Who could resist an hour of euphoria?

Sep 6 2008 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

Mum-to-be Hannah Davies enjoys a pregnancy pampering at Serenity in the City.

AS I roll into my third trimester of pregnancy, the glow is starting to wear off and the tiredness is starting to kick in.

Sleepless nights and the effort of coming into work every day with an ever-increasing bump are starting to take their toll.

So, feeling suitably sorry for myself, a pregnancy massage, specifically the Elemis Nurturing Massage For Mother-To-Be, was the antidote I chose for my aching body and tired mind.

Serenity in the City, on Jesmond’s Osborne Road, offer a massage with natural Elemis products. Some essential oils should be avoided in pregnancy and it is reassuring to know the Elemis products used in this massage have been designed with this in mind.

On arrival at Serenity in the City I am led, after a short while in the serenity Zen lounge, down to a darkened treatment room where an array of beanbags have been arranged for me to lie on.

Lying on your back for too long isn’t recommended when you are pregnant, and lying on your front logistically impossible.

The beanbag arrangement neatly gets around these problems and I am informed I will be massaged one side at a time to the soothing nu-age music you get in a good beauty spa.

My therapist instructed me to relax as my face was gently massaged and cleansed, and I was sent into a deep relaxation with the scent of rosewood oil.

The sideways massage was deliciously soothing and my first experience with Japanese camellia oil (now my favourite pregnancy treat).

Beginning at my neck and shoulders and continuing down the body to the tips of my fingers and toes, it was soothing and moisturising on my stretched skin. This was repeated on the other side and the bliss continued.

My legs, a little puffy from the added weight and summer heat, also appreciated the experience.

Finally my bump received attention, with smooth strokes of camellia oil placed soothingly, as the baby kicked approvingly.

With a final foot and face massage I was placed into a state of semi-conscious bliss which lasted until I reluctantly set food outside Serenity on to the streets of Jesmond.

Still, the massage and the oils had done their job, and thanks to my skilled therapist, my relaxation gave me the first decent night’s sleep I’d had in a good while.

The Elemis Nurturing Massage For Mother-To-Be costs £85 for 60mins and is offered by Serenity in the City, Osborne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle. For more information, or to book, call (0191) 281-9222, email indulge@serenityinthecity.com or visit www.serenityinthecity.com

Also available: New Life/ New Mum

Matfen Hall Spa offers treatments for mums to be and new mums.

The New Life treatment is suitable for clients who are 12 weeks pregnant or more, while the New Mum treatment is suitable for clients who are over the breast feeding period.

Both treatments are followed by a bespoke facial.

The New Mum/ New Life Day Escape includes a welcome drink on arrival and a two-course lunch.

New life: Using the purest of ingredients, this pregnancy massage will help to maintain skin tone and elasticity while relaxing muscle tension in the back and aiding lymphatic drainage throughout the entire body.

New mum: A deeply conditioning body wrap that aims to restore body shape, firming and toning the skin tissues after pregnancy.

Using a blend of active ingredients to arm and repair damaged skin, kamani oil stimulates collagen synthesis and walnut combats the adverse effects of atmospheric pollution. D-age also works to reduce stretch marks with bitter orange essential oil.

Rebalancing facial with eye and lip treatment: A prescriptive facial to treat your individual skin type.

Day Escape: £135, New Mum Firming Body Wrap: £60, New Life Massage: £60.