Now in the seventh month of my pregnancy, I decided to venture to the Mandarin Oriental Spa for their Body & Bump prenatal massage which lasts for one and a half hours. The luxurious treatment uses rose scented oils and body balms to deeply nourish the skin, aiding in the prevention of stretch marks and gently soothing fluid retention.

In my opinion what sets the treatment apart from the other spas I have tried is that the treatment is finished with a hydrating facial and hair mask. After the treatment, I speak to the Director of the Mandarin Spa, Karen Aleksich, to discuss the benefits of prenatal and postnatal treatments.

Joanne Chan: How many prenatal spa treatments are on offer at The Mandarin Oriental Spa? 
Karen Aleksich: Currently, we offer two  treatments, the Mellow Mummy and Body & Bump

JC: Who is the mastermind behind the prenatal spa treatments?
KA: The trainer of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, our consultants and our spa staff worked very closely together to create these holistic and nurturing treatments for our expectant mothers.

JC: Can you tell me why the particular combination of treatments are beneficial for expectant mothers? 
KA: We customise the treatments to suits the needs of the client mainly due to the changes of their body condition.

JC: How does a regular spa treatment differ from that of a prenatal treatment? 
KA: These treatments specifically focus on the common problems that pregnant women experience, such as heavy legs and water retention, which can be eased with massage. These relaxing and pampering treatments are deeply hydrating and nourishing and will ease the muscular tension caused by carrying the baby. Rose-scented oils help prevent stretch marks while a deeply moisturising hair mask adds luster and shine. These treatments are perfect for all expectant mothers after their first trimester and will restore that wonderful pregnancy glow. The mother-to-be will be gently positioned on her side and supported by luxurious pillows and the bed will be tilted slightly upwards. The therapist will be paying lots of attention to the shoulders and lower back to ease muscular tension caused by the extra weight carried.

JC: When can a pregnant woman start her prenatal spa treatment? And when should she stop going for treatments? 
KA: Usually after the first trimester until she is thirty-eight weeks along.

JC: Apart from spa treatments, what else would you advise her to do to maintain that maternal glow? 
KA: Pay attention to any changes of the facial skin, make sure to moisturise your abdomen to reduce or prevent stretch marks. Avoid oral and topical retinoids, as well as prescribed oral acne medicines. Use natural ingredients such as rose, coconut bas, jojoba oil and shea butter. It’s also important to be active and practice light exercise regularly. Lastly, do not forget to protect the skin with a daily use of sunscreen.

JC: Any tips for expectant women who strive to stay beautiful and radiant during their pregnancy? 
KA: You can’t go wrong with a healthy diet, light exercise daily and using natural products.

JC: What do you offer in terms of postnatal treatments and how soon after giving birth can you undergo a treatment?
KA: For postnatal treatments, we offer Body & Bump and the Aromatherapy Massage. We recommend that for normal births, women can start as soon as one month but for C-sections we recommend waiting at least three months before undergoing treatments

JC: How often should they go? 
KA: We recommend having treatments on a weekly basis.

JC: Will a postnatal treatment help new mothers gain their pre-baby body back? 
KA: Sure, postnatal treatments may aid in the recovery and rebalancing of the system, it can also help psychologically by inducing a more positive state of mind. A healthy diet is essential.

JC: Do you have advice or tips for prenatal and postnatal diets? 
KA: It’s always important to eat fresh and healthy food, such as whole grains, beans, salmon, eggs, berries, low-fat yogurt, broccoli, beef and milk.  

For more information about the Mandarin Oriental’s Spa treatments, please click here