Whether you’re a brand new mother or expecting a baby, chances are you’re in need of a little relaxation. Look no further than our pick of spa breaks.
For expectant mothers
Principe Di Savoia, Milan £££
The Dorchester Collection’s Italian outpost has a special package for expectant mothers, costing from €1,675.00 for a two-night stay in an Ambassador Junior Suite. The price includes breakfast on both mornings, one dinner for two in the Acanto Restaurant, a test drive in a Ferrari for the father-to-be (last bit of adrenaline before he has to be sensible) and a Prémaman spa session, comprising a 55-minute Yoga lesson, as well as 30-minute soothing back and leg massage.
Cowley Manor, Gloucestershire ££
Country house hotel Cowley Manor has a new collection of treatments at its C-Side Spa. Collapse into total relaxation, surrounded by rolling Cotswold hills with the help of one of two full-body massages. Coming Soon and Relaxing Pregnancy Massage (£75 each) both sooth tired (read swollen) limbs and muscles. pagebreak
If you’re in need of a little brightening, opt for the Pregnancy Glow Facial, which features an oxygenating moisture mask to even out skin tone. Rooms start from £185 a night, including B&B, or there’s a £290 Repair & Restore Spa Stay package, which includes two 60-minute treatments.
To book visit cowleymanor.com
Brompton Lakes, Yorkshire £
Misty hills dotted with tufts of purple heather, wooded valleys and picture-perfect views from all directions, you won’t need much help relaxing in the Yorkshire Dales. But if you do eco-resort Brompton Lakes will bundle together bespoke pampering treatments, professional photo shoots (à la Demi Moore, if you wish), fine-dining experiences, welcome hampers and activities such as fishing, pilates or personal training to help you totally switch off. Self-catering lodges sleep up to six people, so grab your girlfriends or NCT pals, and make a weekend of it. Prices for one lodge start from £362 for a two-night stay.
To book visit bromptonlakes.co.uk
For new mothers
La Réserve, Geneva £££
Just over an hour’s flight from London, oozing crisp mountain air and on the shores of Lake Geneva, La Réserve will be just what the doctor orders. The chic five-star hotel set in 10 acres of private gardens has an award-winning La Prairie spa with 17 treatment rooms, a restaurant serving sushi, salads and juices, as well as a refreshing water bar flowing with lavender and camomile-infused drinks. It’s post-natal heaven. Book the sculpting treatment (£121), which combines a slimming and deep-tissue massage designed to unwind, restore and leave you with softer, firmer skin. While you’re enjoying all this, there’s a children’s club for your new arrival, nannies will look after babies from 6 months. Prices are from £351 for a double room.
To book visit lareserve.ch
Almyra, Cyprus ££
With year-round sunshine, short flights and superb childcare, a stay at the Almyra in Paphos needs almost no planning at all. Just book your flights and flee. The five-star hotels’ Baby Go Lightly offering makes it even easier to be spontaneous, it will provide anything you could need including car seats, high chairs, buggies, sterilisers, bottle warmers, nappies, toiletries, baby carriers… ad infinitum. And the nannies will look after babies from as young as four months. Spa treatments range from relax and restore packages to weight loss and detox, as well as couples massages. pagebreak
There’s also yoga, personal training and boot camp if the birth wasn’t painful enough for you. New fathers looking to spoil wives, take advantage of the Almyra’s Personalise Your Stay proposal, surprise them on arrival with candles, rose petals and fresh strawberries (€75). Inland garden view rooms cost from €1,428 for a week, B&B.
To book visit almyra.com
Mermaid Retreat, London £
Closer to home, Mermaid Maternity Retreat in Chelsea has joined forces with skincare pioneer QMS Medicosmetics to create a selection of treatments designed for post-natal revival. There’s the Recover Your Skin Facial (£65, 45 minutes), which boosts moisture lost during pregnancy, or the restorative Foot Treatment (£75, 45 minutes) and an upper body massage. The King’s Road club is specifically for new mums, providing a relaxing environment to bond with your baby, there’s around the clock support, maternity-friendly bedrooms and workshops on breastfeeding, nutrition, and sleep routines.
Membership at Mermaid Maternity Retreat costs £300 and covers the duration of the pregnancy and six months afterwards. If you do want to stay the night, rooms cost £595 a night and includes hospital transfer, full board, baby feeding and maternity support, physiotherapy, use of 24-hour supervised Baby Zone and daily visits from a community midwife.