What This Fancy Spa for New Moms Is Getting Right

If you know anything about me, you know I’m 100 percent behind anything that is going to help new moms feel their most confident as they venture into the sometimes overwhelming world of motherhood. Those first few weeks can really be so difficult. Your body is in shock from delivery, you’re exhausted, still trying to figure out this breastfeeding thing (which can be painful), and you’re probably worried that your little one isn’t eating enough, sleeping enough, or well, something enough. Every new mom could use more support, and it’s a crime that the United States is lagging so far behind in maternal health services for new moms.

That’s why I was both excited and honestly, a bit wowed, by a new “maternity spa” that’s serving to bridge the gap between when you get chucked out of the hospital—likely way too soon!—and when you go home on your own with your little bundle. The Mermaid maternity retreat may sound like a fantasy (and it will remain one for most of us, since it’s in England, and the price tag is roughly $900 a night!), so I understand if you’re confused as to why I’m bothering to tell you about it! It’s because the team at Mermaid is delivering up some crucial services for new families and could be a model for better maternity care here in the States.

Yes, the on-site yoga studio, beauty salon, and massage services might be a bit over-the-top (I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been up for downward facing dog just days after giving birth!) but other services provided at the Mermaid are so important to new moms and should be offered routinely as part of our health care system here. Breastfeeding support through those first confusing days out of the hospital, nutritional specialists, and classes on Baby First Aid and sleep routines—things that are so vital for new moms and dads that they shouldn’t be considered a luxury—are all part of the package.

So, how can you replicate or at least get some of the benefits of the Mermaid experience right here at home? First, I’d recommend calling ahead and making arrangements for both a breastfeeding consultant and midwife (this might or might not be the same person!) to visit you at home in the first week after baby’s born. Their help really will make such a difference, and it shouldn’t cost you anywhere near a night at Mermaid! As for the foot rubs and five star gourmet meals they offer, well, you might just have to leave those to your partner. You’ve earned ‘em!