I have to admit to being just the teensiest bit envious of the co-founders of successful beauty brand Mama Mio. A few years ago Sian Sutherland, Tanya Mackay and Kathy Miller were sitting around the kitchen table bemoaning a lack of safe-to-use products for pregnant mothers. So, along with Jill Dunk, a fourth US-based partner, they hatched a plan to provide quality 'skincare for supermamas', which would help restore body shape and skin tone. Since its launch in 2005, Mama Mio has grown into a multi-million pound business (it now does body care for all, not just mums); stocked in 1800 stores and spas in eight countries, it counts Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Christy Turlington amongst the fans of its brightly packaged, quirkily named products and spa treatments.
Which is why I am here, in the Spa at London's Browns Hotel. I am due to give birth in four weeks and, therefore, I am the perfect candidate to find out what all the hype is about. I'm hoping that products with such promising names as Boob Tube, OMega Wonder-full Balm and Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Butter, all of which have natural ingredients and contain 'no nasties', will work some magic on my long-suffering body (dehydrated skin, exhaustion, puffy hands and feet...). There are five Mama Mio treatments on the hotel's Spa menu. I opt for the Mellow Mama Massage, a body massage to increase circulation, alleviate tired muscles and reduce water retention.
I make my way to the basement of the iconic hotel and along a rather futuristic-looking corridor, complete with a glittery green floor and light projections on the wall, to the Spa reception, which is on the bijou side (the Spa has three treatment rooms - two singles and a double, each with changing room and shower area) but welcoming nonetheless.
My therapist Shareen shows me to a decent-sized treatment room, complete with the requisite soft lighting, orchid, pale wooden floors and candles. I heave myself up on the bed so that Shareen can start by giving me a head massage and facial. She doesn't use any products for this; it is more, she tells me, to relax and rejuvenate. Although I wouldn't have minded her using something to rehydrate my face and scalp, it is undeniably soothing.
Then, using a delicious-smelling OMega Massage Oil, Shareen sets about massaging my arms, legs and feet (great for those swollen ankles) before applying Wonder-full Balm to the drier regions such as my elbows and hands. Next up is a gentle application of a rich Tummy Rub Butter on my bump followed by a quick application of Boob Tube — dubbed 'Wonderbra in a jar' — which is meant to help lift sagging breasts (although you can apply this yourself, for modesty's sake, if you'd prefer).
Time for the back massage and I settle on my side, hugging a huge pregnancy cushion for support. For me, lying on one's side for a pregnancy massage isn't as effective as lying on one's front (you can only do this if the Spa has the right 'doughnut-like' pillows, which have a hole in the middle for the bump). Although Shareen expertly works the knots on my back, I don't feel like I am reaping the rewards of a back and shoulder rub as much as I would if I were face down.
Having said this, by the end of the treatment my skin is wonderfully soft and moisturised. Although I can't say my boobs feel any perkier, I certainly do. And I actually have ankles again as the water retention, which has plagued my lower legs, has ebbed away. Whilst not the best pregnancy massage I've ever had (to be fair the bar was set pretty high for this and the best body massage I've had whilst expecting cost north of £200), the Mellow Mama treatment is good value and left me feeling relaxed, less puffy and with soft, hydrated skin. And no pregnant lady is ever going to complain about that.
The Mellow Mama treatment costs £95 for 75 minutes. For more information, visit brownshotel.com; for more on the products, visit Mamamio.com
