology too- then lounged around the pool, went to the hydropool (35'C) but stayed away from the jets.. (as it was a Monday i had it to myself so that was easy) read magazines, just generally chilled out, and had a lovely lazy lunch. Pure bliss. GO!! Most treatments by the way are absolutely fine during pregnancy and can be tailored for pregnancy- just speak to the spa in advance and let them know.

[Pagetta]

I would go but ask if I could pay separately. Maybe you could get a a massage then mooch round shops / chill out by the pool etc. To be honest a weekend away with mates is lovely and the sort of thing that will become more difficult once baby is here so I'd go for it! I have a hen do at 8 months to go to....although I already have a toddler so will be nice feet-up and lie-in opportunity before baby arrives!

[LauraChant]

I went to a spa day when I was seven or eight months pregnant, and had a lovely time, but everyone else I was with was at the same stage. We spent a lot of time in the pool, and relaxing by the pool, had lunch, and a facial and "sleep treatment" - but we weren't allowed the vibrating bed. We were actually too pregnant for the mum to be treatments, weirdly.

[ChicaMomma]

Laura I think if you are within a month of your due date they can be slow to do treatments in case it brings on labour. I am HUGE for 6 mths and they were questioning my gestation yesterday for that reason.

Pagetta makes a good point OP- it might be your last chance to go to a spa for a while, i'd jump at the chance if i were you. R&R pre bundle arrival will stand to you during those early days.

[Me624]

I had a spa day recently with my mum at almost 6 months pregnant. I had a voucher from my birthday from before I was pregnant and thought I'd better use it before I got too much further in. It was lovely - as others have said, no jacuzzi or steam room/sauna but I've never much enjoyed saunas anyway. I had some nice swims, lounged by the pool with hot chocolate, had some lunch, had a pedicure and had a scalp massage. I spoke to them in advance and told them I was pregnant and they were happy to adjust the massage for me to take out the essential oils they normally use and use other products instead, and the therapist raised the bed so I was not lying on my back.

[sepa]

£200 is a lot to spent on a do that you wouldn't be able to do much and can make a dent in something like a car seat cost.
I'm not going to my friends for that exact reason

[mummyagainin2016]

I've just dug out the invitation to the wedding itself. (It arrived a few weeks ago and I'd not read it properly, just noted the date on the calendar.) Turns out it's on a Wednesday and we're only invited to something in the evening. (I assume they're having a ceremony and reception in the daytime too). And it's only addressed to me and DP and says 'no children requested' at the bottom of it. So, we'd need to take at least two days off work and leave our son with a babysitter too and we don't have many options on that front... Am reconsidering the whole thing now tbh.

[Jibberjabberjooo]

Four hours away for an evening do? Not sure I'd be bothered with that. I have no issue with the no children thing though (we had a child free wedding, apart from newborns).

[mummyagainin2016]

It does seem a long way jibber. I don't have an issue with the no children thing btw, was just meaning it's an added complication for us with the distance we'd be travelling. Feels odd to be invited to the hen do (it's not a huge list of invitees) but only to the evening do, especially with the distance involved. Feel a bit confused tbh! They came to our wedding, all of it. Same distance involved. Hmmmm.....

[Pollyputhtekettleon]

I'd totally go. 6mts is when you tend to feel your best, less tired for driving. I wouldn't go in the sauna but would totally do all the rest. I'm not very precious about these things and follow my instinct which is simply not yo get too roasting hot. A bit of common sense goes a long way. Water jets in a Jacuzzi are not going to magically expel the baby out of you! If you start to get uncomfortably, move away from the jet etc. I did a fair bit of spa'ing on all my pregnancies, it was lovely.

[sepa]

I find it strange when your invited to hen do and not the whole wedding. Unless they have a very small guest list for wedding

[ChicaMomma]

Ugh, 2 days off work and having to sort out childcare- and all that distance at 8 mths pregnant- i know what i'd be doing.. not going!!
maybe go to a different spa on your own for the hen instead, lol

Polly, i thought the 'jets in jacuzzi' thing was to do with the babies hearing? As close proximity to the jets can damage their hearing? along with overheating of course..
I agree with you though, i did a good bit of spa'ing on both pregnancies and intend on doing a lot more for teh remaining 10 weeks too- have just located a therapist near my workplace who apparently does a fabulous prenatal abdominal massage as part of pre natal acupuncture so booked myself in for next tuesday.

[mummyagainin2016]

chicA I did actually think that I'd rather spend the £200 (or probably less) on a few pregnancy massages locally instead. I'm starting to feel I've been invited to both the hen and the wedding evening out of obligation. I appreciate the invitations, but need to remind myself that I'm not obliged to go to either.

[ChicaMomma]

yeah- you'd get a lot of bang for your buck for £200! Or you coudl even split it over 5 sessions of reflexology or something, 1 every 2 weeks for the final 10 weeks. Not everyone's cup of tea but it's definitely my ante natal go-to treatment of choice!

[Cockbollocks]

I went to one at 7 months ( may have even been further along than that) I loved it. Just lazed around by the pool reading, swam a bit, ate a lot and they were not funny at all about treatments. I had a facial and a back neck and shoulder massage.

Most places do tailored treatments for pregnant women and its also a good excuse for a pedicure when its tough to reach your feet.

[Duckdeamon]

Pregnancy is a red herring: you clearly don't want to go, which is fine, just decline!

[mummyagainin2016]

Maybe you're right duck. I never relish raucous hen dos, but I doubt this will be that kind. It's more the distance involved and the cost on this occasion, coupled with the fact that aside from the bride to be I know none of the others attending....

[Duckdeamon]

So don't go!

[whatsoever]

I'm coming up to 7 months pregnant now and all that travel and expense when I couldn't fully participate would be a big fat no from me! I'm massive and knackered and grumpy though

[mummyagainin2016]

Thanks whatso. It's been a while since I had my son and I can't remember how I felt at 6mths or more tbh. We had an unavoidably busy and tiring time at that stage of that pregnancy. Am thinking it would be good to keep things calmer this time round if possible, especially as I have a toddler to look after this time.