There’s no better excuse to pamper yourself than being pregnant, especially as the word “backache” has special resonance for those with child. And here’s a bonus: massage is also good for your baby.
Dr Deepak Chopra, who gave a talk in Abu Dhabi in September last year, recommends prenatal massage for alleviating back pain. In his book Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives, Chopra says: "When a pregnant mother is anxious, stressed or in a fearful state, the stress hormones released into her bloodstream cross through the placenta to the baby. Hundreds of studies have confirmed that chemicals released by the pregnant mother's body are transported into the womb and affect the unborn baby … When you're calm and centred, your baby is able to grow peacefully."
So being pregnant is the perfect excuse for a guilt-free massage. But not all salons and spas in the UAE offer pregnant ladies their massage services and those that do vary widely as to how they go about it. According to Dr Steven Marsland, a chiropractor at the Canadian Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, a massage can be enjoyed any time after the first trimester.
“After that, definitely see someone who is experienced in prenatal massage,” says Marsland. “There are qualifications for this but it’s not an absolute must that the therapist should have these, so long as they know what they’re doing.”
He says essential oils should be avoided during the first trimester and erring on the side of caution, most salons avoid using essential oils during pregnancy massages altogether. And massage should steer clear of the abdominal area (it’s not a place where you want to be touched when pregnant anyway).
“There’s also obviously the issue with being in a comfortable position. And avoid lying on the back for too long,” he adds.
The American Sarah Bennett, 37, runs Home Spa, which is part of the Dubai-based Ignite Sports Services. One of their most popular services is a home massage on its specially designed pregnancy massage table. It has an opening for the belly so ladies can lie face-down comfortably – probably for the first time since those early first trimester days.
“It relieves the complete weight of the belly,” says Bennett. “A lot of our clients don’t even want the massage, they just want to lie on the table for a while.”
The fact the massage takes place in the client’s home is especially convenient in the final weeks of pregnancy, when getting around can be a struggle.
“The mother doesn’t have to worry about making herself presentable afterwards, she can just roll into bed,” Bennett points out.
Home Spa’s one-hour pregnancy massage costs Dh400 and uses organic almond oil. It also offers a special mixture of almond, wheatgerm and jojoba oils to help with stretch marks.
As for post-natal massages, Marsland says: “These can be done even after just a few days of natural delivery.” For C-sections, he recommends “waiting for six weeks”.
Home Spa also provides a postnatal tummy massage just after delivery to help get that area back into shape, and a slimming massage, too. The knack, after a night spent feeding the new arrival, is managing to stay awake long enough to enjoy it.
• A one-hour home massage through Home Spa costs Dh400. To book and for more information, call 04 452 0001 or visit www.home-spa-dubai.com
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