5 Ways to Pamper Yourself During Pregnancy

This blog post is inspired by the upcoming @MyBestBirth Twitter party. You’re invited, too! Join the hostesses from MyBestBirth.com this Friday, July 30 at 6 pm PST and share your thoughts about “Pampering Yourself During Pregnancy.” See you there.

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Pampering yourself during pregnancy is neither selfish nor immature—it’s healthy. Taking care of your baby starts with you taking care of you.

At Maternitique, we hope you start your journey to motherhood with celebration. By caring for your body and finding ways to enjoy being pregnant, you’ll be honoring yourself, even as you honor your new role as a mother.

1. Prenatal Massage

If there’s only one thing on this list you do to pamper yourself during pregnancy, it should be this: get regular prenatal massage.

Both the time and money are well-spent in treating your pregnant body and soul to regular therapeutic massages. Why? Prenatal massage is 100% you time. It’s a quiet, relaxing and pleasurable experience with a professional who’s devoted to your well-being and health. Prenatal massage also pampers your skin, your muscles, your bones and even your hormones—all of which are stressed, strained and hard-working throughout pregnancy.

Prenatal massage offers more than comfort, though. There are plentiful physiological benefits, too, such as improving circulation and oxygenation, reducing swelling, relieving aches, and helping you sleep better.

While you should be able to get prenatal massage throughout your pregnancy without concern, you do want to find a licensed massage therapist who’s educated and experienced with it, and you do want to check with your health care provider first.

2. Put Together A Knock-Out Knocked-Up Outfit

The problem? Your clothes don’t fit, your body’s changing and you don’t look like “you” anymore. Even the most happy-to-be-pregnant women will struggle with body image. Pregnancy hormones, weight gain, fatigue and anxiety will, at some point, collide and cause you to feel unattractive.

The cure? At least one stunning, smokin’ hot ensemble in your maternity wardrobe. Whether it’s a gorgeous little black dress, or a chic pair of maternity jeans and an envy-inspiring top, every pregnant woman deserves at least one outfit that makes heads turn and other women think, “I want to be pregnant so I can look like her.”

3. Beautiful Lingerie

While every day of your pregnancy may not call for your knock-out attire, every day does call for a maternity bra. And where does it say in the pregnancy books that you’re limited to the plain, white maternity bra?

Comfort and support are essential in a maternity bra. Your breasts are growing and changing, causing the tissue to be strained and often painful. Your skin is more sensitive and may even be itchy. Sure, you want a well-constructed maternity bra that’s made with non-toxic dyes and breathable fabrics, but you can have all that and a touch of ooh-la-la, too. Take care of your “girls” with a maternity bra that’s designed to look as good as it feels.

4. A Mommy-to-Be Pedicure

Whether you’re a regular to the salon already or just go occasionally, a pedicure should be part of your pregnancy pampering regimen. Like prenatal massage, a pedicure does more than make you feel pretty: it also improves circulation in your legs and feet, helping to reduce swelling. And then there’s the pragmatic part: by the third trimester you just can’t reach your own feet.

But before you head off to the salon, be sure to ask if they have pregnancy-safe, non-toxic brands of nail polish and remover. Most nail polish is made with ingredients—formaldehyde and phthalates—that you don’t want to expose your baby to. Ask for alternative brands such as Butter London, Zoya, or Anise. To be on the safe side, take your own nail polish with you and ask for a well-ventilated space.

5. Go On a Babymoon

You and your partner are facing a big change together and your relationship will be impacted.

Pamper each other with some alone time before the new baby arrives. Your babymoon could be a weekend at a local B&B, or a week or more at a resort—the location and length are less important. What matters is the quality of time you have with your partner.

Laugh, hold hands, stay in bed all day, fawn over each other as if you were newlyweds. A babymoon, like a honeymoon, should be dedicated time with your partner in which you build shared memories that honor your love and strengthen your relationship.

Written by Maternitique founder and CEO, Tara M. Bloom. Subscribe to Materni-Talk by email or RSS to get regular suggestions for how to expect the best during pregnancy and motherhood. And please share with others!