Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Spa Break before or after baby?

27 replies

ElleyBear13 · 10/04/2015 22:25

Hello all,

Currently 20 weeks pregnant, and thinking of booking a spa weekend to thank hubby for supporting me throughout the pregnancy (this is second baby after losing first we have had quite a journey to get here) I was hoping to book it for the end of June when I start my maternity and will be 31 weeks pregnant.

Now I can't decide whether this will be a good idea or wait till after the baby is born and go next year say January when baby will be around five months old, but unsure if this will be more stressful trying to organise family to look after the little one and how it works with breastfeeding/if i need a c-section healing etc.

So if anyone has any experiences they'll be greatly appreciated! (or whether anyone with kids would recommend a spa break before or after or dont bother!)

Many thanks x

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

tryingtocatchthewind · 10/04/2015 22:27

Go before, it will be infinitely easier than fussing about with a baby. I'd have loved a nice relaxing hotel break before my babies.

slippermaiden · 10/04/2015 22:27

While you are pregnant you won't be able to use the sauna, jacuzzi or steam room. Some of the treatments will be off limits too, anything with essential oils can be bad. I'd have it after, you will need it then too!

Original poster

ElleyBear13 · 10/04/2015 22:29

Thank you for your speedy replies! :)

I really can't decide before or after.

Found a 'land with a bump' spa break specifically for pregnant ladies:
www.rockliffehall.com/land-with-a-bump-spa-break/

OP posts:

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 10/04/2015 22:29

Go before.

But you say it is a thank you to your DH. Does he like spa breaks?

Original poster

ElleyBear13 · 10/04/2015 22:32

penguin DH loves spas more than i do we've only had two spa breaks, one at centerparcs on our honeymoon and another for our first year anniversary, we've also moved house this year so it's been pretty stressful and i think he could do with some tlc. :)

OP posts:

Fattycow · 10/04/2015 22:32

I went to the sauna a few weeks ago, when I was 22 weeks pregnant. It was lovely.
It is perfectly fine to go after the first trimester, you just need to keep to the ones that aren't super hot and don't stay in longer than 10 minutes. Also, if you feel any discomfort, get out. The plunge pool isn't recommended, so cool down with the cold showers.
You are fine with the tub and pools, it is only near the end that you aren't supposed to go in those as you could be dilating a bit already.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 10/04/2015 22:36

Cool. I just asked because, in that case, it is more about good timing for him. I would say that the downsides to going now are for you and what facilities you use. So if it genuinely is his treat,go now.

No worrying about childcare. No stress of getting organised. Just some nice time together.

If you plan later it may not happen . DD2 was basically un-babysittable pre-2.

rollonthesummer · 10/04/2015 22:39

Definitely before! I went when I was 30 weeks and it was wonderful.

I was a walking zombie for the first 18 months after DC1 was born so really wouldn't have appreciated it afterwards (and my body was a mess I wasn't happy about uncovering!).

Original poster

ElleyBear13 · 10/04/2015 22:43

fattycow thank you, I'll be 31 weeks so ill be sticking to the pool/sun lounger with a book! :)

penguin The only down side to book before baby is no wine for me (or spending the weekend rolling in the bedsheets)! I don't mind skipping the sauna, as I really do want him to chill out he's been so hett up and stressed out with house, baby, work etc, whereas I've been more chilled and upbeat. Hmm thats what I was thinking my one and only chance of surprising him on a saturday morning before baby comes and i know ill be fretting over baby and whether he's okay or not. thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

ElleyBear13 · 10/04/2015 22:45

rollonthesummer thats what I was afraid of, even after baby it wont be like pre-baby days where we spent the afternoon chilling out/in hotel room, followed by dinner and staying up all night. I imagine I'll falling asleep as soon as i walk into the bedroom!

Your all making me think booking in June is a good plan. :)

OP posts:

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 10/04/2015 22:48

I would also say that taking a baby for whole weekend is a big thing.

Also, if you bf it can be hard to leave the baby for long (lots of pumping) and you may still be doing night feeds to about age one - which can make someone else settling them overnight stressful for everyone.

