The baby is due in a few months, but you're yet to attend your ante-natal classes, let alone write a birth plan. There just aren't enough hours in the day and you're starting to panic

It's time to consider joining in the latest trend to be imported from America and go on a 'babymooning' weekend.

The birth of your first child is a very exciting, but slightly fraught time. Will the birth be okay? Will the baby be healthy? Will you be a good mum? And how the hell will you know what to do during the labour?! When all you want to do is put your feet up, you're likely to be rushing around trying to prepare for your new arrival with 101 questions whizzing round your head.

Helen Jones, 32, of Kensal Rise in London, says: 'As a working mother-to-be, the thought of having to rush to get to an ante-natal class straight after work filled me with dread!

My tiredness levels were at an all-time low, my back ached, and the freezing hospital room with the plastic chairs didn't offer me any kind of relief. But, as a first time mother, I had to learn about pregnancy, labour, and coping with a newborn.'

What you need is a break with a difference, you need time to relax and unwind but you also need to get clued up on the birth. The Americans coined the phrase 'babymoon', which refers to taking one last child-free trip before a baby arrives. A growing number of resorts and destinations now cater for the needs and interests of parents-to-be.

The idea has now made its way across the pond and has been adapted by The Baby Gurus - Emma Thomson, a qualified birthing educator and HypnoBirthing® practitioner and Sonya Murray, an independent teaching midwife, antenatal teacher and HypnoBirthing® practitioner. The company organises luxury breaks with antenatal training for expectant mothers and their partners.

Sonya says: 'Our real passion is in preparing couples to become empowered parents. Modern mothers come from all walks of life and in our experience many work throughout pregnancy and many have other pressures.

We found that having time to relax, learn and prepare, builds huge confidence in new mothers and secures a network of trust and support for their new role as parents. Fathers also need support and education and this is where our fathers-to-be sessions become invaluable in providing skills and confidence building.'

Helen heard about The Baby Gurus through a friend and jumped at the chance of a luxury weekend break coupled with an ante-natal package and treatments. So she booked herself in for the course at The Gleneagles Hotel with her partner.

Helen says: 'I was very confused about labour and pain relief options, and both Emma and Sonya put me and my partner at my ease and explained each option in detail. I now have a detailed birthing plan and feel much more prepared for my new arrival. My husband also feels more informed and was glad to be included.'

Although The Baby Gurus are the first in the UK to offer such a complete service, if you're just after some relaxation, there are lots of spas introducing pregnancy massages or treatments that are worth investigating.

Elemis Day Spa offers mother-to-be treatments or, if you want to make a weekend of it, try Ragdale Hall or Grayshott Spa. However, it can be worth ringing round to see if they use pregnancy massage beds - three holes in the bed for your bump and boobs - because it will make your treatment so much more comfortable. Oeuf Therapy Rooms & Clinic are specialists that use such beds.

The Baby Guru weekends usually start at £600 per person, but iVillagers can now get an exclusive 50 per cent discount on the total cost of a 'babymooning' weekend, valid on the weekend of 2-4 February at Gleneagles only.

To book, please call 01786 826 550 and quote reference TBW01 to receive your discount.