Treat yourself: The best ways to relax when pregnant

Pregnancy is full of high highs and low lows.

From the moment you see those double lines on the pregnancy test, life as you know it changes. Your brain fast forwards at lightning speed – having a baby, walking, school, leaving home! In the blink of an eye!

But first, growing that baby and prioritising your own self-care.

A beautiful growing bump, a newfound connection with your partner and the pure excitement of finally falling pregnant may be some of the things you’re celebrating.

Constantly needing to pee, extreme hunger and navigating your maternity wardrobe are just some of the challenges coming your way – the miracle of life doesn’t come without a price but every ache and pain is 100% worth what’s waiting for you on the other side.

Your body works overtime to grow new life, so you need to make sure you reinvest with self-care during your pregnancy.

Because before you know it, you’re going to be reporting into a demanding, albeit adorable, new boss 24-7, so enjoy this sacred window of time before the baby arrives to be selfish and treat yourself.

As you countdown to welcome your baby, we’ve rounded up the best ways to pamper yourself when pregnant.

1. Pregnancy massage

As your body changes throughout your pregnancy, you may notice your limbs becoming quite tender from stretching and growing to accommodate for your new roomie.

One of the most common symptoms throughout pregnancy is a sore back, with over 70% of pregnant women suffering from back aches and pains.

This is because your lower spine is curving inwards to help support your bub and your body is producing a hormone called relaxin, which helps your ligaments and joints loosen up in prepartion for labour and birth.

A great way to remedy your aches and pains is by booking a pregnancy massage with a qualified therapist. If that’s not an option, ask your partner to help out by giving you a gentle massage using Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks. The award-winning lotion smells delicious and improves skin elasticity while also providing some relief to your achey areas.

Another way to soothe your body in the comfort of your own home is with a relaxing bath. Magnesium has been proven to calm the nervous system, regulate your melatonin levels and relax aching muscles. epzen’s range of magnesium-based bath products make it easy to pamper yourself at home, encourage better sleep and soothe your growing body.

2. Splurge on a pregnancy pillow

If you’ve spent the majority of your life sleeping on your back, it’s a rude shock when you learn you can’t lie on your back past the first trimester.

Why? Well, when you lie on your tum the weight of your uterus can push on your major blood vessel called the vena cava. This can damage the blood flow to your little one and leave you feeling dizzy and nauseated.

Thank god for the pregnancy pillow, which is basically two soft pillow inserts joined together to create a comfortable sleeping space with room for a baby bump, your new secret weapon to getting a good night’s rest.

Popular styles include the Butterfly Maternity Pillow, Mamaway Non-toxic Maternity Support & Nursing Moon Pillow and Clevamama Therapeutic Body & Bump Maternity Pillow.

3. The power of an amazing blow-dry

While you’re waiting for that pregnancy glow to kick in and feel in need of a little pick-me-up, book yourself a guilt-free, well-deserved blow-dry.

Kick back while a expert stylist washes your tresses and works their magic fingers on your scalp with a relaxing head massage followed by a style blowout to make you feel like a million bucks.

4. Book a babymoon, stat

Your official final holiday sans bub should be one to remember, so get booking!

When planning a babymoon, the choice of destination and hotel is important as this might be one of the last times you’re looking for a child-free vacay!