By Katherine Stewart, Special to The Well Mom
Once I became pregnant, my body started acting like it had a mind of its own - a wanton, reckless mind with no respect for earlier ideas of self. Back pain? Check! Leg cramps? Check! Never before had I been so desperately in need of cosseting. Fortunately, many spas around the country now offer spa services for the expectant mother, and some even go the extra mile with detailed pre- and post-natal packages. Here are five of my favorites:

1. Baby & Me Week
 The Greenhouse, Arlington, Texas

Most postnatal spa programs require leaving the actual cherubs at home. Not so at the Greenhouse Spa in Arlington, Texas. Baby & Me Week is a five-day retreat for both new mothers and their newborns. When I landed at this historic spa, which recently celebrated its 40th year and has hosted such notables as Elizabeth Taylor and Nancy Reagan, I was charmed to discover that the grand, classical swimming pool was lined with rubber duckies, setting a child-friendly tone. Comfortable and elegant rooms were outfitted with the latest baby gear, and the spa provided diapers, burp cloths, even my favorite brand of organic baby food. With an experienced and gentle nanny assigned to my child for the duration of my stay, I was free to enjoy fitness classes, daily massages and facials, exquisite meals, and lectures in between snuggles with my little one.
 
2. Prenatal Surrender
The Montage Hotel, Laguna Beach, California

Montage Laguna Beach

One of the most luxurious pre-baby breaks on the West Coast, Montage Laguna Beach’s day-long "Prenatal Surrender" package offers the poshest in pre-push pampering. When I arrived suffering from leg cramps and swollen with water weight, a physical therapist and nutritionist helped me devise a food plan and program of exercise to ease my symptoms. An invigorating beach walk and a 30-minute session of gentle stretching woke up my tired limbs and cleared the cobwebs from my head. Next was a prenatal massage and a gentle facial using pregnancy-safe ingredients to heighten that pre-baby glow. I sat down to lunch expecting my usual aversions (meat, cheese, anything green) to rule out most selections on my plate, but the nutritionist had already communicated with the kitchen, and I was served a gourmet yet healthful meal that seemed to satisfy all my cravings. A pregnancy-safe marine wrap hydrated my much-neglected skin. As the day concluded with a private yoga and meditation session to center body and spirit, I actually considered getting pregnant again as soon as possible, just to have an excuse to return.


3. The Wellness Escape for New and Expecting Mothers
Four Seasons Hotel, Silicon Valley, California

Most maternity spa services cater to the expectant mother. However, postpartum women arguably need cosseting and other strategies for self-care even more than their expectant sisters. At the Four Seasons in Silicon Valley, both groups get equal attention. Featuring the Bay-Area-based company Barefoot & Pregnant, and its founder Stacy Denney, this quick-break program who will share a day of wellness and indulgence.  This 24-hour program includes pre and postnatal yoga, a water fitness class, spa services for the pre and postnatal woman including massages and skin treatments tailored to those whose hormones are in flux. There are plenty of additional treatments to choose from. One friend opted for a belly cast. Her pregnant torso and abdomen were painted with molding material to create a cast of her pregnant form; she proudly shows off the sculpture in her living room.
Stacy Denney, along with medical advisor Susan Hollander, is on hand to answer questions and talk about the experience of childbirth and motherhood.  Stacy and B&P therapist Bridget Scadeng also conduct demonstrations of at-home pampering techniques from Stacy's book, Spa Mama (Chronicle Books).

4. Hello Baby!
The "BabyMoon Package," Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York

There's no question that making babies is romance in action. Once our kids were on the scene, however, my husband and I discovered that making time for baby-making activities could be a logistical puzzle. In retrospect, I wish we'd treated ourselves to a "babymoon" such as the one offered by Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York. While not exactly bargain-basement, this three-day getaway costs less than some of the fancier strollers on offer. The spa's couples treatment room accommodates the expectant pair for his-and-hers services: she gets the maternity massage, while he enjoys butched-up offerings such as the Eagle Cliff Deep Tissue Massage and the Sky Top Revitalizer Facial. Romantic dinners, turn-down chocolates, and gifts for mom, dad, and baby-to-be round out this getaway package.

5. Edamame Maternity Spa
New York, New York

Yummy mummies seeking a quick city break might check out the Edamame Maternity Spa for a spot of relaxation and renewal. Edamame's offerings cater to women before, during, and after pregnancy, and safety to mother and baby is paramount. Services include the Yummy Tummy, a body treatment that increases circulation and enhances the skin's elasticity; the Free Loader Massage which focuses on the back and upper body; the Aroma Therapy Massage with fragrant yet pregnancy-safe essential oils; and the Post Pregnancy Clinical Grade Facial, which removes dead skin cells and helps restore balance to skin in hormonal flux. Whether your little one is currently under construction or the city's latest development, you'll benefit from Edamame's gentle brand of urban renewal.

Katherine Stewart authored the novels The Yoga Mamas and Class Mothers (2005 and 2006, Berkley Publishing Group). She is a contributing writer at Healing Lifestyles & Spas and many other magazines.