Spas - some sane, non-hysterical advice please!

[stowsettler]

My sis and I go away regularly to a hotel for a spa weekend. Having looked to book our next trip they all say that if you're pregnant you have to get a Dr / midwife letter to say you're ok to go.
I mean, really?! I'll just be sitting in a bathful of bubbles, or perhaps the steam room for a few minutes - and I mean a few minutes. And perhaps a pregnancy massage. This is all I can manage at the best of times, never mind now I'm preggers.
I'm only 11w6d at the mo so don't really show (just look fat!) and could prob get away with not telling them - would you really go to the doc for such a trivial matter?

No. I wouldn't. I went to a spa with my bump & just avoided getting too hot. I had a 'pregnancy' massage, but the masseuse was only worried about me not lying on my belly that she didn't seem to realise that I shouldn't be flat on my back either.

I meant, no I wouldn't go to the doctor for a letter. I'd definitely go to the spa!

A letter seems really excessive, and the doc will probably make you pay for it as it would be a private request. I would stay out the hot tubs, not stay in saunas too long, and enjoy the rest. And not tell them (though tell the person giving you a massage). I went to one at 9 weeks and did the above. Going again at 36 not much chance of them not noticing this time, hah! I have picked a place with a lovely outdoor pool and plenty of stuff you can do pregnant so I don't feel left out.

For the record I had to cancel a BALLOON FLIGHT at 10 weeks due to their strict regs! no fair! You can understand companies feeling the need to cover their backs but I think that's ridiculous. (I wouldn't have told them and just gone on the flight, but my boyfriend was too conscientious!)

I have been on 3 spa days since I got pregnant and whilst I haven't had to have a doctors note I have been really careful about not using the hot tubs- when I was 11weeks I just sat with my legs in, not my bump, and I still felt dizzy afterwards. I would definitely avoid saunas and steam rooms because of baby getting too hot- our bodies are developed enough to cool us down when we get too hot but babies in utero don't have this. If you have a massage definitely tell them that you are pregnant as some essential oils are not safe for use in pregnancy. Tell them you are over 12 weeks though as some places won't do any treatments if you are less than 12 weeks.

I have had a few spa treatments during pregnancy and have never needed a doctor's note.

I was refused a treatment before 12 weeks though and after 38 weeks.

Spas are normally really good at telling you which treatments you are allowed to have (as some essential oils can be dangerous during pregnancy).

I would certainly take a doctor's note if the spa required it though...you don't want to turn up there and not be able to do anything. Not relaxing at all!

Don't let yourself get overheated (I would stay out of the sauna/steam room personally but reckon jacuzzi/hot tubs are fine if they are not too hot)

Ask that the massage person use plain oil rather than essential oils as there are some that can trigger mc (you can just say you don't like the smell)

TBH I wouldn't bother with the doctors note (which also means I wouldn't tell the spa I was pregnant).

IMO its okay to get hot if your body can do the normal things to regulate its temp back down (like the cooling effect of sweat evaporating), which it can't do if you're submerged in a jacuzzi or in a steam room. I'm not panicey on a hot day out and about but I woudn't use a hot tub/jacuzzi/steam room/sauna. Raising your core temp is very dangerous for your baby, and in these environments your body can't keep your core constant like it can on a hot day

I went on honeymoon to a hotel with a lovely spa, I sat on the side of the hot tub with my feet in while DH went in and we chatted, but I was further along.

I fainted in a hotish but not boiling shower when pregnant and had a bad bang

I'ld have a massage but not an aromatherapy one