With many of us mothers ourselves here at Araya Beauty, we believe all ladies deserve to be pampered, and with the huge changes your body goes through during pregnancy, mums-to-be need it all the more!
Indulging in some relaxing beauty therapy or a pampering massage treatment is the perfect way to take some time out from the hustle and bustle, put your feet up, and treat yourself to some much needed calm before the storm of impending new motherhood; be it your first time, or fifteenth; the fundamental need to take some time out to look after your physical and mental wellness remains vital to your pre-natal health.
Of course, pregnancy is a time of excitement and joy with your mind and body in full ‘prep’ mode for the arrival of your bundle of joy, but God knows, it can be a little stressful too! Rushing around trying to decorate the nursery, researching buggies, childcare costs and tying up any loose ends at work before maternity leave. With so much to do, it’s vital that you don’t lose focus on what’s most important – looking after you and your baby’s well-being.
Having witnessed the baby boom putting Ireland at the top of the EU birth rate charts in recent years, we’ve learnt through experience that some expectant mothers do worry about what beauty treatments are safe during pregnancy so we’ve put together a list of five wonderful options to help you relax and unwind before your bouncing baby arrives.
Below is our handy guide to some of the most commonly sought-after pre-natal beauty treatments available here in Ireland, we hope you’ll enjoy the read and take heart in some of the blissful pleasures on offer at some stage over the course of your epic none-month adventure!
Remember, if you are embarking on a course of treatments or indeed just calling in for a browse of our treatments, always make sure your beauty therapist is aware of your pregnancy prior to your pampering session.
Hopefully you’re experiencing that ‘pregnancy glow’ that often comes with the increase of hormones during pregnancy. There’s no real way to predict how your skin will change over these nine months, and a facial can be a great way to help adjust to differences in texture and moisture.
Your facial skin will often become more sensitive as your pregnancy advances so avoid any harsh peels and microdermabrasion. Again, it’s crucial that you inform your therapist of your pregnancy as products containing retinol and some essential oils are not suitable for use during pregnancy.
In our salon, we tailor our facial treatments to best suit each individual client ensuring that your skin is left feeling balanced, refreshed and vitally re-energised.
A massage is the perfect way to rid yourself of those pregnancy aches and pains. It’s a wonderful to completely relax and and forget about the stresses of impending motherhood. A weekly massage can help with your sleep, increasing circulation, improve your mood and help reduce the swelling of the joints – anything to help alleviate the impact of those ghastly ‘cankles’ most of use experience during the later stages of our pregnancies!
It’s advised that you do not get a massage during the first trimester. This is the critical time when the wonders of motherhood are brewing up a storm, with your embryonic bundle of joy just starting to form and many women just aren’t comfortable during this period.
As such, it makes far more sense to get a weekly massage in the second and third trimesters when any back-pain issues start to show themselves. Make sure you lie in a safe, comfortable position. When pregnant, a side-lying position, supported with pillows if necessary, is usually the best way to receive a massage.
Why not book yourself in for one of our specialised pre-natal pregnancy massages here and unearth the true wonders of this blissful treatment!
Due to the increase in vitamins and minerals and the blood and hormonal changes during pregnancy, your fingernails and toenails will grow faster than you’ve seen before! Manicures and pedicures are completely safe during pregnancy as long as they are performed in a well-ventilated area; inhaling the strong fumes emitted by these strong chemicals is obviously not a good idea when you’re pregnant.
A finely-tuned professional pedicure can work wonders especially in the last trimester, soothing your sore feet, increasing circulation, and reducing swelling — not to mention making you look and feel a whole lot prettier (though you may have trouble admiring your dainty feet when you can’t see past your bump!). Always ensure your foot masseuse doesn’t massage the area between your anklebone and heel (it could trigger contractions!).
There aren’t any known medical problems with waxing for hair removal when pregnant, as it doesn’t penetrate the skin. There is an increased blood flow in your body which can make it more painful than usual, and could cause some broken blood vessels, which are harmless but visible. It’s always a good idea to exfoliate and moisturise the area to be waxed before your session; this will stop the wax sticking to your skin causing unnecessary pain.
Many of the Irish mums we see enjoy getting waxed more regularly than usual during pregnancy, as the less hair there is, the less pain there will be getting it off. Again, regardless of how often you go, please make sure you always inform your beauty therapist you are pregnant, and do patch tests even if you have never had a reaction in the past.
If you choose to wax at home, take care with the temperature of hot wax, and never use any type of waxing product on sore, broken or inflamed skin or over moles or varicose veins.
If you’re yearning for that gorgeous summery tan whilst pregnant, you’ll be pleased to know that there many fake tan methods, such as the wonderful Bellamianta range we use in our salon, are considered safe to use for pregnant women. Once again please make sure to advise your beauty therapist that you’re pregnant to ensure the safety of yourself and your precious unborn child!
While you may not have given it a single thought it actually helps to get an idea of just how fake tan works. The ‘active’ ingredient that bronzes your skin is called dihydroxyacetone (DHA); a type of sugar that interacts only with the top layers of the skin, and is not absorbed into the body.
For this reason, we advise using creams, lotions, mousses, and wipes and avoid spray tans due to the unknown effects of inhalation.
Tanning Beds – You should avoid using sunbeds during pregnancy. Exposure to excessively high temperatures is not a good idea when pregnant.
Body Wraps – The application of heated towels or wraps during pregnancy should be avoided.
Hot Tubs – You should avoid hot tubs and saunas during pregnancy, because these can raise your core temperature to a level considered dangerous for your baby
Botox – Due to the lack of medical studies on the effects of botox, it’s advisable to leave this treatment until after your pregnancy. We offer mesotherapy here at Araya Beauty as a viable botox alternative, but even still, we don’t offer the service to pregnant or breastfeeding clients due to the lack of empirical data to rule out any complications
Teeth Whitening – Not something we cover here in our salon, but it’s certainly worth noting that professional whitening and over-the-counter products are not recommended during pregnancy. Most dentists will refuse elective procedures (procedures that are not deemed essential), according to the Irish Dental Association.
If you’re craving some ‘beauty salon love’ throughout the undoubtedly challenging yet endlessly rewarding weeks and months ahead why not indulge yourself at Araya Beauty and let our highly trained staff treat you to a truly nurturing and relaxing experience. Simply feeling good about yourself will radiate positivity to your baby and help you to keep looking and feeling your very best!
Wit a dedication to mental and physical well-being here in our salon, we’re committed to ensuring all expectant mothers have the best chance of relaxing and unwinding throughout this hugely tumultuous time for your body and mind and that of your child’s!
If you’d like to talk about anything at all in relation to your physical or mental wellbeing throughout the precious duration of your pregnancy, we very much welcome your contact, comments and presence here at Araya Beauty.
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