5 things to consider before taking a babymoon
“Babymoons”, or a trip with your significant other before baby arrives, have become all the rage lately. Read more to learn about 5 things to consider before taking a babymoon from a NICU RN.
To be honest it can be a little scary and overwhelming planning a trip while you’re pregnant! The main goal of a babymoon is to help you relax, connect with your partner, and spend some special quality time with the people you love (older children, partner, YOURSELF!) before welcoming a new baby into the world.
Planning a babymoon does NOT need to be stressful and keeping things simple is definitely the way to go. With that being said, this is your vacation so do as you please! A babymoon can look different for everyone, for different pregnancies, and it’s absolutely not something you HAVE to do before having a baby.
For my first pregnancies, my husband and I decided to keep things pretty simple. We took a quick road trip about 2 hours from Chicago to stay at a nice resort. While there, we treated ourselves with a 2 night trip that included massages, nice dinners, some breakfast in bed, and frequent naps – a pregnant lady’s dream! Low key and close to home.
Fast forward a few years while I was pregnant with my 2nd baby. I was feeling pretty emotional about how my daughter would feel about having a new sibling soon (read more in my blog post here). We decided to plan our babymoon as a family trip so our daughter would be included.
This time, we flew to Palm Springs and spent 5 days relaxing in the sun, eating pool side chips + salsa, and unlimited milkshakes and mocktails! I was even able to sneak away for a prenatal massage. This trip was much different than our first considering our daughter joined us, but it was still so special to spend quality time with her and have her included on this trip before her new sibling arrived.
For my third pregnancy, the thought of planning a trip around school schedules, activities and doctors appointments seemed nearly impossible. My husband suggested I sneak off for a quick little overnight getaway downtown Chicago (where we live) so I could relax, get a massage, a good night’s sleep, and spend some alone time before baby #3 arrived. This little staycation was exactly what I needed for a babymoon this time around! It required minimal planning, it was minutes from home, but still gave me the time to relax and focus on myself for a minute.
As you can see – there are many different options to celebrate your pregnancy. Babymoons are not one size fits all and look different for everyone. If you’re choosing to take a babymoon, please read below for 5 very important things to keep in mind as you’re planning your trip!
- Plan your trip prior to 34 weeks pregnant.
- Many providers will approve travel, but most suggest traveling prior to 34 weeks just to be safe. Of course if you’re a high risk pregnancy or have had complications this may not be the case, so definitely check with your provider before planning any sort of travel. If you’re unable to travel for whatever reason – a staycation or spa day might be the perfect option for you!
- Research hospitals near where you are traveling.
- Ideally choose a hospital with a NICU available, just in case baby decides to make their arrival sooner than planned. You can contact your hotel or host to see what medical facilities they have located near them so you are prepared in case of a medical emergency.
- Even with pregnancies considered low risk, early labor can happen!
- Think carefully about planning overseas or out of the country travel.
- Many countries do not have the standard of care that the US has, which can ultimately compromise care for you or your baby.
- Medical emergencies are much easier to handle if there is no language barrier. Wherever you are traveling has a population that speaks your language and/or you are familiar with their native language. As NICU nurses, we saw many times families who were traveling out of the country who had to spend months and months away from their family while their baby grew and was strong enough to travel back home. This can be extremely stressful and difficult especially if you have other children at home. Of course no one plans to deliver their baby while on vacation and while this is an unlikely situation, it’s best to understand there is still a small possibility. Plan to speak with you provider about the risks/benefits of overseas travel while pregnant and make the best informed decision for you and your family.
- Keep yourself healthy and safe while traveling.
- Traveling can take a lot of you whether you’re pregnant or not! Be sure to pay attention to how your body is feeling and REST or slow down when you need to.
- It’s important to stop and stretch throughout your travel to help prevent blood clots which you’re at higher risk of during pregnancy due to increased blood volume. Wear compression socks (approved by your provider) to help with blood flow and swelling.
- Plan to stretch and move around frequently especially if you are traveling by airplane or will be in the car for greater than 2 hours at a time. Elevating your feet while you are sitting can also be helpful.
- Stay hydrated and nourished by always having a water bottle (this Stanley is our favorite) and snacks throughout the travel to your destination as well as during your trip.
- Have your doctors contact information readily available and stored in your phone. Be sure to bring proof of insurance should you need to use it.
- Pack all of your medications including prenatal vitamins, approved pain medications (Tylenol), and stool softener (traveling may make you constipated!). Use this cute toiletry bag! It’s a good idea to have antacids as well.
- 4. Go for comfort and treat yourself!
- I highly recommend booking a king size bed and ask for extra pillows to make sure you are able to get comfortable and have a good night’s sleep. You can even bring our favorite pregnancy and nursing pillow! Try not to over plan your trip, leave plenty of downtime in between outings or activities so you have time to rest and relax. Once baby arrives, having “me” time can be hard to come by, so consider treating yourself with a soothing facial, a much deserved prenatal massage, or a nice dinner out with your partner. Enjoy sleeping in, having breakfast in bed, taking a long soak in the tub or whatever your pregnant heart desires!
BABYMOON PACKING LIST LINKS:
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Belly balm
- Electrolyte powder
- Travel Water bottle
- Snacks
- Sleep Mask
- Compression Socks
- Stool softener
- Prenatal vitamins (talk with your provider)
- Travel pillow
- Portable fan
- Sound machine
- Maternity swim suit
- Maternity vacation dress
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