The chicest new accessory in Hollywood is officially the baby bump. Celebs have been busy creating their offspring lately it seems. We’ve got it covered this Spa Week with our $50 treatments! All pregnant moms-to-be deserve pampering and we have just the spa for them.

First, let’s discuss the many benefits of prenatal massages. They include:

• Relieving headaches
• Relaxing muscle tension
• Reducing fatigue
• Alleviating backaches
• Relieving leg cramps
• Reducing swelling/edema
• Relieving pain
• Enhancing sleep

They also have been known to contribute to shorter labor and reduce the need for medication resulting in a quicker recovery. What woman doesn’t want that? If you are pregnant, speak to your massage therapist. It is NOT recommended during your first trimester. Here are some fabulous spas we think these pregnant celebs should visit this week…

Beyonce  Jay-Z are expecting their first child in February. Jay-Z now has 99 problems and a baby is one! For Bey we’re going to recommend:

Origo Spa Lounge in New York, which is offering a 50 Minute Full Body Massage for Mother to be that uses an assortment of oils to reduce stress, improve skin tone and soften skin texture.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are adding a new member to the family. She is expecting a boy early 2012. For Jennifer we recommend:

A Better Body Salon and Day Spa in San Diego, California which is offering a 90 Minute Pregnancy Massage.

Hilary Duff is expecting her first child with hockey husband, Mike Comrie. For her, we’re going to recommend:

The Massage Garage in Culver City, California which is offering a 75 Minute Pregnancy Massage.

Lily Allen is expecting her first child this month! So before she pops, we recommend:

Elements Therapeutic Massage in Orland Park, Illinois is offering a 55 Minute Prenatal Massage for the Mother-to-be.

Keri Russell, of Felicity fame, is expecting her second child. For her we recommend:

Massage Envy’s 50 Minute Happy Mommy Pre-Natal Massage.

Rebecca Gayheart is expecting her second child with Dr. McSteamy (i.e. Eric Dane). For her, we suggest:

BodySense – Holistic Spa & Wellness in Miami is offering 50 Minute PreNatal or Post Partum Massage. So she can get a massage before the baby and then come back after for relief!

Super Model Niki Taylor is expecting baby number 4! For Ms. Taylor, we recommend:

Bella’s Day Spa in Illinois is offering a 60 Minute Prenatal Massage designed to increase circulation, alleviate tired muscles, improve skin elasticity and reduce water retention.

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By Shelby Jones, Public Relations Manager, ISPA

The ISPA office is currently experiencing a wave of baby fever. Symptoms include overusing the words cute, precious and darling; debating the current celebrity baby name de jour (Harper Seven Beckham anyone?) and looking through gift registries that include items like Diaper Genies and Nap Nannies. If you’re experiencing a similar situation, then consider getting the mom-to-be a gift that will help her relax in preparation for Junior. A prenatal massage is the perfect way to help her prepare (you have to admit it sounds much better than a breast pump).

Pregnancy massage is widely offered at spas around the world. In the U.S. alone, 91 percent of spas offer a pregnancy massage. And, of the 80 percent of spas that offer special packages, 42 percent of those are pregnancy packages (ISPA 2010 U.S. Spa Industry Study).

Check out one of our bloggers’ Pregnancy Massage videos

Some pregnant ladies are leery of a massage, but we’re here to put those fears aside. According to the American Pregnancy Association, studies indicate massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.

Massage therapists can be certified in prenatal massage, so it’s best to call your favorite spa and ask about a therapist’s certification before booking a treatment. During the massage, some therapists use a pregnancy massage table, which is a table designed to accommodate a woman’s pregnant belly. Others use specially designed pillows called bolsters to help position a woman comfortably on her side. Pregnancy massage experts adapt their techniques to address the changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy. Some massage therapists avoid massaging the abdomen and if they do, they use very light strokes.

Post-partum? Check out facials to avoid when breastfeeding, and what is safe.

If you want to learn more about different spa treatments visit ISPA’s spa glossary at experienceispa.com.

Shelby Jones is based in Lexington, KY at the ISPA headquarters, Spa Week’s exclusive trade partner. She has worked as ISPA’s Public Relations Manager for five years where she connects with top media outlets to promote ISPA members and the spa lifestyle. To get in touch with Shelby please visit experienceispa.com, email her or follow @ISPADoYou on Twitter.

Baby Mason readying for a much needed massage.

