Pregnancy massage and new-parent gifts: the bump-to-baby spa guide
Your back has opinions. Your ankles have filed a complaint. Finding a comfortable way to lie down has become an evening project. Growing a whole new person is extraordinary work, and you deserve an hour that is entirely about you.
Welcome to the bump-to-baby spa guide: pregnancy massage for right now, and the gifts that give new parents their time back once the baby arrives.
Pregnancy massage: made for your changing body
Pregnancy massage is a full massage built around you and your bump. Your specialist therapist positions you so you are fully supported and comfortable, with soft cushioning in all the right places, and adapts every move to how you feel that day. The pressure is gentle and soothing. The room is warm and quiet. For the first time in weeks, nobody needs anything from you.
Mums-to-be book it for an aching back, tired legs, tight shoulders or simply the bliss of being looked after. UK massage guidance says a straightforward pregnancy can enjoy massage right through every trimester, so tell us how many weeks you are when you book and your therapist will tailor everything to your stage.
What the research found
The evidence makes a lovely case for booking. In a 16-week trial of 84 expectant mums, regular twice-weekly massage left them feeling less anxious and less achy in the back and legs straight after each session.
Heavy legs late in pregnancy? In a study of 23 women more than 26 weeks pregnant, around 20 minutes of gentle leg massage brought their ratings of heaviness and tingling down. Ask your therapist to give your legs some extra time.
Book your pregnancy massage
- Pregnancy Massage, 40 minutes, from £72
- Pregnancy Massage, 60 minutes, from £100
- Pregnancy Massage, 90 minutes, from £140
Treatments of 60 minutes or longer include 60 minutes of spa and wellness facilities. Facilities vary by spa, so visit our spa page for details.
Planning a massage every few weeks until the big day? Our Pregnancy Massage course puts your sessions in the bag in one go, from £410 for the 40-minute course and £550 for the 60-minute course.
Pregnancy massage is available at Cults and Union Square in Aberdeen, Rose Street and Lothian Road in Edinburgh, West Nile Street in Glasgow, Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire, and Coventry.
The bump-to-baby gift
Buying for a mum-to-be? Give her a pregnancy massage as an e-gift card. She picks the date and the spa, and she gets an hour of total calm at a time when she needs it most. It is the baby shower gift that outshines every muslin and babygro on the table.
Gifts for new parents that give them an hour back
Once the baby arrives, the most precious thing in the house is time. The best new-parent gift is an hour that is entirely theirs.
- For the new mum: the PURE Amethyst Gift Card, 60 minutes, £110. Sixty minutes she turns into a hot stone massage, a deep tissue massage or a customised facial, valid for 24 months so she books when she is ready.
- For a really big thank-you: the PURE Emerald Gift Card, 90 minutes, £140. An extended full-body massage, or a massage and express facial in one visit, for the person who has earned it most.
- For the new dad: a BackHug robotic back massage at Lothian Road, Edinburgh, 60 minutes for £75. Hours of rocking, lifting and car-seat carrying, worked out of his back while he lies fully clothed. Or a Theragun Full Body Massage Experience, 60 minutes from £95, at any PURE spa.
- For both, on their own terms: a PURE gift card in any value from £25 to £150, so they can book whenever sleep allows.
The push present that actually gets used
Jewellery is lovely. Time is better. Pair a PURE gift card with a promise to mind the baby for the afternoon, and you have given the most thoughtful push present there is. Add a note with a date already circled, and watch her face.
The pairing we love
Book her pregnancy massage now, and tuck an Amethyst 60-minute gift card in with the baby card for after the birth. That is £100 to £110 of calm before baby and £110 of calm after. Bump to baby, covered.
Buying for two? Add BackHug for the new dad, so both parents get their hour.
Easy to book, easy to give
Every PURE gift is available as an e-gift card that arrives by email, usually within the hour, or as a printed card to tuck inside a congratulations card. Every PURE spa opens seven days a week, with late opening, so new parents can grab an evening slot once the baby is settled.
Book your pregnancy massage or buy a new-parent gift card online today.
Under medical care, or your midwife keeping a closer eye on things? Have a quick word with your GP or midwife before you book.
A wellness experience, not a medical treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a massage when I am pregnant?
Yes. UK massage guidance says a straightforward pregnancy can enjoy massage through every trimester. PURE's pregnancy massage is built around you and your bump, with supportive positioning and gentle, soothing pressure. Tell us how many weeks you are when you book and your therapist tailors every move to your stage. Book from £72 for 40 minutes.
What are the benefits of pregnancy massage?
Mums-to-be book it for an aching back, tired legs and an hour of calm. In a 16-week trial of 84 expectant mums, regular massage left them feeling less anxious and less achy in the back and legs after each session. A 60-minute pregnancy massage at PURE starts from £100 and includes an hour of spa and wellness facilities.
How much is a pregnancy massage at PURE?
A 40-minute pregnancy massage starts from £72, 60 minutes from £100, and 90 minutes from £140. Planning regular sessions? Pregnancy massage courses start from £410. Treatments of 60 minutes or longer include 60 minutes of spa and wellness facilities. Book online at Cults, Union Square, Rose Street, Lothian Road, West Nile Street, Witney Lakes or Coventry.
What is the best gift for a new mum?
An hour that is entirely hers. The PURE Amethyst Gift Card, 60 minutes, is £110 and she turns it into a hot stone massage, deep tissue massage or customised facial, valid for 24 months. Want to go bigger? The Emerald 90-minute card is £140. Every gift card can be sent as an e-gift card that arrives by email, usually within the hour.
What is a good push present?
Time. Pair a PURE gift card with a promise to mind the baby for the afternoon and you have given the present she will actually use. Choose the Amethyst 60-minute card at £110, the Emerald 90-minute card at £140, or a money card from £25 to £150. Buy it online as an e-gift card or a printed card.
What can I give the new dad?
BackHug, the robotic back massage at Lothian Road, Edinburgh, is a brilliant choice: 60 minutes for £75, fully clothed, with 26 robotic fingers working from neck to lower back. Or give a Theragun Full Body Massage Experience, 60 minutes from £95, at any PURE spa. Both make the ideal gift alongside a massage for mum.
Sources
- Field T, Diego MA, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S (2004). Massage therapy effects on depressed pregnant women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology 25(2):115-22. https://qigonginstitute.org/abstract-print/3779
- de Souza SM, Silva RS, Baldon VSP, Campos EC, Silva RM, Resende APM (2021). Impact of manual lymphatic drainage on symptoms related to lower-extremity edema in pregnant women. Fisioterapia e Pesquisa 28(4). https://new.scielo.br/j/fp/a/DDFWYwkNPZSM98Ktsjbtk9B/?lang=en
- ten (n.d.). Pregnancy massage FAQs. ten.co.uk. https://www.ten.co.uk/pregnancy-massage-f-a-q-s
