pregnancy

Spa Treatments For Pregnant Moms-to-Be

Filed under: Spas

There's something at the spa for everyone, and although some treatments are off limits during pregnancy (like the hot tub and sauna) many spas cater to expecting mothers with specials and packages created just for them. A great gift or self indulgence year round, a day at the spa also makes great Mother's Day gift for the mom-to-be in your circle.

Pregnancy massages are offered by most medical spas and are geared towards relieving unpleasant symptoms associated with being pregnant like swelling, bloating, aches, pains, and of course stress. Facials, manicures, pedicures, and many other spa treatments are considered safe during pregnancy but might be tailored to use mild or unscented products due to the sensitive skin and systems many pregnant women experience. Check with your spa to see what's available and what guidelines they may have (i.e. only available during certain trimesters), and of course consult your physician prior to receiving treatment. Here are some current offerings from around the country.

Custom Moms-to-Be Package at the Medical Spa at Nova in Ashburn, VA.
Includes a soothing pregnancy massage, a healing Body Contouring Wrap, a signature spa lunch, and a single long-stem rose at checkout.

Yummy Tummy Body Treatment at Edamame Maternity Day Spa in New York, NY.
Designed to increase circulation, gently exfoliate, and improve tonicity of the skin. Also relaxes with a lower leg and foot massage.

Pregnancy Jade Stone Massage at La Petite Retreat in Los Angeles, CA.
Their signature, the Jade Stone Massage uses hot and cool stones to relax muscles and reduce inflammation along with Swedish, Deep, Shiatsu and Thai massage techniques for long lasting therapeutic results.

Tags: pregnancy, pregnant, spa, spas, spas-pedia

Padma Lakshmi's Seedy New Jewelry Line

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Celebrity Design

Padma Lakshmi models her own jewelry designs

Padma Lakshmi has the career of seven women. She's a model, author, a TV host (most notably Top Chef) and now, the new mom has a jewelry line.

PADMA launched in May 2009 and consists of 40+ earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings inspired by Lakshmi's eclectic past. She was born in India, raised in both India and the US, and has lived in France, Spain and Italy. "I love the rich heritage and beauty of traditional Indian jewelry, but I wanted something more modern and delicate. I also wanted to create something that women would love to wear everyday; pieces that work with jeans and cocktail dresses, jewelry that highlights the myriad sides of a woman's personality without upstaging her."

The collection features an India-inspired hand piece, a "back to front" necklace which "adorns a woman's back as much as her décolleté, cascading down the neck on both sides" and a micro-collection called "the Nav," which is based around traditional Hindu beliefs, incorporating stones which represent the nine planets and harnessing their energy.

Even her foodie experience has influenced her designs. "In hunting for the most precious spices, I found the shapes of seeds and pods exquisite, a purity of proportion and form that had an inherent sensuality to them." We find the designs subtle and thoughtful with a distinct womanliness. The collection's seed and pod themes are exceptionally well-suited to make gifts for pregnant women -- how apt that Padma just gave birth to a baby girl, Krishna.

We interviewed Padma via email about her new jewelry collection, her career and her life.

Luxist: How has your multi-faceted career led you to jewelry?

Padma Lakshmi: Even before my fifteen years in fashion, as a child I was always attracted to my mother's jewel box. Over the years I've been lucky enough to gather some beautiful pieces through my travels along the way. But at a certain point, I wasn't finding exactly what I was looking for in the accessories marketplace and it turned out that others weren't either. I started reproducing the bespoke custom pieces that I had created for myself; that's pretty much the organic process of how the company came about.

Gallery: PADMA by Padma Lakshmi

Tags: celebrity, designer interview, DesignerInterview, jewelry, Padma Lakshmi, PadmaLakshmi, pregnancy, Top Chef, TopChef

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New York's Luxury Birthing Options

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

In Los Angeles, celebrities and other monied ladies give birth at Cedars-Sinai where the lavish suites resemble hotel rooms. In New York, there are a variety of hospitals that offer luxurious maternity care. As our siblings at ParentDish recently reported, spent $700,000 for a luxury birthing suite at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island but there are other options that aren't quite as extravagant. Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan offers private post-partum rooms for $750 a night which includes bed space for the baby's father or a "support person" and concierge service.

Mount Sinai in New York offers rooms with wood paneling concealing the medical equipment, luxury sleeper chairs for partners and spa-inspired bathrooms with showers with Italian glass tile, elegant sconces, and decorative mirrors. There are also internet ports in each room. The rooms are priced on a sliding scale with private rooms going for $500 to $850, depending partly on the view.A UPI story reports that the rooms are very popular partly because many of today's older moms have the means to afford to birth in luxury.

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Tags: birthing suites, childbirth, new york, pregnancy