Of course it would be a Kardashian to break the mold and shatter all records when it comes to kiddie treatments. Kourteney gave birth to Mason 5 months ago and the little tike has already experienced the lavish spa lifestyle. Even more ironic, the spa in question, Turtle Cove Spa located in the Mountain Harbor Lodge near Hot Springs, Arkansas averages 10-15 children’s appointments per week. Some people are against this because at that age a child’s limbs are delicate, and what exactly about them needs to be kneaded and worked out? The Spa Director defends the treatment and believes that it is not too young for a 5-month-old to get a massage. “I would recommend massages for babies, just to keep their joints limber,” McCarty tells UsMagazine.com. “Any kind of virus that might be lying around dormant can be worked out with gentle manipulation and massage. It’s also very soothing. Everyone needs human touch.”

Full shock aside, it can’t be as bad as it seems. One of our favorite Mommy Bloggers and new Mommys (congratulations!) Bohdi Bear participated in Spa Madness Spring 2010 by testing out the Prenatal Massage at the Elixir Mind Body Massage Spa. All turned out healthy and well for mommy who just delivered last week after an insane 68.5 hours of labor. She and hubby have plans to take this infant massage class in a few weeks:

Infant Massage: PRIVATE CLASS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Infant Massage is a wonderful way to bond with your baby. It has been proven to strengthen the immune system, stimulate digestion, relieve gas and colic, promote restful sleep, and encourage development. This is a private session with your baby in which our Certified Therapist will both demonstrate and then teach you how to perform the special infant massage techniques.
*Available limited days and times, call for details.
1 hour with baby and one parent or caregiver: $75
1 hour with baby and two parents or caregivers: $85
Elixir Mind Body Massage
1518a Wazee Street
Denver, CO 80202
303.571.4455

So, what do you think? Is this a cool trend in Mommyhood or are you totally against it?

Image Courtesy of Us Magazine

It wasn’t easy to find a pregnant blogger in Denver. Not because there aren’t any… I think I’ve actually connected with every single pregnant blogger in Colorado by now, but it had to be the right fit. Gretchen of Lifenut (who’s on her 8th pregnancy!) wanted to do it, but was in her 1st trimester when a prenatal massage could be unsafe. Plus, there are no aches or pains to sooth yet. So I found another Denver blogger who was in the achy painy portion of her pregnancy–the 3rd trimester when prenatal massages are best– but it just so happened she doesn’t like massages. (What gives!) And it was probably awkward emailing Carissa from Hooked On Beauty who was on our Spa Madness roster to test a Swedish Massage for us saying, “you don’t happen do be pregnant… do you?” Negative.

I finally put up an “ad” on Spa Week Daily: “Seeking Pregnant Blogger in Denver” Craigslisty? I hope not.

But with the help of some Denver Twitter friends, the prenatal cream rose to the top. Kia at Bodhi Bear just so happened to be blogging everything about her very first pregnancy, and is extremely knowledgeable on prenatal yoga, health, and well-being. Kia is a leader in the pregnant Denver blogging community, and someone I am proud to introduce to you on our behalf.

Watch Kia’s pre-baby pampering video here, and read all about her experience on her blog: Elixir Mind Body Prenatal Massage.

Follow Kia’s thrilling journey to becoming a mommy… at which point she plans to go back to Elixir to learn how to do an “Infant Massage,” one of the spa’s other services. This baby is in for the good life!

Check out Spaweek.com to see this and all the services that are available for $50 during Spa Week!
Elixir Body Mind Massage
1518 A Wazee Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 571-4455

This is NOT a Craigslist ad!

We are looking for a great blogger in the Denver area who’s at least 12 months 12 weeks (thanks @PBRandPBJ) pregnant and interested in blogging about a complimentary prenatal massage from Elixir Mind Body Massage.

Why? It’s SPA MADNESS, which means over the next few weeks, we’re sending bloggers all across North America out to our participating spas to investigate all the treatments that will be just $50 when Spa Week® starts. This prenatal massage is one of them.

So, if you’re thinking of a Denverite who’s achy, getting chubby, reading baby name books, writes for a blog or website (that people read), and likes the spa, please have them contact me: michelle @spaweekmedia.com or on Twitter at @SPAWEEK.

Pass it on!

Spa Week® Spring 2010 takes place April 12 – 18. Start booking appointments March 15th at Spaweek.com, and sign up now to get all the latest news on our fabulous deals.