You’ve done the baby shower, stocked the nursery, packed your hospital bag and prepped a tonne of go-to meals for the first few weeks of the newborn tornado. Have you done anything beautiful for yourself lately, mama? Time to enjoy a few quiet moments and get off those swollen feet.
Here are 5 of our favourite pregnancy-safe ways to unwind when you’re at the pointy end of the third trimester:
Pregnancy Massage
Take a load off and let your massage therapist soothe those achy muscles! A pregnancy-safe massage that concentrates on gentle relaxation techniques to unwind is just what the doctor ordered to give you a break from growing a human. Endota has spas all around Australia and their Nurture Series is perfectly catered to women in their second and third trimesters. (affiliate link to products or use affiliate code?)
Candle-Lit Soak
This was one of my favourite ways to unwind at home during lockdown when I was heavily pregnant. I lit a sweet-scented candle (link to Baby or pregnancy candle), scattered my flameless LED candles (link) that I bought in preparation for birth (and subsequently forgot to use) around the edge of the tub, put on a soothing playlist (Apple Music’s Brown Sugar was my go-to!) and enjoyed a long soak in a warm (not scalding) bath (link to bath soak?). It was heavenly to take some quiet moments with my bump and enjoy feeling weightless for a little while. Make sure to take care getting in and out of the tub.
Mani + Pedi
If you have the time, do this regularly in the lead up to the birth as an easy bit of me-time. If it’s not hugely evident, it won’t hurt to remind your therapist that you’re pregnant so that they can use pregnancy-safe products and techniques on you, but this is a wonderful way to unwind when you absolutely cannot reach your toes anymore, and you can reap the benefits for weeks afterwards. A reputable, clean day spa with sterilised tools is a must.
Pregnancy Yoga
Gentle movement is so important for the body while you’re a baby-making machine! All that extra pressure on the hips and lower back can cause more than a few niggles, so easing into some restorative yoga poses can help promote circulation and mobility, and stretch out any sticky spots, as well as being a great tool to destress, unwind and connect with your breath. There’s nothing quite like stepping into a class for a gentle, pregnancy-safe vinyasa flow, but we also love Youtube’s Yoga With Adriene’s prenatal yoga series that you can do from the comfort of your own home. (Link to yoga mat, maternity tights, maternity crop)
DIY Spa Day
Take a little time at home to do your own budget-friendly spa routine! Pop on a face mask, a hair mask and a belly mask and relax for a little while with some soothing music, a cup of tea and a book. Give yourself a gentle scrub in the shower, pop on a little fake tan and blow dry your hair.
