Mission To go on a “baby-moon”, a couple’s last blast holiday before
they become parents. “Isn’t that just a clever marketing ploy by travel
agents?” ask friends, who invariably don’t have an exotic two-week holiday
booked. Maybe so, but who cares if it means another rites-of-passage
holiday? At four months pregnant I felt it was my duty, and my right.
USP Deciding where to go was easy. As it was February, it had to be
somewhere hot, so probably long haul (as it would be the last long flight
for a while, our carbon conscience was eased). But anywhere with dodgy water
or potential for runny tummies was out. I’d always fancied going on safari,
so South Africa it was. Bushman’s Kloof, a reserve and retreat set in 7,500
hectares (18,500 acres), is 200km (125 miles) from Cape Town, in the
Cedarburg Mountains, where there is no risk of malaria. And with only an
hour’s time difference, jetlag wasn’t a problem.
Ambience There aren’t many spas that can boast 755 types of plants, 150
species of birds, 35 types of mammal and 130 sites of prehistoric rock art.
On a one-hour sundowner trip we saw a clutch of ostriches, bontebok
antelope, the local baboon population and a herd of zebra. An early morning
drive took us to a rock art site, where thousand-year-old paintings depicted
elephant hunting and initiation rites. All that, and massage, too! The spa
treatment rooms are in a secluded cave, an outdoor cabin, and thatched
lodges built in the Dutch style of the original farm, which has stood on the
land for more than 150 years. There are four outdoor infinity pools and a
gym, but most people seem to prefer keep-fit activities such as mountain
biking, canoeing and archery.
Experience I opted for a head and back massage specifically aimed at
pregnant women. My masseuse had superpowers in her fingers and I managed to
doze throughout. My only worry was that she didn’t seem entirely confident
treating a pregnant woman. She wasn’t sure how I should lie on the bed or
whether the oils were suitable during pregnancy. To ensure that you are not
doing you or your unborn baby damage, cut out and keep the box, right, as a
reference.
Products Moya, the main range, is made from essential oils created from
“fynbos”, the hardy vegetation that grows all over the Western Cape and
Table Mountain. It contains local plants such as Cape geraniums and Cape
chamomile.
In crowd German, English and French accents mingle with Afrikaans.
Captains of industry come with their wives for R&R and to enjoy the
wildlife.
Wallet watch Surprisingly reasonable: £105 per person sharing a double
room, which includes all meals, visits to the rock art sites and evening
nature drives. Spa treatments are extra and cost from £27 for 45 minutes of
reflexology to £35 for a 75-minute aromatherapy and crystal massage.
Need to know Bushmans Kloof, Clanwilliam, South Africa, 00 27 21 685
2598, bush-manskloof.com. Flights to Cape Town cost from £460 return; 0870
7471111, www.fly-saa.com.
For more details and further information visit www.southafrica.net.
Spa rules for mums to be
Massage can help to relieve muscle stiffness, back pain and insomnia
during pregnancy, although finding a good position for your belly can be
difficult. Many women find it comfortable to lie on their sides supported by
pillows or kneeling forward on to a sofa. Lying on your front after 24 weeks
is not recommended. Some therapists offer special pregnancy massages and use
tables with the centre cut out so that you can comfortably lie face down,
which are suitable until about 28-30 weeks. If there’s a problem with
blood-flow to the placenta, don’t lie on your back. Provided there has been
no bleeding, pain or the threat of miscarriage, massage is suitable at all
stages of pregnancy, says Dr Donald Gibb, a consultant obstetrician at the
Birth Centre, London (www.birthcentre.com
). In late pregnancy, if there is a risk of premature labour or if you are
having a multiple birth, it is advisable to avoid abdomen massage.
Steam rooms, Jacuzzis, hot-tubs and saunas These are generally not
recommended during pregnancy, especially the first 12 weeks, says Daghi
Rajasingam, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Hot
temperatures can raise your blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness,
fainting, and dehydration.
Aromatherapy in pregnancy can help to relieve backache and anxiety.
Certain oils should be avoided, such as juniper, myrrh, rosemary and
camphor. Others, such as chamomile and peppermint, should be avoided for the
first three months. Check that the therapist is registered with the
Aromatherapy Council (www.aromatherapycouncil.
co.uk) or the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists.
Acupuncture, acupressure, is often used as a drug-free treatment for
morning sickness, constipation and to induce labour. However, certain points
must be avoided as they may cause uterine contractions, so it’s important to
find a qualified practitioner, preferably a member of the British
Acupuncture Council (www.acupuncture.org.uk).
