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The Pregnancy Treatments All Prenatal Women Deserve
From the ultimate massage to the facial that'll fix it all, these are the therapists, clinics and spa escapes you should be treated to while you're expecting
How’s your back feeling today? If you’re here, I’m assuming you are pregnant (congratulations!) which means I think I know the answer to that question. While many challenges may thankfully dissipate once you progress past the tricky first trimester, there are a whole host of other physical complaints you are allowed to make loudly and dramatically throughout the duration of trimesters two and three.
Does your spine feel as though it may snap in two? Perhaps you can't quite see the state of your toenails, let alone rectify them single-handedly. And your skin? Whether it’s hormonal acne, rosacea or simply a haunting pallor courtesy of all those sleepless nights (those often arrive before the baby does, I'm afraid) it’s likely you're currently wondering when that much-feted pregnancy glow is scheduled to arrive.
If any of this sounds relatable right now, you deserve (no, need) a pregnancy treatment. Thankfully, the capital’s offering has progressed far beyond the basic pillow-hugging massage to offer specialised therapies to make you feel put together and pampered from head to toe, whether you’re hitting week 15 or heading into the home stretch. And there has really never been a better time to treat yourself. As Dr Georgina Williams, consultant plastic surgeon and founder of Montrose London explains, 'Pregnancy can bring about hormonal changes that affect the skin, such as increased sensitivity, acne, or pigmentation (melasma). It's a good time to prioritise gentle, nourishing treatments tailored to your skin’s changing needs.'
That said, emphasis on the words gentle and nourishing please. If you're partial to peels, needles or lasers, you'll have to part ways with them for the duration of your pregnancy. 'Some treatments and ingredients should be avoided during pregnancy to ensure both the mother's and baby's safety,' advises Dr Williams. She namechecks Botox and fillers, lasers, chemical peels (particularly those containing salicylic and glycolic acids), radiofrequency and microdermabrasion as the protocols to skip.
However, that's not to say all aesthetic indulgence is off the cards. For her pregnant clients, Dr Williams recommends 'gentle, pregnancy-safe treatments, such as hydrating facials, lymphatic drainage and LED light therapy.'
Here, see the bookings I'd recommend highly...
For serious luxury: The HVN
HVN might be the insider destination for advanced therapies and aesthetic treatments, but the spa-style Knighstbridge clinic is also moving the needle when it comes to pregnancy-safe treatments.
From facials to body scrubs and, of course, the essential prenatal massage, each treatment here takes place on an impressively tech-y hydrobed, which means you feel as though you’re floating on (heated) water while you relax. (It also means, should you opt to incorporate a body scrub into your treatment, you won’t have to perform the awkward hop to the shower, as there’s one built into the bed.)
Performed with fragrance-free almond oil, the Pregnancy Ritual massage sits more at the problem-solving, intensely satisfying end of the spectrum, involving elements of deep tissue work (on the upper back only) that are hard to find yet particularly needed once you hit the heavy third trimester. Tight shoulders and knots will be worked over until you feel remarkably lighter and looser, while a phenominal firm-pressure head massage will lift brain fog and jawline tension. The treatment is performed as you lie on either side, with no peace-disrupting repositioning involved, meaning you may well slip into a deep sleep.
The HVN Pregnancy Ritual, £205 for 60 minutes
Montrose London
Walking through the gated mews that leads to Montrose's super-private entrance, it's clear this Belgravia clinic is not quite like the others.
Founded by the country's leading female plastic and reconstructive surgeons, this remarkable space is where you'll find the very best of the best, whether you're after a renowned dermatologist, trusted laser expert or unrivalled aesthetician.
Of course, with a team this formidable, pregnancy-safe treatments aren't the primary focus at Montrose, but there is an incredible lymphatic drainage facial, performed by aesthetician Natalia Penchion using iS Clinical products, waiting for you. Combining a thorough double cleanse with gentle cupping and plenty of light, de-puffing manual massage (expect maximum hands-on time for your buck), this is one of those rare treatments that feels wholly indulgent yet leaves you looking so radiant, your friends will comment.
Montrose London Sculpting Facial, £175 for 60 minutes.
For grounding and renewing: Ilapothecary
A few minutes’ walk from Notting Hill Gate, Ilapothecary is one of those hidden gems that houses beautifully made products and truly thoughtful treatments. The massage room, situated at the back of the store, is where mind-resetting magic really happens, leaving you feeling lighter, looser and altogether happier after an hour of indulgence.
The brand’s Calm Butterfly's Prenatal Massage is an intuitive, personalised therapy for women past their first trimester. You won’t be filed into a waiting room or asked to fill in any faffy forms: instead, simply snuggle sideways into the bed and let your therapist work out exactly what you need (she knows better than you). What follows is a blissful, freestyle hour of tension melting and mind-resetting, involving undulating pressure and speed that targets areas of tension as well as emotional imbalances.
