Pamper Yourself

A week of ways to indulge your pregnant body

By Christine Fischer Guy, Originally published in Today's Parent April 2001 

Some women absolutely love pregnancy, and pregnancy loves them right back. Their skin glows, they're full of energy, they're the picture of health. Others feel nauseated and exhausted right up to the day they deliver. The rest of us fall somewhere in between, sometimes feeling full of wonder and energy, other times feeling the very real demands of the new life growing inside us. But no matter how you experience pregnancy, pampering yourself is a must: It lifts your spirits and restores your energy, and there's no question that those benefits are passed right on to your growing baby. Here are a week of ways to do just that.

Monday: Have a massage

If you need a reason to have a massage, here's one: It feels great. "Massage fits well with pregnancy," comments Edith Dellandrea, a Toronto registered massage therapist (RMT) who works with pregnant women. "It helps to optimize the blood and lymphatic circulation, and it relieves muscle spasms caused by postural stress. It also helps us relax, which is 'a key tool for labour,'" comments Langley, BC doula and childbirth educator Jalana Grant. If you can't visit an RMT, ask your partner to lend a hand. Get an aromatherapeutic massage lotion (Body Shop has a few), a quiet room and a loving pair of hands. And then relax.

Tuesday: Get a haircut

Pregnancy doesn't have to be an endless bad hair day. If your mass of curly locks has suddenly gone straight, or vice versa, a good cut can be a great pick-me-up. "I love getting my hair cut, even when I'm not pregnant," remarks Diana Wilhelm, a Waterloo, Ontario mother of three who was expecting her fourth child any day at the time of writing. She likes to have her hair cut in the last month of pregnancy and has changed the style three out of four times. "It reminds me that even at 40-something pounds heavier, I can still feel pretty." But, resist that spur of the moment flight into the discount cutters; make an appointment with your tried-and-true stylist who knows what works for you.

Wednesday: Take a nap

If a nap seems like an indulgence to you, think again. During pregnancy, your body is working hard to sustain and nourish a new life, so plenty of rest is as important as good nutrition. "Consider napping a gift to your growing baby," says Grant. Napping now, says Toronto midwife, Kathi Duncan, can also help form a habit you'll need later. "You need to sleep when that baby's sleeping for those first few weeks," she counsels. "Even though you may think that it's a good idea, it can be hard to learn if you're not used to it." If you just can't drift off, she suggests a warm bath and a snack. "Even lying down to relax can rejuvenate you."

Thursday: Have a pedicure

A pedicure is a lovely indulgence: a soothing soak in warm water, an invigorating rub with pumice stone, a foot massage and some pretty colour to decorate your toes. In pregnancy, those ol' dogs get even more tired and achy than usual, and your burgeoning belly makes it awkward to tend to them yourself. "It feels so good when someone else can do it for me," comments Wilhelm. "The physical satisfaction lifts my spirits." If you can't get to a salon, a partner, sister or friend might be glad to indulge you. "As a culture, we tend to ignore our feet," muses Duncan. "If women start during their pregnancy, maybe they'll continue on afterwards, too."

Friday: Take a prenatal yoga class

You don't have to be part of an ashram to benefit from yoga. The delicate tuning of body, mind and spirit is something a growing portion of the population regularly takes refuge in these days. Classes designed with pregnancy in mind offer the same benefits, with the added bonus of gentle exercises designed to alleviate minor discomforts and promote relaxation, now and during labour. "Women tell me that a breathing exercise called pranayama ("life source" in Sanskrit) helps them most," comments Lerrita Rubinoff, owner of North Calgary's Lotus Yoga Studio. "It helps them focus during labour." Prenatal yoga is also a great way to meet other expectant women and share experiences. Some yoga studios even offer a postnatal series that includes baby massage.

Saturday: Buy yourself a new outfit

If you're like most women, your pregnancy wardrobe is probably more limited than your regular wardrobe, and with good reason. After all, you'll be wearing these clothes for less than nine months. But week after week in the same stretch-panel jeans can get a little tiresome, especially toward the end of the pregnancy. If you can, buy a new outfit to brighten your mood. Alternatively, you could buy something for after the baby arrives. "I just bought myself a pretty sweater, big enough so I know it will fit right after baby is born," says Wilhelm. "I see it every time I open the closet door. It reminds me that one day I won't have to wear the same clothes day in and day out!"

Saturday and Sunday, the grand finale: Plan a weekend retreat

Whether it's a backwoods cabin, a five-star resort or your own home, a whole weekend to kick back and relax with your partner is a blissful experience. It also helps you re-establish the priority of your relationship. "Give yourself the time to reconnect," recommends Duncan. "Be sure that you don't forget that you have a very important relationship with your partner, one that may not receive as much attention or time right after the baby is born." If you're staying at home, turn off the phone, ignore the laundry and cuddle up with a stack of old movies or some good novels. Slip into a herbal bath and eat breakfast in bed. And don't answer the door unless someone's delivering a pizza.
Pregnancy is a fine time to pamper yourself, because you know that everything you do to take care of you is also good for your baby. And while you're doing it, consider the ways to carry on with these things after you've become a mom. "We need to incorporate the nice things we do for ourselves during pregnancy," offers Duncan, "with the rest of our lives."