Pregnant? Uncomfortable and miserable? Grumpy and emotional? The travel industry is finally catching on that pregnant women need to get away. Plan a babymoon vacation.
Some people think pregnancy is the worst time to travel, as you suffer from any number of discomforts and indiginities. In reality, this is the perfect time to indulge in the new trend of "babymoons."
What is a babymoon?
A babymoon is a vacation taken while pregnant or, sometimes, for new parents. The idea is to let the pregnant woman and the new dad be pampered, live it up (minus the alcohol) and, in general, enjoy the last moment of peace, quiet and adults-only entertainment of their lives.
It is a hot new trend and there has been quite a bit of babymoon buzz. In fact, even Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes took a babymoon. Flickr even has a section of pictures tagged babymoon.
Can I babymoon while pregnant?
Ultimately, this is a question for your doctor. High-risk pregnancies and women pregnant with multiples likely face special restrictions against babymoons. In most cases, you can travel while pregnant and it is perfectly safe. It is usually not recommended to travel late in pregnancy, in case you go into preterm labor.
The main thing is to do your homework first. Check with your doctor. Check with the airline or cruise line (many ban pregnant travel past a certain gestational age). Also see tips on travel during pregnancy.
When to babymoon
Pregnany is never very predictable, but the best time to travel is likely the second trimester. Hopefully, mom's nausea will have passed, but the largesse and discomfort of the third trimester will be in the future.
If you have a good babysitter (and can stand to be away from baby), sometime about six weeks to three months after baby is born can be a nice time for a babymoon. It can be wonderful and refreshing for mom and dad to even get a long weekend without waking throughout the night.
Babymoon destinations and ideas
You need not go far from home for a great babymoon destination. Even a spa resort hotel in your own town is great for a weekend getaway.
Although you certainly can travel far for your babymoon (as long as doctor approves), I recommend sticking closer to home. Find someplace that is a short 1-3 hour drive, train ride or flight away, if possible.
Babymoon DOs and DON'Ts
Don't bring your old tennis shoes or walking shoes. They probably won't fit (especially after a little walking, when your feet are sure to swell).
Do drink loads and loads of water during travel and while sightseeing. Your body and babies need for more hydration than normal.
Don't plan too ambitious an itinerary. Keep it flexible and easy-going. You will likely want to rest often.
Why you should babymoon
This may be the last chance you, as a couple, have to be just a couple for a while. Take advantage of this rare time to rediscover each other.
The copyright of the article Plan a Babymoon Vacation in Family Adventures is owned by Kelby Carr. Permission to republish Plan a Babymoon Vacation must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
May 1, 2006 11:30 PM
Jill Florio
:
this may be somewhat random, but what about a vacation to celebrate the bond between an older or first child and the parents?
In other words, before a new baby comes along to take away a large portion of the parents attention? It sounds like it would be very affirming for the older child. What do you think?
May 20, 2006 9:22 AM
Kelby Carr
:
Having just been in that situation, with a 3-year-old and twins just born, I think that is a fabulous idea. I'm a little surprised no one's marketed that yet. I know there were times when I felt sad that my daughter would no longer have us one-on-one when the twins arrived. We did take a couple trips with her, and they were very special to us. What's great about travel is that it thrusts a family together. So while it's easy to plop a kid in front of the TV after a long workday, you spend your entire vacation (usually) together doing things. Being pregnant makes you even more exhausted, so it's that much harder to find the bonding time with the older child.
Jun 14, 2006 6:53 AM
Jodi Gallegos
:
After the baby, some moms & dads may still not be up for leaving their babies for an extended period. I think that even day trips can be very beneficial. They can also be done more often, say one day per month to have personal time or time with the older sibling. I loved driving the 3 hours to the outlet stores in the mountains and spending the day strolling and shopping. It seemed more managable than a multi-day trip but was just as restful
Jun 15, 2006 5:37 PM
Kelby Carr
:
You know, I was actually thinking of trips taken before the baby arrives, but you make good points. It is so hard to leave a baby the first time overnight, so daytrips are a wonderful idea. Actually, you don't even have to leave town. Last Saturday, I went out alone with my daughter so we could have one-on-one time. All we did was go to McDs playground and the grocery store, and it was a blast.
Mar 2, 2007 12:48 PM
Lisa Petrocelli
:
Babymoon vacations have become very popular. Check out www.babymoonguide.com for more tips on planning a babymoon and information about babymoon packages at resorts, inns and spas.
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