Graceymac · 10/04/2015 22:53

Go before. I felt so attached to my babies I didn't want to leave them. i made my husband cancel a hotel he had booked when my DD3 was 12 weeks old as I didn't want to go.

TarkaTheOtter · 10/04/2015 22:58

Personally I wouldn't have enjoyed being away from either of mine for longer than a few hours until they were well established on solids. Pumping wasn't as effective as they were at getting the milk out so I would have ended up painfully engorged and leaky. They also still woke at night a lot and would have been upset to be comforted by someone else (dc2 in particular). DC2 was also a bottle refuser (despite having to have one as a newborn for top ups) so I couldn't really leave him at all.

That said I went on a spa weekend whilst pregnant with dh and did resent him being able to enjoy everything, so I'm not sure I'd recommend that either. Sorry not very helpful.

BumgrapesofWrath · 10/04/2015 23:03

Definitely go before! You have no way of knowing how you will feel once the baby is here, but there is a fair chance that a spa weekend won't be on the cards once they're here.

Sheepoverthemoon · 11/04/2015 07:56

I've booked for a mummy and little me retreat - a spa aimed at pregnancy, they have one in June too. You can do 1/2 nights - 3 x healthy meals, all classes n facilities inc, free gift bag of goodies, antenatal classes with a midwife, pregnancy massage, its a nice romantic babymoon for both of you :-)

Heels99 · 11/04/2015 08:01

We did it before but most of the spa stuff I couldn't actually do but nice to just lounge around.
The next time we went our kids were 6....... Go now or it could be years! We don't have readily available childcare!

PenguinPoser · 11/04/2015 08:10

OP whenever you decide to go - definitely go to rockliffe hall! Not sure if you've been before but it's amazing.

Personally I felt it was a bit of a waste having spa when pregnant as for me the best bits (jacuzzi sauna etc) were off limits. I'm hoping to go to rockliffe for a spa day in the summer when dd is 4 months and can stay with DH for a few hours

Murphy29 · 11/04/2015 08:18

I'd go after. Let's you use all the facilities and would give you and DH a nice bit of time alone.

A group of us bought a spa package for a friend's birthday and then we would pay to go too and they kindly waited until I had DS before booking so I could use it all and enjoy the cocktails too!

allotherusernamesaretaken · 11/04/2015 09:52

GO BEFORE!! RUN TO THE SPA WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!

seriously though, think of it as a baby moon, it is so important for the two of you to enjoy time together now before you disappear into the new baby haze. There will be some things you can't do like saunas etc but the maternity spa sounds ideal. Have fun!!

BlinkAndMiss · 11/04/2015 10:16

Rockliffe is amazing - go now, once the baby arrives it could be months before you can get there. Other things just get in the way even if you are feeling ready to leave the baby for a day after a few weeks.

Or even better, go now and then book another break once the baby is here. It's a lovely place :).

Carrierpenguin · 11/04/2015 11:00

I'd definitely go before the birth. There's no way I'd have wanted to go once baby was here, nor would I have been able to as was breastfeeding every couple of hours, try explaining to a young baby on a growth spurt that they can't have tge extra feed they are crying for because you're going to a spa

ChatEnOeuf · 11/04/2015 14:57

Both. Without question.

Before you are limited re: treatments but you'll really appreciate the pampering nonetheless.

Post birth, I went at around 5m, DD was still EBF but took a little bit via cup from my MiL while we were there. Made up for it once we were home. Was excellent, much needed, and the spa people were really helpful giving me massage rooms to express in and places to store milk etc.

wigglylines · 11/04/2015 15:01

Before. I booked tickets to see one if my favourite bands when pregnant, for a gig when my new baby would be 5 months. The logistics of leaving him for an evening were hard, there's no way I would have even wanted to go on a weekend away at 5 months. DS would have been distraught, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy myself.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 11/04/2015 15:01

Chat- was that a day you did post birth? If she only took a little by cup, surely not a weekend like the OP was planning (sounds lovely though )

ch1134 · 11/04/2015 15:30

Before. I didn't want to be separated from my baby after. Also, I had a hard time recovering from the birth and wouldn't have wanted anyone touching me... my back was so sore.

Flip

1 2