Once you emerge, you’ll be brought gently back into the real world with a herbal tea and a reassuring chat from your therapist who, by this point, you’ll be wishing you had on call for positive affirmations and uplifting advice.
There won’t be any aggressive upselling, but I do highly recommend the Magnesium & Amethyst Bath Salts for soothing your limbs pre-bedtime, as well as the Calm Butterfly's Balm (which will have been used during your treatment) for preventing stretch marks and cerebral meltdowns.
Ilapothecary Calm Butterfly's Prenatal Massage, £120 for 60 minutes.
For skin and soul soothing: KMP Skin
ELLE beauty editor favourite Katharine Mackenzie Paterson describes her Hanover Square clinic as 'your skincare safe space', and this has never felt more needed than during a spell of pregnancy-induced skin tantrums.
Whether you're suddenly stopping your usual active-packed routine and want help keeping your complexion calm, or simply want some sage advice on what to use (and what to ditch) during the next nine months, Katharine is the woman to help.
Book in for a initial 90-minute appointment and Katharine will run through everything you need to know while assessing your skin – and answering your every question without upselling or product-pushing. The sessions usually include around 15-30 minutes of consultation, before hands-on treatment commences.
But if you've already got to grips with the essentials and are after something a little more advanced, ask about Katharine's pregnancy peel, which is a good option for those more seasoned active-users. While most treatments involving a needle, laser or acid are of course off the menu for the time-being, this pregnancy-safe peel will help with hormonal skin woes such as persistent acne and leave you feeling clearer and brighter in just one session.
KMP Skin Bespoke Signature Facial with Katharine, £285 for 90 minutes.
For pregnancy-safe actives: Dr. David Jack
If you’re au fait with actives and have a regular monthly facial appointment, you may be missing your advanced treatments during pregnancy. Harley Street stalwart Dr. David Jack offers the solution: a treatment that combines puffiness-melting massage with pregnancy-safe protocols that do more than simply help you unwind.
The hour-long treatment begins with a massage-heavy cleanse using the brand’s chamomile-scented cleanser, before a mandelic acid peel – a safe alternative to the more common glycolic and lactic acids – is applied to lift impurities and dull skin cells. (Don’t be alarmed by the rather pungent smell of the product: its bark is worse than its bite.) Then, optional dermaplaning and extractions offer complexion fine-tuning, while lymphatic-drainage dramatically reduces that insomnia-induced swelling around the eyes. With an application of vitamin C and SPF to finish, this is perhaps the most results-driven facial you can treat yourself to during your first, second or third trimester.
Dr. David Jack, from £350 for 60 minutes
For gifting: Sarah Chapman
Sarah Chapman's legendary Sloane Square clinic offers a pregnancy facial that offers the best of both worlds, with pampering and performance given equal consideration.
Every treatment will be customised, but you'll start off with a thorough consultation, where you'll get the chance to discuss your specific skin challenges and expectations from the treatment (and if you're simply after an hour of jaw-softening relaxation, that's fine too).
A thorough double cleanse serves as the ideal kick-off for some scene-setting massage, before your therapist sets to work on your targetted treatment, be it steam and extractions to decongest, exfoliation to brighten, clay to draw out toxins or a pregnancy-friendly chemical peel for more intense resurfacing.
Once your skin is suitably renewed and refreshed, it's time to replenish with a hydration-rich mask that'll fortify the skin barrier and soothe inflammation. And of course, it wouldn't be a Chapman session without a famously good de-puffing session: expect a truly heavenly massage that employs lymphatic drainage techniques to leave you looking sculpted and radiant, no matter which trimester you're battling your way through.
Sarah Chapman Pregnancy Facial, £170 for 60 minutes
For tension release: Cowshed
Performing body massage during pregnancy comes with its own set of challenges: you mustn't be lying flat on your back (or, obviously, your front), while there are certain areas of the body that shouldn't be manipulated. Cowshed is one much-loved brand that has found a solution to every setback, and its Maternity Full Body Massage is a holistic treat for anyone that has passed week 12 of their journey (massage cannot be performed during your first trimester).
The treatment begins with you sat on a stool, leaning forwards onto a cushion while your therapist works on your back. Then, you'll be moved onto the bed in a reclined position while your legs and arms are treated with slow, rhythmic pressure that may just send you off to sleep (naps are encouraged during this time, after all).
To bring you back into the world, a light facial cleanse and pressure-point massage solves that insomnia-induced puffiness, before you head back upstairs to reawaken with a pot of tea.
The brand's specially formulated Mother product line is used throughout, and I'm willing to bet you'll be leaving with a jar of the Cooling Leg & Foot Treatment in your grasp: the instant chill is heavenly on tired, swollen limbs.
Cowshed Maternity Full Body Massage, from £105 for 60 minutes at locations nationwide.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
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