Treatment of the week
Sure, you hit that ‘glowing’ phase in the second trimester, but you’ve still had to go through the first three months — and the last, long 12 weeks are still looming.
I turned up at the Cloisters Spa at the Muckross Park Hotel just a day after my first scan. The baby’s heart was beating fast and hard and I was officially 13 weeks pregnant. A weekend break in the five-star hotel was the perfect way to celebrate — and unwind after weeks of nausea.
Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin, of Apprentice fame, own the Muckross Park — and Lavin’s mark is all over the spa. It’s not just her self-branded beauty products, displayed in the spa reception. It’s the lavish interior; the professional, unfaltering service — everything oozes good taste.
In a market where spas became nearly as ubiquitous as the Irish pub, only the best could survive. And Cloisters is thriving. When you meet therapists like Sabrina you understand why. There would be no antenatal massage she explained, not until I reached at least 14 weeks. Clients have pleaded with her for massages at 12 weeks, but Sabrina stands her ground — the pressure on the back is not safe for the baby. Immediately I felt in safe hands.
So instead of the Ultimate Rose Pregnancy Massage I had been expecting (50 minutes, €90), I savoured the ultimate Aromatherapy Associate Facial (90 mins, €110). There was a purifying scrub to exfoliate, a Rose Hydrating Mask to hydrate, and a comforting Nourishing Oil — all rounded off with a stunning head and shoulder massage. Absolute bliss. The products were from the Aromatherapy Associates range — even the shampoo and conditioner in the changing room afterwards had a dramatic impact on my hair.
No make-up was allowed afterwards but my skin was so replenished, for once in my life I was happy to go without.
The treatment really worked its magic because I was able to savour the silence. The Cloisters operates on two levels — ground floor for massages, and upstairs for the noisier hair and nail treatments.
The following day, after a trip to the Gap of Dunloe and the Killarney lakes, I was back to the vitality suite. The sauna was out of bounds for baby but the pool gave me all the relaxation I needed. And so, I returned refreshed and ready to enjoy trimester number two. All too soon though, the final 12 weeks were upon me — I can only dream of Cloisters now.
